Mount/Dismount

[troll]

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Wow. What an interesting thread... Honestly, I simply couldn't believe the number posting here that mount with the bike on the centerstand, and even more stepping onto the left peg while the bike is on the sidestand to mount up. Surprising, at least to me.

I'm only 5' 7", maaaaaaaybe near 5' 8", with only a 29" inseam. I also am pretty friggin' portly, weighing near the big three-zero-zero mark in all my gear. My bike always has the Yamaha side cases on it, along with an Altrider rear rack mounted in the high position. I have also had the forks re-done with Penske valving and stiffer springs by Nick at Stoltec Moto, along with a Penske rear shock, both of which actually *ADD* seat height from sacked stock suspension my S-10 had at 21,000 miles when I had all that done. I run my Cee Bailey modified seat in the high position unless I am on long trip and running my Bags Connection "City" tank bag and one of my MotoFizz rack bags... On those rides I sometimes run the seat in the low position, particularly on later days when a bit of fatigue sets in.

I also have had total titanium/ceramic hip replacements on both sides, have two severely arthritic knees with no cartilage in either one, a bad left ankle, and recurring gout in my left big toe joints...

Yet I *ALWAYS* mount this bike like I have always mounted motorcycles for the past 40+ years... Sidestand down, left foot on the ground and swing my right leg over the top. And in over 14 months and over 24,500 miles I've never dropped it mounting up. I have had two near zero MPH drops, but both of those were coming to a stop on uneven ground, not mounting up. Honestly, I've never actually even thought about mounting the bike with it one the centerstand and *rocking* it off, nor stepping up onto the left peg and mounting... Probably because as a former shop technician and later a dealer I have seen far too many people topple over that way, and I have seen sidestand mounting bolts snap off, too. Understand, I'm not necessarily knocking those who mount up those ways. I've just never done it...

And it leads me to a question. How many have actually dropped their S-10's mounting up?

Hell, I'll probably drop my tomorrow mounting up, but I do wonder why so many are spooked by mounting the Super Ténéré in just the plain, ol' normal way...

Dallara



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Man I hope you are going to the Colodado gathering cuz I gotta see you mount-up. I have a 28 1/2" inseam and have slammed my SupaT and lowered the low seat. I load up on the side stand, left foot on left peg. never any balance problems nor high-side tip-overs... saddle-up cowboys ::014:: ::014::

 

[Don in Lodi]

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Wow. What an interesting thread... Honestly, I simply couldn't believe the number posting here that mount with the bike on the centerstand, and even more stepping onto the left peg while the bike is on the sidestand to mount up. Surprising, at least to me.

Dallara

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I don't recall seeing tip-over as a problem. I just plain and simple can't get my leg to clear the Jesse's. Without is easy from the ground.

 

[Kestrel]

I can't imagine mounting on the centerstand. I could probably get on fine. Coming down off the stand, I imagine the spring rebound on the 600+ lb beast is a whole different story.

Just taking the bike off the centerstand at all is pretty spooky on this monster. The only way I feel comfortable doing it is putting a foot hard on the tang so I can ease it down very slowly once it rocks forwards far enough.

 

[thfraser]

I have never dropped a bike when using the side down to mount it. I don't do it for all of my bikes. I only did it with my 1050 Tiger and this one. I can mount without using the side stand, I just don't like it when I kick the bags. Plus I'm not as flexible as I used to be!

 

[The Ferret]

Vertically challenged and a 29" inseam.

Mounting;
engine off,
bike on sidestand, grab front brake and squeeze on,
left foot on foot peg and mount the bike.

Throw body weight right over if the bike's leaning a lot.

Dismount;
engine off,
bike on sidestand, grab front brake and squeeze on,
left foot on foot peg and dismount the bike.

For soft ground I carry a marine ply foot plate on string to throw down.

Because I've lowered the suspension my bike has only a slight lean on the flat. Due to UK roads the lean is uaually increased by the camber.
When I test rode the bike I had an embarrasing moment at a fuel station, when I couldn't remount the bike. I had to push it to a kerb to get on. I later discovered using the foot peg.

 

[Don in Lodi]

I can't imagine mounting on the centerstand. I could probably get on fine. Coming down off the stand, I imagine the spring rebound on the 600+ lb beast is a whole different story.

Just taking the bike off the centerstand at all is pretty spooky on this monster. The only way I feel comfortable doing it is putting a foot hard on the tang so I can ease it down very slowly once it rocks forwards far enough.

Spring rebound? The suspension? It just goes 'squish'. No bounce. The stand itself bangs into it's bumpers, no need to worry about that. You need to let it go rather than making more of it than you need to.

 

[snakebitten]

Dallara, so you admit it?

You are BIONIC. That's cheating.

 

[doglegg]

OP here,
Thanks everybody for the good feedback.
It seems that mounting off the side stand is OK, so I ordered a side stand extension from Hepco-Becker. Makes the pad twice the size.

 

[Chadx]

Still don't have my ST, but this topic is common for all manner of bikes so I'll throw my opinion in the mix. I'm 6' tall and over 32 inseam, but when you start adding a large duffle or top box on any bike, the "mounting like a horse" or "round house kick" mounting method just stops working. Yes, you can step up on left peg with the bike on it's sidestand provided the ground is stable, but as some have pointed out, that may not be possible. Or if on a weird angle where the bike is more upright than usual with little weight on the sidestand. Or if you are very heavy or the preload is set intentionally soft, stepping on the peg might compress the suspengion enough that it rebounds back and flicks the bike the opposite direction (not as likely on a bike this big as the superlight dual sports).

So what I've adapted to doing is, like some here pointed out, facing the bike and, leaving my left foot on the ground, high stepping straight forward (hurdler's kick) over the seat rather than a round-house leg swing. Flexibility (of both you and your riding pants) does play a part, but I use this on bikes all the way up to 36+" of seat height. Once your foot or calf is over the seat, just continue moving forward in one motion or pausing and then doing a little hop forward with your left foot. Once straddling the seat, then you are ready to tip the bike up off the sidestand.

...or, you can do what I do on some of my bikes occasionally...hold the bike upright with sidestand up and just step your left foot on the left peg and ride off. Then, once you are 15 feet down the street, roundhouse your leg over the top. Takes some balance and body english, but it takes the sidestand completely out of the equation! Ha.

 

[TRUBRIT]

Bike on side stand. Step on right side peg and step over with left leg and sit. Left foot now on ground. Advantage of this is when you step on the right peg the suspension compresses and your weight is more centered over the bike. Easy. Getting off the same way, but I do let the weight off the right peg slowly as the suspension springs back. Try it. No rule says you have to mount a bike from the left. Does not matter how loaded your bike is with this method.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Bike on side stand. Step on right side peg and step over with left leg and sit. Left foot now on ground. Advantage of this is when you step on the right peg the suspension compresses and your weight is more centered over the bike. Easy. Getting off the same way, but I do let the weight off the right peg slowly as the suspension springs back. Try it. No rule says you have to mount a bike from the left. Does not matter how loaded your bike is with this method.

Nope, I would wind up taking a dirt nap with the bike on top of me doing anything on the right side.

Chadx, I've thought about trying a bicyclist's dismount, haven't thought about the mount. That would be cool looking. ::008::

 

[viewdvb]

I thought I was the only one! Even though I have a 31" inseam, I sold my Multistrada partly because the Kung Fu kick needed to swing over the pillion seat was getting hard and I don't have the flexibility to do a straight kick over the rider seat. If you don't understand the problem I can only say you'll get old one day too! Of course, the centre stand answers the mount up question but dismount is only going to get harder. I never considered using the left footrest on the side stand - not sure I will try it either. Using the right side - now there's sideways thinking (literally). It just feels wrong approaching a bike from the right after all these years. We naturally mount from the left in the UK because we drive on the correct side (left) and it keeps us out of the traffic when mounting. Still, I'm going to give it a try. The reasoning about weight transference etc makes sense. I'll know who to blame when I am lying under the beast.

 

[TRUBRIT]

Trust me it works. It was also alien to me at first as I have always mounted from the left. As for 'Nope', have you tried it?

 

[Don in Lodi]

Trust me it works. It was also alien to me at first as I have always mounted from the left. As for 'Nope', have you tried it?

Yes. The suspension compresses, the weight pulls the bike, the side stand pushes the bike over center, there is no way I can footpeg mount from the right. The bike is on it's way passing vertical by the time I plunk my butt in the seat as it is, I've got to have my right foot on it's way to the ground or I'll topple anyway. While I won't win any contests for grace, I think I'm pretty smooth.

 

[viewdvb]

OK, I tried the right side dismount and, to my surprise, it worked OK. Sure, the bike moves more to the vertical but keep your weight over the bike (it seems natural anyway) until the last minute and there is no danger of it passing vertical. Had a bit of a scare as it rose again on the suspension as took my weight off. It seemed to be moving away from me dangerously but that was just a false impression as it was returning to its normal angle on the side stand. I'll still mount the usual way while I can but at the end of a long ride, when my hip joints and muscles get stiff, this could be the answer. Out of interest, I tried mounting the same way but that doesn't work (for me anyway) as your weight is all on the outside to start with and the bike wants to fall over centre towards you. No need anyway - that's why God invented centre stands.

 

[zamfield]

I do the same as some have posted here... bike on the side stand and mount it with one foot on the peg, throw the leg over and take the weight with my feet on the ground.
I'm a "Big" lad ::014:: and have never had any issues getting on and off like this.
I wouldn't put it on the side stand in the first place, if I had a concern of soft ground... even with a side stand plate!

 

[EricV]

29-30" inseam here. I mount like a horse too, 250 lbs, (more in full gear), and have for 35k. I do have an Altrider sidestand plate, but have no issues or expect any. I can step on the right peg after throwing that leg over and bring the bike off the side stand if I'm in the right conditions, so some cautions is warranted. This process helps me get my leg over the fuel cell, etc.

 

[Swagger]

I climb on mine ... but I aint heavy. Bike barely moves.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Swagger! ::003::

 

[Swagger]

.... Swagger! ::003::

Tis I .... how you doin'? It's sure good to be back ::013::