Getting on and off

[Fanum]

Must admit I tend to ride off the centrestand a lot........sometimes you have to rock backwards to give enough bite to shoot the bike over the centrestand but i've got it pretty much perfected now.

I'm a silly boy






PS I was also taught to pop up the sidestand before mounting/dismounting but as others have said, sod that for a game of soldiers with something as big as a fully laden panniered up ADV!!!

 

[The Phantom Pieman]

Bleedin eck Pieman - how many pies was that? I can manage it at 5' 9 3/4" with 29" inside leg. How I'd appreciate your extra 4"!!

It's obviusly not the length that counts but the technique, although a little extra lenght is never wasted so I've heard

Quite a lot, actually

Length is important, but often I feel technique is far more important. And I need to learn from the GS equivelent of Porn Stars .......

 

[Shurv]

I must admit, especially when loaded with panniers and topbox, I push the bike off the centre stand with the side stand down too, lean it on the side stand, then climb aboard lifting it off the side stand in one movement as i get on. I then push up the side stand with my foot.I do this when filling with fuel too. I've seen other GS'ers do this. I rekon it's because it's so bleedin heavy. I NEVER climb on the bike without the side stand down especially with panniers fitted just in case my foot clouts the panniers and I end up in a heap on the floor. I once did this with a smaller trail bike with a huge tail pack on , I was clobbered up with leathers and full wet gear severely restricting movement. I threw my leg over the bike , got caught up with the tail pack and ended up in a big heap on my drive. I was saved from embarasment from my neighbours by the fact that it was about half past 6 in the morning.


Clumsy Tw*t


Marcus

 

[FLASH]

Must admit I tend to ride off the centrestand a lot........sometimes you have to rock backwards to give enough bite to shoot the bike over the centrestand but i've got it pretty much perfected now.

I'm a silly boy

i'm sure I read somewhere that this totally buggers up the bearings in the shaft drive? When the bike's on the centrestand the swingarm drops considerably more than when the wheel is on the ground resulting in a much sharper angle between the gearbox output shaft and the drive shaft. Firing up the engine, putting the bike in gear and driving the rear wheel results in accelerated wear on the UV joints.

Just thought I'd mention it.....

 

[Badger]

I do the same as Rabbitson - stand facing the bike and raise right leg in exagerated goose-step. Only failed me once on the Suzuki when my leathers 'gripped' the seat and I wasn't holding the handlebar - being such a light bike it kind of... well ... fell over.

I don't anticipate such a problem when I get the 650 as it's a bit lardier than the DRZ.

 

[Greg Masters]

Never mount the bike when using either the centrestand or sidestand (esp R1200GS!!).

Here's the approved method:

1. Approach bike on left-hand side
2. Hold bars and push-off centrestand (or kick up sidestand)
3. Start engine
4. Rest left foot on peg
5. Pull clutch lever and engage 1st gear
6. Apply throttle and engage clutch whilst ....
7. shifting full body weight onto left peg
8. As you ride off, cock right leg over bike
   [/list=1]
   
   Reverse procedure when stopping!
   
   QED!
   
   Greg
   
   PS I must try that some time!
   
   

 

[Spout]

1. Approach bike on left-hand side
2. Hold bars and push-off centrestand (or kick up sidestand)
3. Start engine
4. Rest left foot on peg
5. Pull clutch lever and engage 1st gear
6. Apply throttle and engage clutch whilst ....
7. shifting full body weight onto left peg
8. As you ride off, cock right leg over bike
   [/list=1]
   
   Reverse procedure when stopping!
   
   QED!
   
   Greg
   
   
   

1. 
   
   Actually the GS is ideal for doing this. With your weight on the footrest the centre of gravity is as low as it's going to get, and the GS has superb low speed balance.
   Try it (somewhere soft ) you'll be suprised.

 

[Mick_rw]

SPC...

Never mount the bike when using either the centrestand or sidestand (esp R1200GS!!).

Here's the approved method:

1. Approach bike on left-hand side
2. Hold bars and push-off centrestand (or kick up sidestand)
3. Start engine
4. Rest left foot on peg
5. Pull clutch lever and engage 1st gear
6. Apply throttle and engage clutch whilst ....
7. shifting full body weight onto left peg
8. As you ride off, cock right leg over bike
   [/list=1]
   
   Reverse procedure when stopping!
   
   QED!
   
   Greg
   
   PS I must try that some time!
   
   

1. 
   
   watched a mechanic at SPC dismount from a GSA in this manner, he said he does it that way as the GSA is to tall for him......this was done as he manouvered between other bikes...
   
   Mick...
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

[Greg Masters]

Yes, I just tried it in an empty car-park. It's not at all hard to do. Trouble is, if you get it wrong pulling away from your local , you will an'arf make an arse of yourself!



Greg

 

[Wraithwrider]

This sounds like it would be easier to practice getting off first i.e. in an empty car park dismount on the move touch your right toe on the (slow moving ) deck and remount.

Now try it up or down a steep hill!!

Oops thank god for engine bars

 

[Fanum]

You're all a bunch of loons!!!!

 

[The Phantom Pieman]

This sounds like it would be easier to practice getting off first i.e. in an empty car park dismount on the move touch your right toe on the (slow moving ) deck and remount.

Now try it up or down a steep hill!!

Oops thank god for engine bars

Or with a passenger on the back!

 

[Spanish Bob]

If it's fully loaded and you have leather trousers or whatever I find a good way of getting on is the following:

Instead of trying to swing my leg over (so to speak!) stand perpendicular to the bike and raise your leg at 90 degrees then push it over the seat, this works well if you have a tail pack or high luggage plus panniers, easy peasy.

apparently this technique was developed in the 70s by the ministry of silly walks and tends to work best with a high speed goose step style approach with a crushed velvetlampshade on your head.

 

[skybluebird]

Instead of trying to swing my leg over (so to speak!) stand perpendicular to the bike and raise your leg at 90 degrees then push it over the seat, this works well if you have a tail pack or high luggage plus panniers, easy peasy.

I always begin by standing perpendicular to the ground, but admit to being a bit old-fashioned

 

[Reprobate]

Instead of trying to swing my leg over (so to speak!) stand perpendicular to the bike and raise your leg at 90 degrees then push it over the seat, this works well if you have a tail pack or high luggage plus panniers, easy peasy.

I always begin by standing perpendicular to the ground, but admit to being a bit old-fashioned

They don't have Merriam Webster Dictionaries in Den Haag...

 

[skybluebird]

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I favour Den's method for on/off , and Fanum's for riding off.

Also the CHP ( cali h/w patrol ) teach their blokes to get on / off from the side opposite the sidestand - for the reason that if the bike moves and the stand folds, it'll fall away from them and not trap them under the bike. Kinda handy in the middle of nowhere.

as an aside - all side stands should be made to lock when the bikes weight is on them, like the guzzi 's / harleys.
Its gotta be safer and er - safer ?
Now that clutch lockout switches are the norm. - i can't see a downside to this

 

[Keyframe]

I'm short...

this is just something I do, but should in no way be read as instructions or advice and you should always get an adult to assist.

1. Approach parked bike in gear on sidestand.

2. Grab handlebars bars with 2 fingers holding front brake

3. Apply full right lock

4. Push bike upright

5. Side stand up. Airhead stands will swing up when bike gets upright

6. Pull in clutch

7. Start bike

8. Swing right foot to accross bike to R/H footpeg

For Americans reading this:

9. While continuing to apply both front and rear brakes and continuing to keep the clutch lever pulled in, align handlebars with your intended direction of travel

10. If it is safe to do so, operate brakes, clutch, gears and throttle in your preferred sequential order to ensure smooth forward progress until you complete your journey while being mindful of other highway users and the regulations that will apply to you as a fellow highway user.

11. On completion of your journey to your chosen destination, apart from step 10, attempt most of the above steps in reverse order until your motorcycle is at the position as described in step 1. If this proves troublesome, the motorcycle can be ridden slowly in tight circles around the person you wished to see at your chosen destination. Conversation, transactions or other business can be attempted but the other party should refrain from interferring with the operation of the motorcycle. In all circumstances, the purpose of the journey should be concluded before the expiry of the motorcycle fuel supply at which point the rider will be involuntarily ejected from the motorcycle with little or no prior warning.

 

[Greg Masters]

Re: I'm short...

For Americans reading this:

and...

12) Never insert the motorcycle in your ear unless you have first sought a physician's advice.



Greg