I can get on either side of a bike, and when traffic or other
conditions dictate (like pulling into my garage when I have too much
crap lying around), I occasionally mount or dismount from the right.
But if the bike isn't parked on a hard surface, that won't happen.
Hopping on the right peg will unload the kickstand, but only until
you plop your butt into the seat or put your foot on the left peg. At
that moment you transfer a lot of weight to the left side of the
bike, along with the momentum your body has from swinging over from
the left. If the stand sinks, so do you! If I have a load on the
back, I do the KLR shuffle. It's not always easy since I stand a
whopping 5'8", but it works for me. When my crotch hits the seat, I
have a little momentum to push the bike off the stand, and I'm ready
to go. Horse or KLR, I'm a lefty.
__Arden
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Steven and Christina Wilkins"
wrote:
> I would suggest learning to get on and off of the high side of the
bike
> whether you prefer stepping up on the right foot peg or not. Here
are a
> couple of safety issues to consider. Climbing off of the left side
is more
> likely to put you into the path of traffic. Also if the bike falls
off of
> the kickstand as you get on or off, mounting from the right will
let the
> bike fall away from you and not on top of you. If you have a big
luggage
> case on the rear and step on the peg to swing your leg over, using
the right
> peg will help take some of the weight off of your kickstand,
putting more
> weight on the suspension and wheels. The kickstand may not ever
break, but
> the extra weight on the left side from a left side mount could
cause the
> kick stand to sink or fold. Then we have that problem of the bike
falling
> on top of you again.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Arden Kysely"
> To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 10:10 AM
> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: using footpeg to mount bike?
>
>
> > C'mon guys...everyone knows the proper way to mount a loaded KLR
is to
> > stand back a few feet from the left side of the bike, lift right
leg
> > to about 90 degrees, point it at the low part of the seat, and
hop,
> > hop, hop towards the bike until your right leg goes over the
saddle
> > and you can shimmy on over and sit on down. Counting on the
kickstand
> > to support you is fine on the street, but can get dicey on softer
> > surfaces. And those right-side mounters must be from an antipodean
> > universe.
> >
> > __Arden >
> >
> > --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones"
wrote:
> > > --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "fasteddiecopeman"
> >
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Why? What is the reason for mounting from the harder right
> > side,
> > > > > instead of the lower, easier left side?
> > > >
> > > > Art,
> > > > It works because you don't have to force your right foot up
and