getting on and off bike with luggage

tinng321 · August 25th, 2010, 04:41 PM

For those who are short just like me. How do you get on and off your bike with the saddlebags and tail bag installed?

Snake · August 25th, 2010, 04:56 PM

With the kickstand down I put my left foot on the left foot peg, stand on the peg and then swing my right leg over all my bags. Nothing to it.

dubojr1 · August 25th, 2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake

With the kickstand down I put my left foot on the left foot peg, stand on the peg and then swing my right leg over all my bags. Nothing to it.

That's how my passengers get on too but instead while I hold the bike upright. Should give the additional clearance to clear the luggage.

Flashmonkey · August 25th, 2010, 07:22 PM

I'm not that short, but when the tail bag is on there swinging my leg over is tricky.....so I jump into the seat instead.

Snake · August 26th, 2010, 04:42 AM

^^^ Cowboy style aye?

Flashmonkey · August 26th, 2010, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake

^^^ Cowboy style aye?

Is there any other way?

PitBull · August 26th, 2010, 06:24 AM

You could always ride side saddle.

adouglas · August 27th, 2010, 04:39 AM

I'm 5'7" with a 30 inch inseam. My bike with packed luggage looks like this:

Normally I throw my leg over, but my bag isn't THAT big.

There is a specific technique. I hold the left grip with my left hand and place my left foot forward of the kickstand. My foot is about where it normally is when I'm on the bike... maybe a little farther from centerline... with my toe pointed 45 degrees from straight ahead towards the centerline of the bike.

The idea here is to allow me to pivot on the ball of my foot.

I take my right leg and put it behind me so I'm standing as if frozen in mid-stride while walking. This lets me get some momentum as I throw my leg up and over. I bend a lot at the hip to allow my leg to get up higher. Momentum is what it's all about.

Having said this, I've also used another method that might suit you better.

Last year I did a tour while having severe knee problems that made it darned difficult to get my leg up on its own. So I would stand next to the bike with my left hand on the grip, and bend my right leg at the knee enough to grab the cuff of my pants with my right hand. Then I literally used my arm to pull my right leg over the seat, with my foot ahead of the tail bag.

This looked very silly and required a bit of balancing on my left foot (aided by holding the bar) but worked amazingly well.

mrlmd · August 27th, 2010, 06:34 AM

Getting off without getting your leg hung up on the bag can be harder. Worse if the bike falls over on you.

adouglas · August 27th, 2010, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlmd

Getting off without getting your leg hung up on the bag can be harder. Worse if the bike falls over on you.

On that trip with my gimpy knee getting off was truly hilarious. Stood up and hopped away from the bike on my left foot until my right one cleared the seat. Never did fall down but even I was laughing at how stupid it looked.

spooph · August 27th, 2010, 08:20 AM

I stand right next to the bike on my left leg, grab my right shin with my right hand, place my right leg over the seat with my right hand, and let go.

To get off, um, I don't know, I've never paid attention to that. I'm not short, but I do stack the luggage pretty high.

Blackwidow · August 27th, 2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spooph

I stand right next to the bike on my left leg, grab my right shin with my right hand, place my right leg over the seat with my right hand, and let go.

+1 I was gonna say the same thing

for getting off, put the stand down, get on your tippy toes, put your left hand on the tank for support and bring your right leg over the seat, and with your left leg, hop back little by little until you can safely put your right foot on the ground.

I'm short, so i have to figure these things out.

drowe531 · August 27th, 2010, 09:18 AM

Curious, but have you short people tried getting on like a passenger would? Put your foot on the peg and hold the handlebar to give yourself a little bit of height to get up.

Blackwidow · August 27th, 2010, 09:26 AM

not to get on the bike, and to get off the bike i think using the foot pegs would be difficult.

tinng321 · August 27th, 2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adouglas

I'm 5'7" with a 30 inch inseam. My bike with packed luggage looks like this:

Normally I throw my leg over, but my bag isn't THAT big.

There is a specific technique. I hold the left grip with my left hand and place my left foot forward of the kickstand. My foot is about where it normally is when I'm on the bike... maybe a little farther from centerline... with my toe pointed 45 degrees from straight ahead towards the centerline of the bike.

The idea here is to allow me to pivot on the ball of my foot.

I take my right leg and put it behind me so I'm standing as if frozen in mid-stride while walking. This lets me get some momentum as I throw my leg up and over. I bend a lot at the hip to allow my leg to get up higher. Momentum is what it's all about.

Having said this, I've also used another method that might suit you better.

Last year I did a tour while having severe knee problems that made it darned difficult to get my leg up on its own. So I would stand next to the bike with my left hand on the grip, and bend my right leg at the knee enough to grab the cuff of my pants with my right hand. Then I literally used my arm to pull my right leg over the seat, with my foot ahead of the tail bag.

This looked very silly and required a bit of balancing on my left foot (aided by holding the bar) but worked amazingly well.

can you put a video up???
lolz. j/k

August 25th, 2010, 04:41 PM	#1
tinng321 ninjette.org sage Name: Tin Location: NJ Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 black 250r (sold); '09 black zx6r Posts: 903	getting on and off bike with luggage For those who are short just like me. How do you get on and off your bike with the saddlebags and tail bag installed?

August 27th, 2010, 08:20 AM	#11
spooph ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Spooph Location: Golden, CO Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '15	I stand right next to the bike on my left leg, grab my right shin with my right hand, place my right leg over the seat with my right hand, and let go. To get off, um, I don't know, I've never paid attention to that. I'm not short, but I do stack the luggage pretty high. __________________________________________________ My therapist has 2 wheels and a seat. If you are ever in doubt to my tone, please refer to my avatar.

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August 25th, 2010, 04:56 PM	#2
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	With the kickstand down I put my left foot on the left foot peg, stand on the peg and then swing my right leg over all my bags. Nothing to it.

August 25th, 2010, 07:22 PM	#4
Flashmonkey Professional belly dancer Name: James Location: Toronto Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 1992 GSX-R 750 Posts: A lot.	I'm not that short, but when the tail bag is on there swinging my leg over is tricky.....so I jump into the seat instead.

August 26th, 2010, 04:42 AM	#5
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	^^^ Cowboy style aye?

August 26th, 2010, 06:24 AM	#7
PitBull ninjette.org member Name: Lisa Location: DFW Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250 Posts: 184	You could always ride side saddle.

August 27th, 2010, 04:39 AM	#8
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	I'm 5'7" with a 30 inch inseam. My bike with packed luggage looks like this: Normally I throw my leg over, but my bag isn't THAT big. There is a specific technique. I hold the left grip with my left hand and place my left foot forward of the kickstand. My foot is about where it normally is when I'm on the bike... maybe a little farther from centerline... with my toe pointed 45 degrees from straight ahead towards the centerline of the bike. The idea here is to allow me to pivot on the ball of my foot. I take my right leg and put it behind me so I'm standing as if frozen in mid-stride while walking. This lets me get some momentum as I throw my leg up and over. I bend a lot at the hip to allow my leg to get up higher. Momentum is what it's all about. Having said this, I've also used another method that might suit you better. Last year I did a tour while having severe knee problems that made it darned difficult to get my leg up on its own. So I would stand next to the bike with my left hand on the grip, and bend my right leg at the knee enough to grab the cuff of my pants with my right hand. Then I literally used my arm to pull my right leg over the seat, with my foot ahead of the tail bag. This looked very silly and required a bit of balancing on my left foot (aided by holding the bar) but worked amazingly well.

August 27th, 2010, 06:34 AM	#9
mrlmd ninjette.org sage Name: Marc Location: Crawfordville, Florida Join Date: Jan 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Suzuki S50, 2006 Kawasaki Ninja EX250F, 1990 Honda PC800, 2000 Yamaha TW200 Posts: 848	Getting off without getting your leg hung up on the bag can be harder. Worse if the bike falls over on you.

August 27th, 2010, 09:18 AM	#13
drowe531 ninjette.org guru Name: David Location: Burlington, MA Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250 (sold); 2008 Plasma Blue Ninja 250 Posts: 364	Curious, but have you short people tried getting on like a passenger would? Put your foot on the peg and hold the handlebar to give yourself a little bit of height to get up.

August 27th, 2010, 09:26 AM	#14
Blackwidow ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Paulette Location: . Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	not to get on the bike, and to get off the bike i think using the foot pegs would be difficult.