Mounting ST1300

So if you mount it from the peg, do you do it from the high side, or from the low side?
I'm 5,8, and do the "classic" mount. I usually only scuff the sidebags on the dismount.
 
I suppose if you're a lightweight you could mount from the peg on the high side. I think that would be a bad practice though unless you're a jockey.

The idea of mounting from the peg is to clear the bags without being a prima ballerino or ballerina. You should be able to do that from the low side and keep the weight on the side stand thus the bike stable.

Mounting/dismounting from the high side is something motor officers do to keep them from backing into traffic during enforcement stops. It's a good practice but it takes some practice to make it a habit.
 
tmoldovan said:
So if you mount it from the peg, do you do it from the high side, or from the low side?
I'm 5,8, and do the "classic" mount. I usually only scuff the sidebags on the dismount.
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Low (left) side. Stepping on the peg from the right side risks compressing the suspension, bringing the bike more upright and risking a tip over.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
ok, so for S & Giggles today, i mounted on the peg, and it was kinda cool. am not sure I'll use this method, but it is good to be aware of it for when the bike is loaded, or for taller bikes.
 
tmoldovan said:
ok, so for S & Giggles today, i mounted on the peg, and it was kinda cool. am not sure I'll use this method, but it is good to be aware of it for when the bike is loaded, or for taller bikes.
Click to expand...

Almost every female pillion on every one of my bikes has boarded this way. It used to take me by surprise but I got used to it. Now if we wore cowboy hats instead of helmets it would be second nature. 'Hiyo STilver!'
 
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The only issue I've been warned of when mounting using the footpeg is that the side stands were not made to take the forces of mounting. I would just check your side stand and side stand mount every now and then for cracks. Cracked side stand mounts have been found on ST1100's... not sure if the 1300's ever had a problem with them.
 
mount from the left unless it's in my garage - then i mount from the right using the pegs as I park it snug up against the left hand wall (wife likes the right hand wall for hers - happy wife ... ;) )
 
I normally park my ST on the center stand in the garage in order to gain clearance on both sides of the bike. I nearly always stand on the LH peg to mount the bike and swing my leg easily over the seat without scuffing anything with a boot. I have to straddle the bike to get it off of the CS, can't do that from the side of the bike. Lately I have been leaving the side stand down while duck-pedaling the bike backwards out of the garage in case I begin to lose my balance so that I will have a little bit of a safeguard against a tip-over. I have become more wary of this potential over the past year or so since the bike began to gain weight (or maybe I am losing weight, whatever).
 
I saw this answer on another forum concerning this topic...
I usually run up to the bike from behind, plant both hands on the tailcone and vault straight onto the seat. * Then I yell "Hi ho Silver!", dump the clutch and wheelie away.


* - Not recommended when the topcase is installed.
 
I was taught to mount from the left. Traditionally the side you would mount a horse. Not that I've done a lot of horse mounting. I'm leery of putting too much pressure on the side stand as I've had an old BMW 75/5 stand fold out under me years ago. If I was a constant centre stand user (mostly garage) and pushed off the centre stand once on, I probably use the pegs more often to mount. Habits though, are habits. My seat and my bags are old and scuffed, much like I am. My girlfriend always uses the pegs to mount with me already aboard the bike.
When I am camping solo and the pillion seat is occupied by tent and duffel bag, I kick my leg straight out, grab the cuff of my pant leg and elegantly carry my foot over the seat. I really have to video that to see if it is as elegant as I try to believe.
 
I was taught at a young age to always mount a horse from the left side, that’s the way it’s done. I’ve never mounted a bike from the high side and never will. It’s fine for cops who routinely stop along side the road to do whatever makes them feel safer but seems foreign to me.
 
I don't think it makes a difference to horses which side you mount from provided it's the side that the horse is trained to expect. Or do horses have a preference. They might be right-hooved or left-hooved too.

Regarding horses or motorcycles I think that mounting from the left come from the majority of the world being right-handed and that feels more natural than the otherway round. So side stands were put on the left.

So I've tried to get in the habit of using the right-side mount/dismount. Ergonomically at least on a motor it's easier on my body and there's noticeably less chance of scuffing a bag. However breaking one habit and replacing it with one that is physiologically different isn't easy. It's a work in progress. Like switching to batting left-handed it's easier for some people than others.
 
Most of my mounting and unmounting the bike is using the kick stand. This is due to how I use the bike doing traffic control. Using the center stand isn’t a viable option. As such, riding a single seater with a radio hood and whip antenna, using the left foot peg and leaning in towards the dash is the only way for me.

Even though the kickstand’s base plate is thick metal; I think (don’t know for sure as I’ve never measured it) that it’s bending ever so slightly and the lean angle is increasing. This actually makes the bike easier to get on/off; but it’s not a comfortable angle to sit on (sometimes I do, not often) and it’s potentially a critical balance issue if not parked on a flat surface. It doesn’t take much of a bend to translate into bike lean angle. (Has anyone ever meaured what the proper angle is. Measuring the outer tip of the foot peg to ground might be an easy measuring method.)

When I put the bike in the garage to work on it, I always put it up on the center stand. As a weightlifter, I could always do it; but it was awkward and felt unsafe for my back using the side popout lift bar. Then after talking to IGOFAR, he explained to me how he does it effortlessly even with his back injuries. After doing it his way, I have to be careful that I don’t over launch the bike upward and it moves the bike back and forth. Basically, I don’t need to deadlift it any more.

Now, I just step into the centerstand foot pedal at 45* off lateral line and balance her with left hand on neutral steering handle bar and right hand on grab rail (not using the pop out lift handle). First you have to get the bike balanced upright, and I do that with my right knee before stepping into the centerstand in one clean movement. If you’re straining, it’s not done right. Might be good to have some help till you get it right. I taught my buddy who is 5’6” 175# and 62 years of age to do it.
 
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