Feet Can't Touch The Ground?

[Ixion]

I've hardly ever had a bike where I could put both feet on the ground. To be honest I never realised when learning to ride that doing so was thought desireable. How often, as you say, does one ever do that, even when one can. IF I see someone with both feet down, I tend to assume they're a learner.

Often you don't actually need to get your arse right off the seat, just shimmy sideways so that you're sort of leaning to the side, and tilt the bike over. May make a little wiggle as you get under way, but it's no problem.

Actually, the biggest problem I have with high seat bikes is not the foot down thing, it's actually getting on them . The high seat means a very high leg swing from the ground. The way to overcome this is to mount like a horse, left foot on the nearside peg first then swing over. Just that if it goes wrong it can be very embarrassing.

[Big Dave]

Interesting - There isn't a bike I can't flat foot.
Even the KTM adventures are no prob.
The very tall nature of the XB12X was what first hooked me on it.

[Ixion]

Well, yeah, sure, but *your* Igor wasn't trying to clear out his parts bins was he?

[Big Dave]

Well, yeah, sure, but *your* Igor wasn't trying to clear out his parts bins was he?

Attention span could use work. The 'organised' gland isn't overly active either and the cheque book balancing gene - forgedaboutdit.
Conversely - I'm top percentile in procrastination and excuse making.

[Goblin]

Im happy to say at 5' 6"ish, I have never had a problem riding a tall bike. I only need to be able to get a toe down and stay ballanced.
I remember back in the late 80's there was a dwarf racing in the Castrol 6 Hour race at Manfeild, Buster Saunders (I think) who did really bloody well. Was funny as a fight to see him run along side his bike then jump on and swing a leg over. So vertically challenged people should not be put off if they cant get two feet flat on the ground.

[Motu]

Actually, the biggest problem I have with high seat bikes is not the foot down thing, it's actually getting on them . The high seat means a very high leg swing from the ground. The way to overcome this is to mount like a horse, left foot on the nearside peg first then swing over. Just that if it goes wrong it can be very embarrassing.

My biggest problem too,my left hip is now telling me it wasn't such a good idea to repeatedly crash on my left side at the dirt track,and maybe doing 50 laps at a time holding my leg out with a steel shoe strapped to my foot didn't help either - 15 yrs later I pay the price.I get on using the stirrup method too.

As Wolf has found out,it's only in the city you need to put your foot down - I'm happy with a toe,and only a slight shift will put my whole foot down.Off road you need to foot and mount on the uphill side....um,Murphy's Law says one day you are going to foot the lowside with disasterous results,and you with have to push the bike embarassingly somewhere else to mount.I've ridden bikes with over 900mm seats,I didn't really think about it at the time....but wouldn't think about it now.