Why does it look so easy?

[mstriumph]

never thought about this before ......mebbe depends on the bike

i do it every time on the honda
did it every time on the trumpy
never do it on the fazer ['cause she's sooooooo much taller and heavier methinks]

wouldn't worry about it, one way or the other ........

[cowpoos]

if the bike feels unstable when you sitting on it trying to put the stand down...its probally coz your looking down at it...so you lost your sence of balance....if its something else...I hav no idea...

[Finn]

Actually, I think it's the same for riding. Everone else looks smooth and in control... or maybe that's just the case with me.

[Ixion]

Thing with putting the stand down before you get off is it can be dodgy, if you're short in the leg like me, so sitting on the bike you're on tip toe anyway.

If for any reason the stand retarcts (and some of the older ones were known for it) , an flicks back up again as you lean the bike, no way are you going to hold a heavy bike that leaned over to go onto a stand that's not there, if you're astride it.

Whereas standing beside it, if the stand does retract I can still easily hold the bike up and flick it down again.

Harder to describe than do, that

[Keystone19]

Ixion: you're right, one of the advantages of getting off the bike and then putting the stand down is you avoid the potential problem of the stand retracting.

Mstriumph: you're right too. It is not something to be worried about, it's just a lament I think.

[Motu]

I'm left handed,so I get off on the right side of the bike,also I'm often working on bikes and the right side is where most things happen.So the kickstand goes down and I get off the other side,then lower it onto the stand.Getting older on tall bikes and I have lost the ''swing''....like my left leg don't go over the bike anymore.So the new method is sidestand down,put on stand,then dismount John wayne style.

[imdying]

What does being left handed have to do with what side you get off the bike?!? The bike leans left, then you get off on the left which is then shorter between your crotch and the ground.

[Ixion]

Just natural I think. I get off THEN put stand down, so it makes no difference which way I dismount (though centre stand handles are always on the left side - discrimination, that). But it feels very awkward and strange dismounting (or mounting) on the right. I imagine dismounting to the left would feel as strange for a leftie. (I'm right handed)

[Motu]

It's just natural to be on the right side - I always thought people who got on and off on the left were a bit wierd,like,''why do they do that?'' The right hand side of a bike is the ''business side'' - that's where the kickstarter is (ok,be ghey if you like) standard carbs have their controls on the right,a ''left'' carb has them on the left,ignition points were always on the right(although flywheel mags and magnetos were on the left),the ''timing cover'' is on the right.It's just the natural side to work on the bike....seems perfectly sensable to get off on the side you are working on to me.I never realised it was because I was left handed until someone pointed it out.

[Ixion]

Nah, you're just abnormal
And Amal carb ticklers were on the left. And the points on most mags (K2F and such) were accessed from the left. And chain is on the left usually. And sometimes kick start is on the left , too. So there.

[emaN]

Normally I pull up, in as styley a manner as poss
If ground is level, snick her into neutral (quick clutch check)
Both feet down. Sidestand down. Tip bike over, holding bars (just in case).
Dismount.

Only place i've had to do what you describe is at Blackbird's up at Coro Town, on his steep driveway. Snick her into gear, turn off, hop off, stand down, tip over.

Any other time it just feels too awkward..so no, it's not just you!

[scumdog]

It's just natural to be on the right side - I always thought people who got on and off on the left were a bit wierd,like,''why do they do that?'' The right hand side of a bike is the ''business side'' - that's where the kickstarter is (ok,be ghey if you like) standard carbs have their controls on the right,a ''left'' carb has them on the left,ignition points were always on the right(although flywheel mags and magnetos were on the left),the ''timing cover'' is on the right.It's just the natural side to work on the bike....seems perfectly sensable to get off on the side you are working on to me.I never realised it was because I was left handed until someone pointed it out.

Same as you Motu - a lefty.

My bro told me it was 'unnatural' to get on from the right side.

I thought along your lines with the addition that if I screwd-up getting on the bike would fall away from me...

Oh, and until reading this thread I had never considered getting off my bike before putting the stand down - it's always hit neuteral as I stop, hold hand-brake on, flick down side stand, get off bike.

[Nicksta]

I have never dismounted from my bike before putting the stand down, I dont think i could fathom how.... for me, its stop, stand down, hop off.... (probably cos my feet dont touch the ground properly and bikes are heavy for litttle me) either that or i'll get that BMW that has the little wheels that go down when your going real slow so you dont have to put your feet down at all

[ZeroIndex]

what's wrong with putting the side-stand on before getting off your bike? my ct110, i use the sidestand LOTS AND LOTS all day long, and when you get 'good like me', you can put the sidestand down before you come to a stop, keep your balance, and as the bike goes to the left, you meet the left foot to the ground, and then swing off your bike.. i reckon it probably looks pretty good..

With my Kinetic though, i got rid of the sidestand, and only have the centrestand, which i don't have any 'balance' problems with

[ZeroIndex]

I'm left handed,so I get off on the right side of the bike,also I'm often working on bikes and the right side is where most things happen.So the kickstand goes down and I get off the other side,then lower it onto the stand.Getting older on tall bikes and I have lost the ''swing''....like my left leg don't go over the bike anymore.So the new method is sidestand down,put on stand,then dismount John wayne style.

buy a ct110.. they've got a a sidestand on both sides.. and it's a step through