Why does it look so easy?

[mstriumph]

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.

i'm left-handed

i'd never dream of getting off the bike on the rhs ....... the stand's on the left, the bike leans left when it rests on it - i get off on the left

[crashe]

On the cruiser....... I slowly stop the bike and have put my foot on the side stand and it is down before I have stopped on most occassions but not always. Sometimes I do it after I have stopped.
Depends on where I am stopping.
When the side stand is fully down I then check the level of the ground so that the bike will be secure and not topple over.
I then place my left foot on ground, lean the bike over and swing the right leg over. Again check that the bike wont topple over.
Then lock the front wheel after removing my helmet.

[ZeroIndex]

everyone is making this sound too hard.. it's just the same as doing u-turns.. you can either do them, or you can't..

..now.. the trick is to take gear off/put it on quickly.. if anyone has some good tips, please tell me.. green rep is at stake..

[Quartida]

..now.. the trick is to take gear off/put it on quickly.. if anyone has some good tips, please tell me.. green rep is at stake..

Don't take it off.

[Pathos]

I think it really depends on how wide your tyres are / center for gravity. If my fxr is leaning an inch to the wrong side I need to throw all my weight to stop it going over. saying that I'm not that heavy ... :/

[Beemer]

what's wrong with putting the side-stand on before getting off your bike?

Nothing! I thought it wasn't the done thing to get on and off your bike with the sidestand down so I was a very nervous learner. Finally someone said to me "why don't you get on the bike while the stand is down?" and I admitted I didn't think you were meant to! So I also put the stand down before getting off the bike and leave it down until I get on the bike. I always hold the bars and am careful getting on and off, and I've never had any problems.

I'm only 153cm tall so for me it's a practical thing - and also one less thing to worry about. As for getting off the bike on the right side - ooh, how weird! I would have huge problems doing that!