Isn't it annoying when you can't get your leg over?

**Waihou Thumper** · 5th February 2011, 19:59

Be it luggage, well that's okay as you allow for it....
BUT, what happens when you park the bike and the camber of the road or track don't let you get off or on?
Damn! It can be embarrassing? Even worse when you vault on and it won't lean over for ya'
Some bikes are quite tall and I see that on some stream crossing we are sort of literally stuck between a rock and a hard place......Whad'ya do? I have been stuck, it is too steep to put the sidestand down and the bike is stuck, you lean over to see if it is okay and ........OMFG, she keeps coming and coming and by then it is a quick look behind to see if someone is runnin' to help ya? Too late, over she goes...
It does happen, I would be interested to hear some of your antics/stories.....
Twice today, I parked the bike put the sidestand down and felt like it was gonna topple, so had to start her up, move it higher and try again....When the ground is soft, we have to sort of try first. But, ain't it a pain in the ass!
Big feet etc help for the soft stuff and I suspect all stands are of varying lengths....(girls take note)
It isn't always how long, it is more technique I suppose....
I have even seen some good falls on the Dakar because bikes just get parked and topple....Fact of life I spose'

**buggsubique** · 6th February 2011, 14:09

At 6'3 I'm generally sorted for height on bikes. But there's this "point of no return" thing with me and the Africa...

When riding hardout stuff on the big girl and I cock it up I can end up getting it to that point where there's just no way you can stop it from falling. You can slow it down maybe, but she's gonna fall and you've got a second or three to give yourself a hernia and try to guide it gently onto it's side.

On a few occasions you can pull if back upright from a precarious lean but the strength and energy required is phucken phenominal.

Anyway that's my lame contribution to the thread .

**thepom** · 6th February 2011, 15:22

Got caught out on the dustybutt trying to lean it on a hill and pulled a muscle in my back trying to get it back upright....the dreaded point of no return,just glad I never took the africa as that would have caused serious problems...

**Waihou Thumper** · 6th February 2011, 16:03

Yeah...
What is worse I think is when you flick the stand down lean the bike over and then she plows into the earth like a drill... That point of no return happens fast then
Always catches you out, thinking it is harder than it looks.
The answer is to wait for someone else to try it fist then? Wait for the Aaargh!

**Crim** · 6th February 2011, 16:14

Originally Posted by thepom

Got caught out on the dustybutt trying to lean it on a hill .

I got caught out on the DB as well but wasn't anything as sexy as "on a hill" this was on a forecourt when I didn't get the stand down quiet enough

and "over she went" - luckily the locals got a laugh so was all good!

**Devil** · 6th February 2011, 16:26

I'm 5'9" and ride a GS Adventure, yeah if she's on the sidestand and too much of a left camber i'm screwed for trying to get it upright!

**dino3310** · 6th February 2011, 17:35

This is one of the things i like about the XR, it is tall BUT when it goes just let it go, its an XR who cares it dont and its that light ya just pick her straight back up

**Phreaky Phil** · 6th February 2011, 18:22

Iv'e got to admit to having the occasional stationary fall over, especially with a pillion, once its too far over theres no way I can hold it up. !!

When we were in Alaska I went to pull a u-turn to go back to see were Kelvin and Elaine had got to , as we hadnt seen the headlights in the rear view for a while. Just at that crucial point point in the turn, COUGH STALL, F**K. Bike leaning over. Got a leg down but couldnt hold the weight for long and

down we go. On a road where you could count the number of cars per hour on one hand, I look up the road and see a car coming

Untangle intercom cables and forgetting about how much iv'e spent at the chiropractor on my back I hoist it back on its wheels ( fully loaded ).
The car cruises by, I didnt look, Ahh the shame

. By this time Kelvin and Elaine roll up. There baffle had fallen out and they went back to find it and wait for it to cool down. While waiting had spotted a BEAR, time to go !!

**That looks like fun** · 6th February 2011, 18:24

Originally Posted by dino3310

This is one of the things i like about the XR, it is tall BUT when it goes just let it go, its an XR who cares it dont and its that light ya just pick her straight back up

And as for picking up bimmers,

thats what tractors are for eh Dino

On the ride home from a recent event with a very sore shoulder and an arm that didn't really work good

(with a broken clutch cable just to add to the challenge) Nature called to me (over here on the side of the road she said to me, the world is your urinal when your a male

). I stopped on the Mahoenui hill so I could get a rolling start

(remember the broken clutch cable). Did the male thing on a Gorse bush, damn noxious weed!!! And thats when it all turned to custard.

They were carrying out road works and the side stand had sunk into the metal and was now leaning on quite a big angle

(Did I mention the shoulder?) Unfortunately the bike was to heavy to push upright with just a leg and unable to use one arm

Plan "B" get back off bike, put hip against seat, push bike upright then remount. (Did I mention I was parked on a hill because of the broken clutch cable? yes? OK I shouldn't need to again). However the hand that normally works the brake lever thingy was (inconveniently) the one that wasn't working so as I pushed the bike upright with my hip, it started to roll down the hill, all by itself

There followed a dance like a demented toad as I whacked foot on gear lever to stop forward motion while trying to move along with bike and keep her upright

Finally got back on bike, picked up right hand with left one (thats the only one that worked goodo

) Placed on the steering starting bit and rode home

Bugger nature

**Monstaman** · 6th February 2011, 18:41

So

.. the council built the ground close to my bum thus I am longitudinally challenged.

... I have a DR 650 with chopped seat and lowered rear shock setting.

.... The DR crashes well.

..... Thank VISA for my list of sponsors,

Bark busters
10 inch crescent (to straighten shit out)
Dririder for softening the impact

......No thanks to
Uneven ground
Brother (who larfs at me) ((who is the same height)) (((bastid)))
Panasonic TZ7 camera which turns up at the most inappropriate moments.

.......So all in all I do my David Rabbitbourough impression every now and then and check for rabbits down holes, even Warewolf witnessed this at Tekapo Tamer, so I pick up, scrub off and say (with confident voice and showing no pain) I meant to do that!!!

Chur...

Sigend Mr Vertically Challenged.

**Waihou Thumper** · 6th February 2011, 18:47

Nice little 'ditties' guys......Keep it coming. Knew this would uncover some home truths..

**Ocean1** · 6th February 2011, 18:49

I claim advanced aptitude in falling down. Years of practice an' all.

Lately the knees and hips have started making it almost as painful to get on agin afterwards. P'raps someone'll come up with a dirt scooter before it's too late...

**warewolf** · 6th February 2011, 20:31

One time I ~~parked~~ stopped the Trophy in front of the garage door on a rainy night. Pitch black, can't see a thing, hurrying because of the rain. Flick the side stand down, it springs against the stop with the usual hearty "THUNK". Can't see my boots clearly 'cos of the rain and darkness so can't see the stand either. I lower the bike onto it, somewhat hastily, and realise it's not going on to the stand... soon, lean it some more... soon, lean... oh! shit! NOPE! Can't hold it.... CRUNCH! The stand had flicked back up not down.

Off road doesn't count, right?

**cooneyr** · 6th February 2011, 21:25

First thing I did to ma 950 was put a larger foot on the side stand. Being a S model its 40mm taller than a "normal" one and though I'm 6'2" a ditch or otherwise can have unintended consequences. Its worst habit (or is it mine) is when rolling slowly through a rough/lumpy area with just off idle revs and stalling just when I can't reach the ground. I'm normally standing just to make matters worse

My prop forward training had never let me down when I need to get it rubber side down before the camera's come out

**alane** · 6th February 2011, 21:53

WELL!!!!

You could all get a fairyweight Super Sherpa

,like mine,(or a CT110) and most of those worries are eliminated.
Then you pay the price,in poor suspention,by comparison,& slow hiway speeds etc.

Be thankfull of your big bike power & plush ride,next time your back nearly breaks,picking it up.