Getting on your bike?

[otherwise]

Probably a silly question, but.
We ride on the left side of the road. Most people approach a parked bike on the left and swing the right leg over the seat. Back when I raced I'd push start my bike while running on the left side.
If you ride on the right side of the road and approach the bike on the left you are standing on the traffic side of the bike, could be dangerous.
What side do you stand on to mount up.

 

[CarlS]

We stand of the left side where the side stand is. In urban areas, we usually park perpendicular to the curb or road edge; thus the side does not really matter.

 

[DaveM]

Talking about things like this I know it is not relevant on our modern bikes but when we still had a kick start how would you do that. I have noticed from some classic videos that some would stand next to the bike and not astride it when kick starting

 

[Silli]

Probably a silly question, but.
We ride on the left side of the road. Most people approach a parked bike on the left and swing the right leg over the seat. Back when I raced I'd push start my bike while running on the left side.
If you ride on the right side of the road and approach the bike on the left you are standing on the traffic side of the bike, could be dangerous.
What side do you stand on to mount up.

Very good question.

 

[CarlS]

Talking about things like this I know it is not relevant on our modern bikes but when we still had a kick start how would you do that. I have noticed from some classic videos that some would stand next to the bike and not astride it when kick starting

I start mine both ways, but usually from astride the bike.

My guess is that mounting from the left side harkens back to the horse riding days. Horse riders traditionally mount from the left side.

 

[otherwise]

Small to medium size bikes I sit over the bike and kick.
Big units with plenty of compression deserve standing on the right and do the big jump but still with right leg,
Bultaco's had the kick lever on the left, that was interesting at first.

 

[DaveM]

Even the big bores I would stand astride, cannot ever remember standing on the side. Even with the bikes with decompression switches I would do it this way. Seen a few of my friends go over the handlebars when trying to start my Yamaha 360

 

[Rocky]

Unless it's completely unavoidable, I never park in a position that puts me in a traffic lane.
I always mount from the left side and have no trouble kickstarting my old bikes while astride them.

 

[hemibee]

Left side here too and if in a road side parking spot I park perpendicular to the traffic.

Kick start from astride the bike. If kicking a big bore bike that also has electric start be sure and keep your thumb away from the start button, DAMHIKT. Let's just say you won't do it twice on a Harley.


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[otherwise]

So the consensus is, mount from the left regardless of riding on left side or the wrong side of the road.

Also looks like most kick while standing or sitting over the bike. I only weigh in at about 70 to 75 kg and when starting big compression I find standing to the right gets a little extra down force. On the other hand we are doing this less and less these days.

 

[The Seeker]

I have a little stool I carry with me to mount and dismount...and I climb over the back of the saddle. Then I make sure I'm always facing downhill so I can bump start the bike.

 

[otherwise]

I have a little stool I carry with me to mount and dismount...and I climb over the back of the saddle. Then I make sure I'm always facing downhill so I can bump start the bike.

Classy, real classy. Do you have a man servant following you about to give your boots a polish?

 

[DaveM]

When you think about it a bike with a side stand leans to the left so it seems just right that you would mount it from the lower side

 

[CarlS]

I have a little stool I carry with me to mount and dismount...and I climb over the back of the saddle. Then I make sure I'm always facing downhill so I can bump start the bike.

AJ, I thought you would vault onto it from behind like in the western movies.

 

[The Seeker]

Classy, real classy. Do you have a man servant following you about to give your boots a polish?

Yes, Ignignock the dwarf. He and the stool then go into my tank bag.

 

[DaveM]

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[Rocky]

I sometimes see the cruiser guys mount from the right side - I guess because the seats are so low - but it just looks odd to me.

 

[DaveM]

I have had to do it once or twice on the Speedmaster and it still feels odd

 

[CarlS]

I have also had to do that on my Bonnie in crowded parking conditions.

 

[shanered6]

When you think about it a bike with a side stand leans to the left so it seems just right that you would mount it from the lower side

if i didn't now any better DAVE ! i would think you where talking about something else !