I guess I should read the owner's manual more closely. When parking I keep running into the left mirror whenever I lock the steering and it was driving me crazy. So I've started turning the bars to the right and just leaving it unlocked. Today I accidentally turned the key too far and the steering locked with the bars to the right. Genius! So I checked the owners manual and there it is on page 4-2, "turn the handlebars all the way to the left or right". Makes me wonder what other surprises are in the manual?
How many knew that the steering locks on both the left and the right?
- Thread starter 211john
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RED CAT
New Member
I'm sure most of us didn't know that. Thanks! ::001::
I've been doing that almost since day 1, it feels much more stable on the stand, and is certainly easier to mount and dismount.
DinX
New Member
My previous bikes had it too (also Yamaha). Much more stable when you park it that way (especially when on the sidestand, the bike leans over more like that)
MidlifeMotor
Member
I am going to throw this out there too for an easy way to mount and dismount which many new riders don't know. This works well especially for short riders. It really works well when your bike is loaded up. I thought everyone knew until I watched a short guy try to get on his 1200 GS. He was about 45 years old and put his hands behind his right knee/hamstring and lifted his right leg over the seat while facing the bike. I then showed him how he could just take his left foot and stand on the left peg, stand straight up and then throw his right leg over. All this can be done with the bike on the kickstand. It works really well when the bike is on the center stand. Much better than trying to mount with the left foot on the ground.AVGeek said:
This might seem obvious to most, but I bet most new riders ( including me just a few months ago before motor school) didn't think about mounting this way. I feel like a jockey getting on his horse!
RED CAT
New Member
Mounting the left footpeg while on the sidestand with luggage puts a hell of a load on that side stand. I bent my KTM 950 side stand this way. Best mount the right footpeg and do the same. Takes a load off the side stand instead. Just make sure to grap some front brake first. ::001::
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
Sweet! I just tried the same thing on my 2001 VFR and it locks to the right ::015::
Ditto on the tenere ::025::
Ditto on the tenere ::025::
MidlifeMotor
Member
I guess the key to doing it on the left side is pushing straight up with your left leg as you throw your right leg over. I can see if someone grabs the handle bars and pulls the bike toward them as they stand on the left peg if would put a lot of stress on the stand. I am only 175 pounds and pretty athletic so maybe that's why I don't feel much weight going to the stand. I also have my bars cranked to the right when I do this, not sure if it makes much of a difference.RED CAT said:
I am leary of stepping on the right peg out of concern ( probably unfounded) of pulling the bike back over and having no stand to hold it up. I will try it though.
I'm not sure, but putting the wheel to the right, may put more weight on the kickstand.MidlifeMotor said:
I have been mounting my last two bikes by standing on the left foot peg and swinging my right leg over the bike. I have never bent a kickstand and have not broken the foot peg. On my Wing I did have after market pegs that were more sturdy.
I have tried this from the right peg and am afraid the bike would pull over.
Anyway, the kickstand is very sturdy for my 175lbs necked...
You learn something new every day. Thanks!
MidlifeMotor
Member
I tried it on the right and it feels like the bike is gonna pull over so I stopped.japako said:
I tried the left side "necked" and it worked just as well as with clothing on. My neighbors were not impressed.
::025:: ::025::MidlifeMotor said:I tried it on the right and it feels like the bike is gonna pull over so I stopped.
I tried the left side "necked" and it worked just as well as with clothing on. My neighbors were not impressed.
Dirt_Dad
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Be careful. My wife started doing that when she first began riding the S10. She stopped method after she attempted to mount her bike as it was warming up, accidentally clicked it into gear as she was mounting. That's when the blue tenere that was formerly mine received its first scratches, and it put a dent in the side of the hotel awning under which we were parked. ::010::MidlifeMotor said:
As for the bike locking in either direction, I believe all bikes do that. I know all the one's I've owned could do it, even the Spyder did it. I'm pretty sure it's universal.
MidlifeMotor
Member
Great point!Dirt_Dad said:
cottons
New Member
I would agree that standing on the Left peg to mount the bike will mess up the side stand. It is not the stand that gets bent , but the "U" at the top where the bolt goes thru. Over the last 20 years I have had many vintage bikes , with very strong stands, that have the "U" spread apart because of excess weight of standing on the peg. This is one of the first things I have to fix when I restore the bike.
EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
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Not saying it can't happen on the S10, but this is how I've always mounted the bike, and the FJR before it. 160K+ on the FJR and all I did was wear out the left footpeg rubber a couple of times. The S10 doesn't feel quite as stable doing this, but so far, no issues in 27k. Oh, and I'm 250 lbs w/o gear. YMMV.cottons said:
MidlifeMotor
Member
Thanks for the input, but I don't have any other choice to mount the bike when I have gear on it. I am too short. I am leaving tomorrow for a 440 mile trip to Duck Creek Utah. I have a OEM top case with a duffle bag strapped to the passenger seat. There's no way I can swing my leg over the duffle bag without standing on the left peg. If part of the side stand eventually bends, so be it. IMO it won't.cottons said:
Love the center stand on this bike. Amazingly easy to raise bike onto it.
At that point I can safely use the left peg as a first step, as described.
(too big n fat to do the same with the bike on the side stand)
If the bike is already running for warm-up, I am very careful to keep my boot away from the shifter. It would be easy to repeat the misfortune referred to above.
But this thread is about the steering lock working in both directions. From the center-stand, it is an equal opportunity feature.
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At that point I can safely use the left peg as a first step, as described.
(too big n fat to do the same with the bike on the side stand)
If the bike is already running for warm-up, I am very careful to keep my boot away from the shifter. It would be easy to repeat the misfortune referred to above.
But this thread is about the steering lock working in both directions. From the center-stand, it is an equal opportunity feature.
iPad - TapaTalk HD