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Wow. What an interesting thread... Honestly, I simply couldn't believe the number posting here that mount with the bike on the centerstand, and even more stepping onto the left peg while the bike is on the sidestand to mount up. Surprising, at least to me.
I'm only 5' 7", maaaaaaaybe near 5' 8", with only a 29" inseam. I also am pretty friggin' portly, weighing near the big three-zero-zero mark in all my gear. My bike always has the Yamaha side cases on it, along with an Altrider rear rack mounted in the high position. I have also had the forks re-done with Penske valving and stiffer springs by Nick at Stoltec Moto, along with a Penske rear shock, both of which actually *ADD* seat height from sacked stock suspension my S-10 had at 21,000 miles when I had all that done. I run my Cee Bailey modified seat in the high position unless I am on long trip and running my Bags Connection "City" tank bag and one of my MotoFizz rack bags... On those rides I sometimes run the seat in the low position, particularly on later days when a bit of fatigue sets in.
I also have had total titanium/ceramic hip replacements on both sides, have two severely arthritic knees with no cartilage in either one, a bad left ankle, and recurring gout in my left big toe joints...
Yet I *ALWAYS* mount this bike like I have always mounted motorcycles for the past 40+ years... Sidestand down, left foot on the ground and swing my right leg over the top. And in over 14 months and over 24,500 miles I've never dropped it mounting up. I have had two near zero MPH drops, but both of those were coming to a stop on uneven ground, not mounting up. Honestly, I've never actually even thought about mounting the bike with it one the centerstand and *rocking* it off, nor stepping up onto the left peg and mounting... Probably because as a former shop technician and later a dealer I have seen far too many people topple over that way, and I have seen sidestand mounting bolts snap off, too. Understand, I'm not necessarily knocking those who mount up those ways. I've just never done it...
And it leads me to a question. How many have actually dropped their S-10's mounting up?
Hell, I'll probably drop my tomorrow mounting up, but I do wonder why so many are spooked by mounting the Super Ténéré in just the plain, ol' normal way...
Dallara
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