mount that beast

[blues bob]

This has got to be one of the strangest topics. No clue which forum it actually belongs in? Here it is------ My wife is struggling with mounting the Big Blue Beast. She had no problems getting on or off the FJR. Course the T is probably 5-6 inches higher. And has the Jesse 45 litre top box. I installed motorcycle larry's lowering pegs for her. About 2.5 lower and 2 inches forward. Any pillion passengers, significant others care to share what works for you. We've been experimenting, not yet satisfied. On and off--both suggestions appreciated. She's 5',5" and the best riding partner in the world.!! Thanks all

 

[eemsreno]

Bob
My wife said see steps on the peg [left peg] with her left foot then stands up and steps over the seat with her right foot.
She did say this bike is too tall a lot when we first got it.
She is 5' 3"

 

[snakebitten]

Ditto here. Wife grabs my shoulder sometimes as she does it. Left foot, left peg. Steps other foot through. (Not over)
Often when 2-up we have very tall tailbag. Happy trail panniers. And Larry's FJR pillion peg lowering kit.

Wife is long legged. She is taller than Steve's wife. But not as mean.

 

[RED CAT]

Ditto. Climb on like getting on a horse. Make sure you get on first and flat foot it. She puts her left hand on your shoulder for balance then her left foot on the peg and bounces up and over the seat. Same to get off.

 

[troll]

Ditto. Climb on like getting on a horse. Make sure you get on first and flat foot it. She puts her left hand on your shoulder for balance then her left foot on the peg and bounces up and over the seat. Same to get off.

same here. we are both 5'6"

 

[True Grip]

My wife likes getting on with the bike on the center stand. I guess I don't hold it still enough but it does give her more room to swing her leg if I'm not on the seat. After she sits then I get on then rock off the center stand. If she's riding she wants the side and top case on even if it's for a afternoon ride.

 

[eemsreno]

Ditto here. Wife grabs my shoulder sometimes as she does it. Left foot, left peg. Steps other foot through. (Not over)
Often when 2-up we have very tall tailbag. Happy trail panniers. And Larry's FJR pillion peg lowering kit.

Wife is long legged. She is taller than Steve's wife. But not as mean.

That's a good one, she's over there on the couch laughing ,,, she said she's only mean when I need it.

 

[mcbrien]

::006:: ::012::

 

[eemsreno]

What do you want a picture of? A Mean Woman getting on a bike?

 

[snakebitten]

I was kidding, of course.

But I do think she could beat Brenda up.

 

[eemsreno]

Michelle has never beat anyone up but she is very tough!

 

[blues bob]

Hey thanks everyone! I just read all your comments to my wife. I'm bettin it will be smart to stay out of this MEAN wife conversation Well, we've been on track with your methods, I guess practice makes perfect. It also helps to hear it from someone else's husband

 

[mcbrien]

What do you want a picture of? A Mean Woman getting on a bike?

Yep , would make an interesting thread

 

[MrTwisty]

My wife is 5'-2" and my S10 has the pegs in the stock location. However, replaced the stock pillion pegs with a set of Jaxon's (RideOnADV) pegs. Her footing is MUCH improved and she is WAY more comfortable while riding and while getting on and off the bike.

I have Jesse's topcase and sidecases but unless we are going for a weekend or more, we only ride with the topcase because the sidecases do make it harder for her to mount and dismount. However, we have found that is is easier for her to get on the bike first. She simply gets on the front seat, then slides back to the pillion seat, then I get on after she's set. This works best for us but it does require a relatively level and solid place to park the bike on the sidestand so sometimes it isn't possible and she must climb. Thankfully she is fairly nimble for a 51 year old.

 

[creggur]

Wife is 5'1" and just uses the left-foot-on-left-peg and step over technique. She usually has her hand on my shoulder when doing this - no issues...

 

[viewdvb]

Two suggestions
1. The standard mounting for most top-boxes is too far forward and intrudes into the passenger space. Moving it back gives them more seating room and makes it easier to climb through the gap. I also tilt my mounting backwards slightly which doesn't move the weight back but gives more room. It doesn't look as pretty but I don't give a s**t if it works better. Besides, I never load much weight in the top box anyway.
2, One of the problems of passengers when mounting is the need to climb on at right angles to the bike then swivel their foot on the footrest as they swing their leg over. Most factory footrests don't have enough width to feel safe when doing this. I had a pair of PC800 pillion rest rubbers which are wide and flat so I made replacement footrests out of simple alloy angle attached to an alloy block at a suitable angle to fit in place of the originals (see picture). I was amazed over the years to find that the width and angle of the pillion mounts is almost identical on most bikes so these footrests have been transferred from XJ900S (pictured) to FJR to Multistrada and now the S10. These enable the passenger to safely swivel all they like and give a bigger platform for more perceived security.
These mods are a small price to pay for my wife's comfort and company for the 20,000 miles we cover each year.

 

[OldRider]

My wife is 5'-2" and my S10 has the pegs in the stock location. However, replaced the stock pillion pegs with a set of Jaxon's (RideOnADV) pegs. Her footing is MUCH improved and she is WAY more comfortable while riding and while getting on and off the bike.

I have Jesse's topcase and sidecases but unless we are going for a weekend or more, we only ride with the topcase because the sidecases do make it harder for her to mount and dismount. However, we have found that is is easier for her to get on the bike first. She simply gets on the front seat, then slides back to the pillion seat, then I get on after she's set. This works best for us but it does require a relatively level and solid place to park the bike on the sidestand so sometimes it isn't possible and she must climb. Thankfully she is fairly nimble for a 51 year old.

+1. The wife gets on first, slides back on the back seat and I throw my leg over the seat.

 

[blues bob]

thanks for the additional good comments. Yes, I also moved my top box back 2 inches. Helps. We have also tried her getting on first on the front seat , then sliding back. If the sidestand was an inch longer it would help to center and stabilize Mr. T and make that method easier. Sometimes I have moved next to a curb, or getting the tires into a low spot helps. Well, it's a learning process and we'll figure it out. My little buddy, alias Best Wife, will be 68 in a couple weeks, so we figure we got about 20 more years of good ::001:: left!

 

[Don in Lodi]

My wife likes getting on with the bike on the center stand. I guess I don't hold it still enough but it does give her more room to swing her leg if I'm not on the seat. After she sits then I get on then rock off the center stand. If she's riding she wants the side and top case on even if it's for a afternoon ride.

Now, how do you get on a bike that's on it's centerstamd with a passenger already in place?
Anyway, Naomi always did the climb-the-ladder and step through method already mentioned.

 

[viewdvb]

My little buddy, alias Best Wife, will be 68 in a couple weeks, so we figure we got about 20 more years of good ::001:: left!

Yeah, we are just coming up to 70 and have been riding together for all of our 50 years of marriage. Forget all the psychobabble about sustaining a marriage - just get out there on a bike and travel together. 20 years eh.... I've been wondering how long my body would keep this up so that's a very encouraging estimate though I notice I get uncomfortable after fewer miles than 20 years ago. Every time I damaged something road-racing, the doc said "you'll get arthritis in that injury when you're older. "Yeah, yeah - whatever" thought I. Now I AM older and you know what? He was right! I did know one member of our touring club who was in his mid-eighties and still covered long distances on his R100 then circumstances dictated that he move into sheltered accommodation where there was no place to keep his beloved BMW. He died a few months later. There's a lesson there....keep riding at all costs! Besides, its still such fun.