What's the safest and least embarrassing way to mount and dismount your Tenere?

[IslandTractor]

OK, you guys under 50 can ignore this discussion. I've just learned that I am really an old fart after all. I just bought a Tenere and am shocked (shocked!!!) to find out that it is harder to mount/dismount than my last bike (BMW RT100 sold in 1998 when I was still a pup). The Tenere has a top box and panniers mounted so I cannot just lean forward and swing my right leg over. I will be strapping a tent/sleeping bag on the passenger seat so things are only going to get worse too. Other than signing up for Yoga classes at the senior center (yuck) and going on a diet (double yuck) what options do I have? I'm 6'5", 35" inseam and 230lbs at age 66. Consider mounting and dismounting issues while clothed in full touring gear which limits flexibility further (Darien jacket and pants, touring boots).

So far, with bike on side stand and mounting from left, I have either stood behind the saddle and kicked my right foot up to the seat then slid it over (gets saddle dirty and risks hitting tank) or I have stood a few feet to the side of the bike facing it and kicked my right leg up to the saddle (same issue with dirt on saddle but avoids tank). I haven't tried standing on the left foot peg but I don't think I could clear the top box if I did that anyways and I don't think I'm flexible enough to lift my right leg under and over if standing on the peg either.

Dismounting is also a bit embarrassing. If, with sidestand down, I plant left leg and try to dismount I drag my right foot across the saddle and have to hop on the left foot to gain clearance. Not sexy. It is a bit easier if I stand on the left footpeg while bringing the right foot over but visions of tripping mid air while I hop the left foot off dance through my head.

My manhood will suffer if I need to join a Yoga class in order to start my "bucket tour" cross country trip but will suffer more if I need to bungee a step ladder to the bike. Help.

 

[AVGeek]

For me, I almost always parked the bike up on the center stand, so the mount was easy. I simply stepped up on the left peg and swung my right leg over. Never tried it while it was on the side stand, through I know some here do. For the dismount, I never found a "graceful" way when I had a load strapped to the back, and simply dragged my leg across the seat. For what its worth, I'm shorter than you at 5'9" with a 30" inseam...

 

[Pterodactyl]

I have a 30 inch inseam and I am 65 and I have my S10 lowered about 3/4 of an inch. When mounting I can swing my leg over with some effort, but I often mount and dismount using the left foot peg. Surprisingly I have more trouble swinging my leg over while dismounting if I don't use the peg. I always grab the front brake when mounting/dismounting the bike and I think that doing so is particularly smart if using the peg.

 

[UpToNoGood]

I am 6'2 and still struggle getting my right leg over the seat and not kicking my top bag. I have tried swiftly bringing my right foot to my right butt cheek and catch the foot with my right hand then point my right knee over the seat and release my foot over the seat. It works but looks like a karate kid move. Lately I have mounted from the right side stepping on the pegs.

My main issue with any of my mount attempts from the left is I tend to always bump my left mirror. Now if I was to remove the top bag from the rear I wouldn't have this issue.

 

[Harry Dresden PI]

I cowboy mount the S10.

Bike on side stand.

Start on left side

Place left hand on bars

Place left foot on left side foot peg

Stand and swing leg over.

Sometime I do hit my 55 liter top box

 

[YamahaCruiser]

I'm young, but a fat guy and not real limber. Without the side cases or my tail bag, I can swing my leg over without too much difficulty, but the side cases are large and go pretty far forward. I have gotten into the habit of putting it on the CENTER stand after I've parked it, so I can step on the left peg and swing my leg over the back when mounting. I make sure and park on stable ground, and dismount by stepping off using the left peg. As other's have mentioned, grabbing the front brake is a good habit. I have mounted it while the engine was running and my toe accidentally popped in into gear. Luckily, it stayed on the center stand and I just felt dumb. If I were thin, I bet I could ninja-kick my leg right over the seat!

 

[Bigbore4]

I cowboy mount the S10.

Bike on side stand.

Start on left side

Place left hand on bars

Place left foot on left side foot peg

Stand and swing leg over.

Sometime I do hit my 55 liter top box

This while holding the front brake. Just be sure of your surface and incline.

Edit to add be really careful when your boots and pegs are wet. You WILL slide off the peg.

 

[VRODE]

I cowboy mount the S10.

Bike on side stand.

Start on left side

Place left hand on bars

Place left foot on left side foot peg


Me too.

Stand and swing leg over.

Sometime I do hit my 55 liter top box

 

[trainman]

start 10 yards behind the bike, run up and leap frog onto the beast

works with the missus too

 

[snakebitten]

I have GIANT foot pegs. So I actually have a "step" to put a boot on.

And as stated above, if on the center stand, no matter how heavily I have packed the mule, I can mount up without drawing too much laughter.
In fact, once I swing the leg over with various techniques, depending on cargo configuration, I now look like this huge dude standing on this huge Beast and the impression is that it is in full submission to my authority. Impressive actually. (But misleading...read on)

Getting off?
That's another thing completely. Packed or empty I risk getting stuck for a second with my left foot on the ground and my right boot seat high and hung on something. I often have a boot-smudge on the seat as evidence that I dragged my foot across to get free of the bike.

Public humiliation is actually good for the soul. At some point it finally leads to some degree of humbleness. Being humble never hurt anybody.

Those same folks at the gas stop that saw me get on with such aplomb, were earlier witnesses to me getting off. Too late to be cool in their eyes.

 

[Cycledude]

I'm 62, 5'9", 32" inseam, I usually mount while parked on side stand and usually use left foot peg method but not always, if I have stuff on the backseat then I for sure use left foot peg , I have the Yamaha saddlebags and top case mounted all the time and that stuff does not cause me any mounting issues. This Tenere is the tallest bike I have ever owned , I guess that's what makes it a little more challenging for me to mount.

 

[mrpete64]

I'm 6'2"..220 pounds...and 70 years old. With the bike on the side stand I just lift my right leg over the seat...and slide on! Or, put my left foot on the peg and get on like riding a horse. But, mostly just lift my right leg over the seat. Getting off, I just put my left foot "firmly" on the ground and then lift my right leg over the seat. So far...so good! If my bags are off the bike then the cowboy thing works ok getting on. Still lift my right leg over the seat getting off.
I am just "very" careful doing all of this.
One STRONG suggestion is replacing the thin/cheap shaft guard on the left hand side by the foot peg. I caught my pant leg on the stock one...and fell over...breaking one of my shoulder bones. It took me a while to figure out what happened until I read a few fellow Terere riders comment on this exact same problem. Alt Rider makes a replacement part and well worth the investment. It was a long 230 mile ride home, in cruise control, with my left shoulder broken and having to lift my left hand up to the bars. Once you look at Alt Riders replacement part all of this will be "very" clear.
Can't wait till the spring to get out and go for a nice looooooong ride!

 

[jond]

This was one of my biggest frustration when I first purchased this bike. 32" inseam. I have Jesse Luggage panniers and Givi top case that raises the difficulty when they are on. I learned to lead with the right knee completely bent and my heel almost in my back pocket over the front seat. This generally worked well on mounting but dismounting I never found a smooth method. Finally started using the left pedal and hand brake to mount/dismount when on side stand. If my bike doesn't have any luggage mounted then I mount with one foot on the ground and lead with knee.

 

[CentralCal]

start 10 yards behind the bike, run up and leap frog onto the beast

works with the missus too

::025::

 

[IslandTractor]

Well guys, it's good to know I'm not the only one who finds mounting and dismounting a challenge. With all the farkle companies out there you'd think that someone would have developed something by now to make attaching and detaching yourself from the bike with a modicum of safety and dignity. I was only half joking about a step stool (special highly priced Touratech device that flips down and springs back into place....). I even saw a youtube vid of a GS rider who had a mini collapsing plastic step stool he bungeed to his top box and used as a seat while camping and thought to myself "I could stand on that...." Tie a little paracord on it to retrieve after mounting and you'd be all set. Of course you'd have to charge maybe ten times as much to make it an official farkle but how about one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Evelots-Folding-Step-Stool-Black/dp/B01IFFSL2A/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1489179306&sr=8-12&keywords=folding+plastic+step+stool And, it could double as a camping seat so you wouldn't have to explain it's primary purpose.

 

[UpToNoGood]

I guess we should stop complaining after what this little guy has to do getting on and off his bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKCXP6hj8HM

 

[Wncrider]

I have only had my S10 about 3 weeks but a similar question was posted on the WR250R thread. While the S10 is not as bad as my WR to get on, my comment still applies:

Abandon all hope of a dignified mount or dismount and you'll be OK!

And seriously, I have adopted the left foot peg approach in general. My issue, in addition to age and lack of flexibility (63 years old), is the left knee is just marking time till replacement. Any twisting or pivoting on it is not good. But ironically, I have found the saddle of the S10 to be one of my most comfortable places to be, once settled in!

 

[bob dirt]

I park on the side stand. I have this little double hop skip with my left leg as my right leg does a little slide over the seat. I'm 59, 6', 240ish and I guess around a 31" inseam. My wife usually laughs as I get on but being 59, I don't care anymore. I can stand and just swing a leg over my WR250. I mount my Goldwing the same as my Tenere. ::003::

 

[Tenerester]

Another option:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8iH0ChlNro

 

[barkingllizard]

+1 cowboy up.....