Two up mounting
Agreed! Exactly what we do. I told her the footboards will support 10x her weight, get fully up on it while holding my shoulders then swing the right leg over.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
She's on last and off first. She grabs my left shoulder, places her left foot on the left passenger floorboard, steps up and swings her right leg over her seat. To dismount, it's the reverse process.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Topeka, KS
Looks like the wife and I are in the minority and we are probably doing this "wrong" but it works for us. I stand on right side holding the brake, my right foot on the floorboard and knee against the tank (bike on jiffy stand). She mounts from the left onto my seat then puts her feet on her boards and moves to her seat. Once she settles in she says ok (or nods if in FF helmet) and at that point I mount from the right side, while holding the front brake on the entire time. She is actually much more comfortable getting on this way than the "traditional" way. Porbably due to her short legs.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,578
Likes: 19,790
From: Ramona, Ca
Not sure if there is a right way or wrong way....but this always worked for us...
I get one first, I always leave the side stand down just to be safe. After I'm on and settled in, she would ask "OK" I would tell her OK, she stands close to the bike, steps on the passenger floorboard or peg, steps straight up, and then steps through ( between me and the tour pac or backrest) and then places her foot on the other board and sits down...you can practice this and it becomes very smooth, no scuffs and bike stays steady. Just no pulling on me to help get on...straight up and through...
Dismount is about the same just reversed... "OK" and then "OK" before anything happens....
I get one first, I always leave the side stand down just to be safe. After I'm on and settled in, she would ask "OK" I would tell her OK, she stands close to the bike, steps on the passenger floorboard or peg, steps straight up, and then steps through ( between me and the tour pac or backrest) and then places her foot on the other board and sits down...you can practice this and it becomes very smooth, no scuffs and bike stays steady. Just no pulling on me to help get on...straight up and through...
Dismount is about the same just reversed... "OK" and then "OK" before anything happens....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 166
From: WPB, FL
Last On - First Off
I ALWAYS get on the bike first, get it started - kickstand up - in gear and ready to roll BEFORE she climbs on. She won't climb on or get off before we verbaly agree! She had to learn to keep her center of gravity OVER the bike while mounting and dismounting. I don't care how big you are or how small she is. If you aren't 100% ready and she steps up without centering herself over the bike - over you'll go!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
I ALWAYS get on the bike first, get it started - kickstand up - in gear and ready to roll BEFORE she climbs on. She won't climb on or get off before we verbaly agree! She had to learn to keep her center of gravity OVER the bike while mounting and dismounting. I don't care how big you are or how small she is. If you aren't 100% ready and she steps up without centering herself over the bike - over you'll go!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Others have provided good mounting technique's and I would just add that with my wife and I communication is the key. In that she touches me on the shoulder and tells me she is getting on or off. We don't want any surprises of on or off movement. It can happen from what I hear and no sense in my wife thinking that I knew she was getting off when in fact I was concerned about changing the radio or some other unknown distraction.
So my advice - Communicate and both acknowledge when getting on or off.
So my advice - Communicate and both acknowledge when getting on or off.