Passenger question: Ultra Classic
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 63
Likes: 5
From: WI
My wife is 5'7"+ and pretty athletic for just turning 50. She loves to ride and is last on-first off. She has developed a quick fluid motion so that most times I barely feel her weight on the one side when mounting. I am forbidden from having a backrest because it encroaches on her seat room, that may help the passenger mount as well. I had a Suzuki C90T before the RKC and sold it to a good friend last year. He has to have a backrest, in addition his wife is quite portly. He bitches about riding with his wife and for a while I didn't understand why. Rode with them to bike night about 6 weeks ago and witnessed firsthand her mount, it was painful to watch. I didn't think it was possible to lever that much weight, that far off a motorcycle and not tip over. It really appeared that she was trying to take him by the shoulders and fling him to the ground.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Kevinch, does she use the floorboard? My lady also suffers from the same malady, and the hot humid summers in Mn make her miserable. But she has no problem mounting the Ultra with normal riding gear.
I raise the bike, stand with both feet firmly planted. She puts her left hand on my left shoulder, steps on the left floorboard, and with one fluid motion swings her right leg over. To get off, I stop with the bike upright, stand up while holding on the front brake, and she dismounts the same way, only in reverse.
She's 5'6, about 160 lbs, btw.
I raise the bike, stand with both feet firmly planted. She puts her left hand on my left shoulder, steps on the left floorboard, and with one fluid motion swings her right leg over. To get off, I stop with the bike upright, stand up while holding on the front brake, and she dismounts the same way, only in reverse.
She's 5'6, about 160 lbs, btw.
My fiance does the same thing. She finds it much easier if I'm standing. Gives her a little more room to swing her leg between me and the tour pack.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
6 months ago my wife had double knee replacement. We had to change how she gets on and off the bike this year. She is now first on, last off. She does not like it that way and is working hard to get back to normal.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
Likes: 21
From: Arlington, TX
I raise the bike, stand with both feet firmly planted. She puts her left hand on my left shoulder, steps on the left floorboard, and with one fluid motion swings her right leg over. To get off, I stop with the bike upright, stand up while holding on the front brake, and she dismounts the same way, only in reverse.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,521
Likes: 57,072
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
She can get on either way, most times she gets on first, but prefers the bike on the center stand, more stable. I'm a big guy 6'2" .. 260 and have no problem holding the bike stable but it makes her feel more comfortable with the bike on the stand.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 270
From: Wellsboro, PA
I'm solo about 90% of the time. Not really used to passengers, so they get on first, while the kickstand's down & engine's off. Easier for me, if they're already on. When we stop, they have to wait til kickstand's down to get off. It works for me. Limited Ultra.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,019
Likes: 3
From: St.Pete Beach
Mine gets on after I stand the SG upright, she than steps on the floorboards and get on, but she is also 5'10" and 130...Kinda long legged and has no probs, she usually mounts from right side after puttin her crap in the saddlebag..
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Prescott Valley, AZ
My wife enjoys having the center stand down, making the bike more stable. 5'7" 160 and she puts one foot on the rear foot rest and swings over the touring box with no problems. Now, if I could just get her to lean at the right direction when turning and traveling at slow speeds........
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 673
Likes: 29
From: NE Ohio
Well, we tried it in the garage last night when I was playing with the GPS & she wandered out wondering what I was up to. Bike was on the side stand - I was in my office shoes & not going to try & keep from slipping on my garage floor while holding it up. It also dawned on me that I had moved the trunk the full 2" back from where it was adjusted when I bought the bike & we went on our first (& only to date) ride together. Although she was in street sandals, I asked her to give it a try &, on the 2nd attempt, she was able to get on while I straddled the bike & leaned way forward(again, bike on its side stand). She was also able to get off too. It might have had to do with the trunk being moved back, the fact that she was a little more familiar with the mechanics of motion involved or she just had more range of movement last night than on the day we went out - who knows? Like some who have posted have said, it doesn't really matter one way or the other - I just find in more convenient, sometimes, to have her mount after I'm on.