Right or Left?

[Gunslinger]

I suppose this might be a dumb question but since I'm in the Newbie section of the playground hopefully the rock throwing will be minimal. Are you supposed to mount the bike from the right side or the left? Why would one side be preferred over the other? Does anyone even care? Seems like it's just as easy for me to get on the bike from either side.

[Fast Eddy B]

Always from the left.

I'd really recommend taking a training course. If it's a good one, (MSF-BRC, or UK - CBT/DAS) they'll answer these questions even before you ask them.

The sidestand is on the left, so its easiest to kick it up, then mount the bike, as well as getting you into the ready positon with left foot on ground, right on the rear brake, and both hands on the bars.

Edit: mount then kick, kick then mount? maybe I was thinking centrestand.

Take some training, it's so much easier than reading stuff on the web.

[dr_bar]

If I put my kickstand up, then mounted the bike... I'd probably be picking my bike up off the ground on a fairly regular basis.

I have a bad knee right now and I find mounting the bike is a whole lot easier and pain free when done from the right, to each his own is what I say...

[KingRobb]

Any steed should always be mounted from the left.

[Shorts]

From MSF:


The bike leans that way so it's stable. Plus you're suppose to reach across and hold the front brake when you get on so the bike doesn't move.


Or you could try getting on it from the right and it feels kinda awkward.

As said, always get on your horse from the left.

[Wrider]

You're supposed to mount from the left, as said...
That said I'm weird... I tend to mount from the right and dismount to the left... It seems to be easier for me to swing my legs that way...
Wrider

[ofblong]

If I dismounted from the right id find myself against some hot pipes.

Also I have never kicked the kickstand up before mounting. I always mount then kick up the kickstand. Now I said before mounting. If im not gonna mount it ill tip it up and then put the kickstand up to push it wherever.

[ShawnKing]

I suppose this might be a dumb question

No such thing - just dumb people.

Are you supposed to mount the bike from the right side or the left?

"Supposed to"? Well, some folks (my wife included) will say you are "supposed to mount from the left side of the bike.

I am not "some folks".

Why would one side be preferred over the other?

Pipes, farkles, lean...many reasons. I really think it's a leftover from riding horses. You *always* mount a horse from the left.

Does anyone even care?

You'd be surprised how many people do!

Seems like it's just as easy for me to get on the bike from either side.

Then you go right ahead and mount up however you'd like, Mister!

My wife would make fun of me when I mounted my Royal Star from the right. Dismounted that side too. But with my FJR, I mount from the left. I still dismount to the right though.

It's *your* bike and *your* ride. Do it the way *you* are comfortable/safe doing it.

[Gunslinger]

Some great replies here. Thanks to everyone for their input.

I actually did take the MSF course and it was worth every penny. I see people on here all the time speaking of the virtues of this training and I agree 100%. They may have mentioned the proper way to mount the bike but the class was early in the morning, it's possible that I was "resting my eyes" for a few seconds and I missed it.

[jonnythan]

Some great replies here. Thanks to everyone for their input.

I actually did take the MSF course and it was worth every penny. I see people on here all the time speaking of the virtues of this training and I agree 100%. They may have mentioned the proper way to mount the bike but the class was early in the morning, it's possible that I was "resting my eyes" for a few seconds and I missed it.

I'm pretty sure my class didn't cover it.

Use whichever side you want. It really doesn't matter. Just make sure you have a firm grip on the handlebars (and preferably the front brake) when you lift it off the kickstand.