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Anyone have some protips or a yoga class I can take for this?

I hate having a backpack on my back on hot days so I have a tailbag on my bike. But the only way I can get on or off my motorcycle when I have this tail bag on is to do this little *hop* as I pull my leg over the seat (note pull over not sweep over). Not only do I sometimes kick my tank and possibly scuff the paint a bit, I have to say this is also not the "coolest" move ever.

If this is the only way to do it than so be it. But at 30 (and 5'8") getting any taller is out of the option so I was hoping some other folks could help.

I wish I were more optimistic about there being a solution to this issue but.... I have a backrest should be arriving tues of next week. I have resisted buying one for the same reason. I finally decided to get one because saddlebags do not fit so well on the nighthawk. I am dreading this as the nighthawk is taller than my other bikes. You will see me doing the same dance step.

I basically had the same problem when I first got the Connie with her two side mounted paniers, my foot kept getting caught up or hook up on one of them. Took a bit of time to get use to them and now I can do it in my sleep. Basically, you will just have to keep reminding yourself the silly thing is there in your way and adjust your mounting style accordingly, till it becomes second nature.

I had to carry an extra load back to NE Ohio from Maggie Valley NC about 600 miles or so when my son had to fly home (don't ask:-). With load on both the luggage rack and passenger seat I just used the old step up on the left peg and swing my right leg over it all method to get on and off, worked for me at age 72. Now almost 79 I wouldn't try that anymore. Was on my current GS500.

gsJack wrote:............................ I just used the old step up on the left peg and swing my right leg over it all method to get on and off...................

That's the drill for me, too.....on my DL1000.

I am a little taller than you at 5'9" but have similar problems when my Speed Triple is loaded.

What I have to do (which is not at all elegant) is to take hold of my right leg by cuff of trousers & virtually dislocate my knee to lift leg over without boot hitting tank!

This manoevere is even more difficult if I am wrapped up in full long distance gear!

For some reason I have never stood on pegs when mounting a bike.

When I rode with a tail pack last id pick my leg up like that too. For a 5'10" fluffy guy that gets some weird comments. I wouldn't be brave enough to stand on a peg like that. It is likely that I would wind up standing the bike back up as my weight would lower bike enough to take it off the side stand.

I think gsjack has the right idea. Im not tall or lightweight and I have done the stand on left peg dismount many times. No stability issues at all.
I think Wriders idea is a good one too. Just remember to put it in neutral or you might get a scooter up the scat hole.

I always use a tail bag on the 'passenger seat' to carry rain gear and allergy meds. So
it seems like I'm forever dismounting by standing on the left(side stand side)peg especially
after a longer ride. (5-9.5 and 220#) When I try to drag that last leg over I almost trip.

Oh, switched off and in 1st gear, parked...