Passenger seat acrobatics

[Thunderbird]

I just spent two wonderful days on winding mountain roads riding my R1150GS two-up with my gal. It was a perfect ride. Amazing weather, great roads and the bike ran perfectly. The only complaint over the whole weekend was over the admittedly challenging rear seat height. It's a basically stock bike with Ohlins in back, panniers and top case. It's definitely a challenge for my 5'6" fiancee to gracefully get a leg over the seat. There were hundreds of Harleys out and their riders just sort of, um, sit onto the back of the bike, while mine is doing something like a stunt in a Jackie Chan movie with her leg sideways at eye level, flying over the pannier.

Any ideas? So far I've considered:
a) A lower rear seat - does such a thing exist? Would it make a difference?
b) Buying a cruiser - R1200C? (why does it make 20hp less?)
c) Or, my favorite option, taller riding boots for my gal. Any suggestions? She's already wearing Frye boots with a heel. I picture something like what Gene Simmons wears.

I haven't considered lowering the rear shock because I just bought the $1000 Ohlins and I like it. I ride the bike everyday and the height is ideal for me.

[SourKraut]

You get on the bike first then she stands onto the left passenger peg and easily mounts the bike that way? There's no reason for her to throw a leg over from the ground.

['05Train]

Originally Posted by SourKraut

You get on the bike first then she stands onto the left passenger peg and easily mounts the bike that way? There's no reason for her to throw a leg over from the ground.

Exactly. My wife's 5'2", and she has no problem getting on the bike. I stand it upright with the bars turned a bit to the right, she pits her left foot on the left passenger peg, stands up, lifts her right leg over the seat, then turns and sits down. No fuss, no muss.

[freyke]

Originally Posted by SourKraut

You get on the bike first then she stands onto the left passenger peg and easily mounts the bike that way? There's no reason for her to throw a leg over from the ground.

+1

[def]

There's something to be said about a young lady mounting up on a motorcycle...with or without a driver....

[thehomealien]

Originally Posted by SourKraut

You get on the bike first then she stands onto the left passenger peg and easily mounts the bike that way? There's no reason for her to throw a leg over from the ground.

It's like a horse.

Originally Posted by def

There's something to be said about a young lady mounting up on a motorcycle...with or without a driver....

[on2wheels52]

I'll never forget the woman at Stelvio mounting up (and she was no kid, 40 maybe) on an RT(?) with a trunk.
From the ground, she just threw her leg over the box and got on. She saw me looking at her with my mouth open and just kind of shrugged. I didn't have the language skills to say anything but she acknowledged my thumbs-up with a nod.
Jim

[Dan-M]

As said above, she needs to get the technique down. The horse analogy is good.
I get on the GS first, my wife puts her hand on my shoulder, steps up on the peg and swings her leg over. No problem.
She's 5'5", mid 50s.

[rdwalker]

Actually, you may want to try the opposite - see what works out for you.

My wife is quite short, even the K12LT presents a challenge. Our system is that I let her get on first: onto the captain's seat. Then she slides back, onto the pillion. I get on next.

Dis-assembly is the reverse of assembly.

[Short-Johnson]

My wife is 4'11" , On our GSA I mount up right foot on back brake right hand squeeze on front brake ( I dont get the whole linked brakes thing ?) as I hold the left grip in my hand I stick my left elbow out as if to escort her down the street. she grabs ahold with her left hand and puts left foot on rear peg and does her best Nadia C and up onto the seat !! There was a time she had me pull up to curbs to get on, now she's a pro !!!

['05Train]

Originally Posted by Kenpo

My wife is 4'11" , On our GSA I mount up right foot on back brake right hand squeeze on front brake ( I dont get the whole linked brakes thing ?) as I hold the left grip in my hand I stick my left elbow out as if to escort her down the street. she grabs ahold with her left hand and puts left foot on rear peg and does her best Nadia C and up onto the seat !! There was a time she had me pull up to curbs to get on, now she's a pro !!!

Nadia C? Dude, you just dated yourself.....


Then again, so did I....

[nanotech9]

make life easy.

If you're on the bike, straighten it up, balance out both feet on the ground, then let her step left foot to RIDER left peg, then the leg swing over the seat is easy.

for shot people, the step up onto the PASSENGER peg is a long ways... so why not do it off the RIDER peg? Works well for my gal at 5' 4" on the 12GS, her SV650, ZX10, R6, etc...

Not to mention, he one-sided weight will throw the bike off less when she steps onto the lower peg than it will the higher passenger peg.

Oddly enough, this is how I get on my bike to... and many times from the right side on the kickstand... right foot right peg, lean into the bike, kick leg over. Bike never moves off the stand.

[Short-Johnson]

Originally Posted by '05Train

Nadia C? Dude, you just dated yourself.....


Then again, so did I....

LOL !!