[SteelTraveler]

I will turn 70 yrs old next year and have been riding motorcycles since I was 15. I rode a bicycle for 10 years prior to that. So, I have mounted a motorcycle/bicycle the same way for 65 years. I always mount a motorcycle from the left side with my left foot on the ground and swing my leg over the seat just like a kid throws his leg over a bicycle.

I get on my Goldwing the same way that I got on my bicycle when I was 5 years old.

I've been having trouble with my hips for the last few years and I had to give up riding my bicycle 2 years ago and I also gave up long walks with my wife last year. This has been "life altering" because I've enjoyed both of these activities very much.

I figured my hips were wearing out and would need a hip replacement eventually. I even had trouble getting up off the couch. This has been an ongoing problem for a few years and has been getting progressively worse.

Three weeks ago, when I was getting on the Wing, I decided I would change how I mounted my motorcycle. Since I have been doing it the same way since I was 5 years old, it was a hard habit to break.

So, for the last 3 weeks I have been mounting the Goldwing from the right side. I straighten the handlebars to lessen the chance of pulling the bike over. Put my right foot on the right foot peg. Keep my body close to the motorcycle so that I don't pull the bike off the kickstand and swing the left leg over.

After only 3 weeks of doing this, all my hip pain is gone. I rode my bicycle this morning for the first time in 2 years. No pain.

Just thought I would pass this along in case it would help others.

 

[RUMBA]

How do you get off?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[slolane]

I am going to be 67 in a couple weeks and I thought my riding days were over 5 years ago. I got x-rays and the doctor said I needed both hips replaced. Long story short I sold my wing had the hips replaced and low and behold ten weeks after the second hip was done I bought another wing. I can put in 800+ mile days with no problem at all and playing some of the best golf I ever played. Moral of the story, don't be afraid to have the hips replaced if you need it!! Get them done as soon as you can because the younger you are the faster you will recover. I am so glad I had it done it really gave me my life back!!

 

[SteelTraveler]

How do you get off?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I continue to get off on the left side. Sliding off on the left side doesn't seem to cause a problem. This has only been 3 weeks, but there certainly has been a huge improvement. If someone is having hip pain, changing how you mount your Goldwing would be worthwhile.

 

[William Anzik]

That's good to hear! Any other changes? Are you saying that the process of mounting your bike was the cause of the pain?

 

[SteelTraveler]

I am going to be 67 in a couple weeks and I thought my riding days were over 5 years ago. I got x-rays and the doctor said I needed both hips replaced. Long story short I sold my wing had the hips replaced and low and behold ten weeks after the second hip was done I bought another wing. I can put in 800+ mile days with no problem at all and playing some of the best golf I ever played. Moral of the story, don't be afraid to have the hips replaced if you need it!! Get them done as soon as you can because the younger you are the faster you will recover. I am so glad I had it done it really gave me my life back!!

That's great. Sounds like you had a good result from your surgery.

 

[slolane]

Being only 5-7 tall I have always stepped on the left foot peg to mount every bike I have ever ridden. With the bike on the side stand left foot on peg swing right leg over. Never had a bike come over on me been riding since 1973.

 

[SteelTraveler]

That's good to hear! Any other changes? Are you saying that the process of mounting your bike was the cause of the pain?

Made no other changes. Thinking that my old hips prefer mounting the bike from the right side (right foot on right foot peg).

I'd say that my underlying problem is old hips and that mounting the bike from the left side like I did when I was young was aggravating those old hips of mine.

We just have to adjust how we do things as we get older. :smile2:

 

[beckhardt]

Wife and I opted for trike conversions four years ago. Both of us are in great health, just got tired of all the associated motorcycle weight. I’m 72 and she is, well never mind. Love the trike conversions. Might be something to consider. Will probably help your hips. I also ride a triumph Thunderbird for my two wheel thrills. Best of luck in the future. Aging isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

 

[zeeke999]

All the Police in Canada get off and on the bike on the "high Side"
I was taught this way and still to it to this day.

It reduces the chance of falling into traffic when on the side of the road,

 

[jettawreck]

So far I don't have trouble mounting the bike from the left in the "traditional" manner but when the wife rides along in order to keep her (5'-3") from scratching/kicking the side bags I have her get on with the bike on the side stand left side first onto the front part of the seat and then slide back to the rear pillion seat.

 

[Brian Dunham]

IDK if you can do this with a Wing, but I also ride adventure bikes. They are tall and I can't swing my leg over them well. I find putting my left foot on the left footpeg, standing on it like mounting a horse then swinging over it works for me.

 

[paulcf]

I am going to be 67 in a couple weeks and I thought my riding days were over 5 years ago. I got x-rays and the doctor said I needed both hips replaced. Long story short I sold my wing had the hips replaced and low and behold ten weeks after the second hip was done I bought another wing. I can put in 800+ mile days with no problem at all and playing some of the best golf I ever played. Moral of the story, don't be afraid to have the hips replaced if you need it!! Get them done as soon as you can because the younger you are the faster you will recover. I am so glad I had it done it really gave me my life back!!

Wow, nice story, happy to hear! Sorry you had to sell your Goldwing. In Canada, such surgery is of course free, so you could keep your Goldwing. The hospital might even let you bring the seat into your room!

 

[paulcf]

Wife and I opted for trike conversions four years ago. Both of us are in great health, just got tired of all the associated motorcycle weight. I’m 72 and she is, well never mind. Love the trike conversions. Might be something to consider. Will probably help your hips. I also ride a triumph Thunderbird for my two wheel thrills. Best of luck in the future. Aging isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Aging is a rare privilege extended to very few of us. If I have to give up riding due to old age, meh, so what...small price to pay and heck I'll just go out and buy a Miata. :laugh:

 

[jtdunc]

@SteelTraveler

Thanks for sharing. I've been mounting my bikes on the high side and as does my wife. Much easier.

 

[SteelTraveler]

I try to learn from the experience of others, so this morning I searched for info on mounting a motorcycle from the right side.

Found this youtube video and actually learned a couple of helpful tips that I hadn't thought of.

 

[Speedbump]

I'm a right side, high side guy, too. I like to grip the front brake lever with my right hand to make sure nothing starts rolling until I say so. Then, standing on my right foot, I grip the driver's backrest and do a high kick with my left foot, sort of like a NYC Rockette, and step over the seat to the left side.

 

[Pearlrider]

Wow! As you can see on how much I comment on this board that I dont do it a lot. But your post hit home. I had to have the wife read it and she thought I had wrote it. The only thing is your about eight years older. Anyways I'm having the same issues and I love to walk also. So back in july I had my yearly physical and explained to the doctor how the bottom half of my body just hurt all over. You name it lower back pain and even in my left groin area and he looked at me and he says it's time for you to get some xrays of your hips. Needless to say he got the xrays back and sent me to a specialist. Well two weeks ago today I had a total left hip replacement. They said the right one looks good but if I would of kept waiting I would in time have ruined the good hip trying to favor that bad one. The first week sucked being on a walker but now I'm on a cane and off the pain pills and doing alright. So I'm hoping each week gets better and by next spring I'll be back walking and riding the Wing like I was a few years back. So it wouldn't hurt to go have a chat with your doctor and get a little information on what can be done. Good luck and dont wait to long but there is no need to live in pain for the rest of your life if they can fix it. I'm surprised your wife hasn't made you get it checked out by now. Mine was getting sick of walking by herself. That what kind of pushed me into it.

 

[roster]

Gonna try the high side! 74 in November...lots of creaks and groans. Thanks for the idea, been riding since 1965, old habits are hard to break.

 

[slolane]

Wow! As you can see on how much I comment on this board that I dont do it a lot. But your post hit home. I had to have the wife read it and she thought I had wrote it. The only thing is your about eight years older. Anyways I'm having the same issues and I love to walk also. So back in july I had my yearly physical and explained to the doctor how the bottom half of my body just hurt all over. You name it lower back pain and even in my left groin area and he looked at me and he says it's time for you to get some xrays of your hips. Needless to say he got the xrays back and sent me to a specialist. Well two weeks ago today I had a total left hip replacement. They said the right one looks good but if I would of kept waiting I would in time have ruined the good hip trying to favor that bad one. The first week sucked being on a walker but now I'm on a cane and off the pain pills and doing alright. So I'm hoping each week gets better and by next spring I'll be back walking and riding the Wing like I was a few years back. So it wouldn't hurt to go have a chat with your doctor and get a little information on what can be done. Good luck and dont wait to long but there is no need to live in pain for the rest of your life if they can fix it. I'm surprised your wife hasn't made you get it checked out by now. Mine was getting sick of walking by herself. That what kind of pushed me into it.

Sounds like you are doing well and in about two more weeks you will be moving and walking much better. Like I said in my earlier post I was on a bike 10 weeks after my second total replacement. Try to walk a little more every day and you will be surprised how fast you will feel better.