I do this a LOT. Even when pushing the bike in/out the shed. I'm not short...but I'm light... 55kg. So I use the brake bounce to get the bike moving or over a bump on the floor/drive. Uses the energy of the bike to move itself.
@@thebigbail hehe... I got the nickname young as I eat like a horse but never gain weight... So it's an ironic nickname. 20yrs on... Nothing much has changed!
One thing that I struggled with when I started riding was parking on hills (every other street here is a hill), dropped the bike a couple of times doing that. I think it would be a good topic for you to talk about someday, new riders can struggle with simple things.
As a new rider or an experienced rider, the idea is to use your judgement before your skill. I never have or would I park on a hill. I park somewhere else and walk.
@@MotoJitsu I agree, but this is not possible in some places. Now when needed I park with a little angle, like 75° instead of 90° with the front wheel pointing up. Obviously, this is only for when absolutely needed.
@@MotoJitsu Have you ever been to San Francisco? There are some areas that are hills for long distances. Leaving your bike and walking a long distances I would not recommend, unless you want to test a theft recovery system.
For my fellow short riders who tip toe their bikes, don't be ashamed if you have to dismount to park. I'd rather dismount and walk my bike back into the spot vs trying to duck walk it back, loose my footing, and dump my bike. There should be no shame in adapting methods to make your life easier and safer
@@MotoJitsu I've only been riding since September but I was taught very early to practice only putting one foot down. Like you mentioned, my right foot rarely touches the ground now and I can lean my bike over slightly and just barely flat foot one side. So grateful I learned that skill early because it has helped so much
I was also wondering how people park and unpark. It looks so easy when you can flatfoot 😅. I can't even flatfoot one side completely and got used to pushing my bike in/out of parking lots. Still feels a bit embarassing, but I can't change my height and the bike is already as slow as possible 🙈
As always, great info and useful tips! Only thing I’d add (and it’s most likely an obvious comment) is, if there’s a camber to the road or incline/decline where you’re parking, always make sure that front wheel is going “uphill.” Otherwise, if you park with the front wheel going downhill, gravity may pull your bike forward, causing the kickstand to retract and...
Thanks Fast Eddie! Here in Quebec, Canada we are asked to park at a 45 degree angle and to not have our back wheel touch the curb so we don't impede on the sidewalk and have pedestrians bump into the bike. As well when leaving from the parking if we are going right we are asked to put on our left blinker to let people know that we are leaving the side of the street and merging into the driving lane. If you put on your right blinker cars won't see it anyway because its on the side of the bike they can't see yet.
@@MotoJitsu Not to argue but if you look at 1:12 of your video you can see the top case going over the curb... anyway, different country, different rules :-)
There’s no cop going to walk around trying to see if a fraction of the bike is going over...in that case, ever car’s side mirror is doing the same thing.
An Alternative: Pull in parallel to the kerb, about 2 feet out (600mm). Stop in 1st gear, engine off. Handlebars full lock (USA - right, AUS - left). Clutch in and walk bike back until rear tyre ALMOST hits kerb. Clutch out, stand down, off bike. Advantages: You have moved out of the line of traffic, attention on the parking spot. Stopping clear of traffic, and moving backwards, still away from traffic, therefore safer. The air gap between tyre and kerb: some kerbs may support the bike with no weight on the sidestand, making it easy for your pride and joy to fall over...... Disadvantages: a change in habits.
Never leave your bike on an even slightly steep surface without a gear! I did. I walked two steps away and heard it crashed on curb. I turned back and I thought I was going crazy. Happy New Year, MJ!
A few days after I got my first bike we had record winds and I learned that day how important it was my bike was leaned over enough on the kickstand. Unfortunately had to learn the hard way (seems obvious and it is but....i just didn’t realize the pavement was that titled) ....anywho...we live and we learn. Should have also realized my bike cover could act as a sail+parachute
You can also hold the front brake and push down on the front forks hard and release the front brake on the rebound for an extra boost If its needed. Great video man. Learned alot from you. Just went from a klr 650 to a mt09 last month. Probably would have died without your videos lol.
Wow, that brake bump thing was cool! Both my bikes can get a bit heavy at times, like whenever the law of gravity holds true. Anyway, I learn so much from these videos, thank you for making such great content!
Great parking vid! One thing is, If you have a really heavy bike, make sure you are backed in uphill just like your video! I almost got stuck on my Triumph Rocket III on a very tiny incline that looked flat! It was all I could muster to back the bike up! Almost dropped a nut!!!! Great video SenSei!!!! 👌✌👍🎄
It's so nice to see those beautiful streets in LA here from gray and cold Denmark. Could you to a relaxed drive showing your neighbourhood and maybe the ocean? That could be so nice while sitting here, drinking tea and waiting for the spring to come. :-)
Parking and getting the bike back out is my greatest nemesis. A vid on parking between two cars in a parking lot would be good. And how to deal with slight inclines (up or down, or side to side) in a spot would be good. I can get the bike in the spot, but sometimes the bike feels tippy or I can’t get the bike out of the spot (heavier 800cc bike). Thanks!
I have a video about that ruclips.net/video/M43WGedNd-s/видео.html You don't have to get off the bike of course...I just did that in this video...but sometimes I do exactly this.
Nice video, always useful to be reminded of the basics. Like all things it pays to practice reversing your bike in tight spots, especially if you have a bike with limited steering range (like the s1000r) and you sometimes need to park in tightly stacked motorcycle parking areas - getting the angles right takes a bit of practice and better to learn it in a car park or other safe area than when you are concerned about moving traffic. Also be selective about where you park - pick a spot that is safe from a theft perspective and if parked near other bikes and scooters pick a bike that looks well cared for to park next to, if possible. Other riders may not be as careful about your bike as you would like them to be, and if in doubt find another better spot to park in.
Have said about this to a number of other riders as a thing you can do, as near on all bikes do not have a reverse gear. Always wonder why people parked nose first, after talking to a number of them it has been laziness/quicker to do/don't mind the waddle backwards, even seen the tag team one on the bike and another pushing... Depending on the parking spot most times am about a 60-80º angle of road flow, covers the length of the bike so it is not poking out but is also visible to others in cars, likewise if solo not packing deep in a car park to be hidden from people thinking it is clear.
Great info👍, one thing to consider is when backing up bikes with low exhaust, that curb is going to find it before the rear tire!..also can happen when deploying the side stand & the bike leans.
Some places, like where I live (Quebec), you cannot have any part of the vehicule over the sidewalk or curb. That includes cases. So after I hit the curb with the rear tire, I move forward a little bit to avoid a ticket.
These are good tips. Not everyone has a mentor to teach them first hand. You can save your bike from damage and not piss off car drivers buy parking courteously.
Another thing to consider, If you have a rear Trunk/box, beware of “Parking Meters, Mail boxes and or Trees”. your Trunk/box can hit those before your rear tire hits the curb
I used that technique a lot while parking. Note, my last two bikes had no center stands. I also always assumed every nearby parked car wanted to back into me, and every moving car wanted to run into me. I even had a car (Buick of course) “creep” into me from the rear at a stoplight. At two way stop intersections where I had the right of way, I always watched the near front wheel, if it was moving I anticipated trouble.
Living in Brooklyn, I never see parking spaces that big. If you actually find a big space you never park in the middle, pull up or back making sure there is enough room for you and the guy in front/back can pull out. Any tips to lining up the the bike alongside the front car before you back up?
Agreed - also in NYC. I started with a scooter and was an asshole, parking in between cars leaving no space. Got myself a bigger bike and started looking what the big boys and girls do: driveways, fire hydrants and street corners are your friends, always considering that the car you're next to has enough room to get out without knocking your bike over. But in NYC that's 3ft.
Excellent tips. Challenge I have with my Multistrada is when on a slope and parked it’s difficult sometimes to get the bike off the stand...need more practice!
Another great tip. Thank you for sharing. Could you please do a video on how to jump start a bike (rolling down hill or by battery from another bike), and a video on trickle charging? Thanks again.
@@MotoJitsu Now you have a good reason to park on a hill. Compression starting. A lot better then the push and then popping the clutch hoping you have enough speed.
And don’t park where you have to back out uphill, even if it’s slight, especially on a heavy bike. Learned the hard way & thank goodness a guy saw me struggling & offered help, which I gladly accepted🤪. Needless to say, I haven’t done that again😅
I always give myself an inch or two clearance from the rear tyre to the curb. It always feels like the bike's fighting the curb when re-mounting afterwards. I also park as "perpendicular" as possible to put more pressure on the side stand. Some city streets have a mean old camber and I'm paranoid of the bike being tipped by a gust of wind or careless food delivery rider.
As a new rider I always learn from the vids. Thanks Greg. You are the man. I also think you also did a vid parking in parking lot. That was also well done. Happy New Year and continued success in to 2021!
Cool, I like that back in parking. I try to keep my front wheel out a few inches, maybe 6" at the most, so if the person in the car parked in front of me happens to check their side mirror before backing there is a greater chance they'll notice my motorcycle.
My tip is that if you’re parked downhill (even slightly) from big trees and whatnot, park so the bike’s rear tyre is a couple inches away from the kerb, otherwise when it rains all the leaves, sticks and other debris washes down the gutter and ends up all over it.
being an absolute newbie to the motorcycle world appreciate your 100 level videos.....On this one the motorcycle school I took suggested that when you park with the side stand that you turn the front wheel toward the kick stand.....your thoughts here please
Great series of tips for beginners in your recent videos would have been extremely useful when I was new to riding, will definitely point friends that are new riders to your channel!
One alternative I used back in the early 80's.. I used to have an old Honda 550 Four. It was a Rat bike to me.. (Wish I had it now, worth a few grand) I used to pull up outside the local Biker pub and just lay it on the ground. Then when time to leave, pick it back up and ride off :) I kid you not.
I would add one more note. Blacktop vs cement, on a hot day, your kickstand can dig into the blacktop and can even tip over. You can get a steel plate, about the size of a coaster and place that under your kickstand foot. You can also have a pad welded or bolted on so that it has a larger footprint.
I have an after market shoe the fits on the bottom of the side stand that little more than doubles the area that the foot sits on. (They can be had for center stands on bikes that go off road if you shop around a bit.) That's fine for asphalt but I keep a wood puck handy if I have to park on soft ground and the center stand isn't an option and there are no handy objects to lean against. The reason why I use a wooden puck is that if it gets stuck in the ground I can just leave it there and get a new one. It'll break down over time and it wont hurt anything. Plus it doubles as a handy coaster for my Starbucks. :-D (I drink coffee by the gallons, I have never once been in a Starbucks." I make my own pucks out of scrap wood and a hole saw, once around the edge with a round over bit in a router. Takes all of two minutes to make a new one. Also handy for off chamber situations where the side stand is on the down hill side and you need an extra inch or two to keep the bike from leaning too far over.
Love your videos. I've learned a lot. Still a newbie but I was taught not to park all the way into the gutter. Reason being, you don't know what may be in, or go down, the gutter and get on your tyre.
Thank you! You answered all my questions! I had trouble today trying to park on the side of the road with the off-cambered nature of the road and side stand not allowed to lean as much as I'd like. I thought about parking like in your video but wasn't sure about the length of my bike and having enough room on the road for cars to go by. It was a narrow residential street.
If looking for the front suspension rebound to help initiate the reverse walk of the bike, as MJ demonstrates, just be aware of the need to have your front wheel straight when you hit the front brake, otherwise you have a good chance of dropping the bike right there and then. This is particularly so with the heavier bikes like my Honda ST.
Thanks MJ. A very helpful video on parking basics. My ST must be handled very carefully in this regard. It sure doesn’t respond well to a quick front brake application with the front wheel turned, even at parking speed.
Great tutorial! I'd like to add that if there's more than one bike, the last bike pulls out at an angle, as you indicate, and waits thus making it safe for the forward riders to park and then he/she parks once they've done so. Comments on this practice?
I prefer to park at more of an angle to the kerb. In the uk the camber works against us. also never park behind a van as the rear view mirror gives no indication of a low vehicle.behind the van.
Those asking about parking on a hill. Two things, park so that you are facing into the hill so the bike rocks back into the side stand. Leave the bike in gear, don't park in neutral. Being in gear helps to keep the bike from rolling. If you have to park across the hill you can put a puck under the side stand so it's not leaning too far. You want the side stand on the down hill side. If you can't stand comfortably on the hill then it's too steep, don't park there. The best option is to not park on a hill, but you should be prepared because that isn't always an option no matter how far you have to walk. If you know choices are limited before hand just drive the car and save yourself a repair bill if you happen to do it wrong.
In 7 years and 200,000 miles I've never parked on a hill nor will I. I don't want to deal with it...not worth the bs of it all. I just park somewhere else.
Yeah we live totally different worlds 😂 a space like what you called "tight" is a luxury for me. Also I prefer the bike at more of angle as the front end stinks out further than a typical car. our road is busy and narrow.
What’s your opinion on parking up on the curb or sidewalk (e.g. near a Dept. Store or grocery store, out front)? I’m not sure it’s legal but I see it many times.
Off topic: do you still prefer the Lee Parks gloves over everything else youve worn? I told coworker to try them bc of your channel and he loves them! Im still waiting to do it and get out of my funky feeling Dainese gaunlets
I’ve found that if you let the rear tire hit the curb, the bike wont lean all the way on the kickstand. Do you have that issue? It may be cause i have an R3. (I’ve actually dropped my bike cause it didn’t lean on the kickstand completely.) I’d assume you don’t, just cause it’s a pretty heavy bike. 🤷♂️
MotoJitsu® thank you. I can honestly say I need practice. I hadn’t owned a bike since 1990 and decided I didn’t want to live in the shadow of death. Lost my bio. brother January 9, 1990 and sold mine 2 weeks later. I started riding as a preteen but at almost 60 now I must have forgotten a few things. Thank you brother!
Learned my lesson when I pulled in downhill forward, in dirt. I struggled so much to back it uphill in dirt gravel. Managed to back it up a little at a time and grab the brake then did a 6 point turn and weaseled out. It was a sportster, anything heavier and I would be in trouble.
What do you do if as you’re walking your bike backwards, your foot hits a slick spot and slides from under you? The bike then begins to drop because it’s so heavy and you just can’t muscle it out after it has leaned that far?
I've got a question (haven't found a specific video on it). I just finished my 2-day permit course (WA State): the instructor said to always point the front tire toward the kickstand (to the left). I've seen in other parking instruction videos that the whole line of bikes had the tires pointed to the right. In the ones I see of yours, they tend to be pointed straight. Any insight into that? Thx
Man when i look how you guys park i wish i was in a spacious country cuz parking in my country is hell. If i took up a car space with my bike id get my bike knocked over for sure 🤣
I usually try not park on the road as people are mad and distracted all the time and could hit my bike. But when I leave on the road I try to do basically what you showed in the video, we try our best to protect our vehicle always 🤟🏻 Do you think the Tracer 700 is a good bike for a beginner rider?
this :) www.amazon.com/MotoRadds-Motorcycle-Helmet-Mount-GoPro/dp/B074W2J774/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?crid=13CA3AW2GFBMI&dchild=1&keywords=gopro+chin+mount&qid=1609285161&sprefix=gopro+chin%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-11-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTVZKQzU0NlhPQ0wwJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjU2MjE1MjdQOEtaNkpPOTZUUiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDA1MjM2MTNKRFpLMFJVVlhCWCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
Quick question, why do you park your bike with it at 90 degrees to the road front facing to the road and not say with the front facing towards the direction youve been going?
I say in the video, the roads are slanted on the edges of the road and it would be way harder to try to back a bike from a hill vs just moving forward.
@@MotoJitsu i see thank you very much for replying. Appreciate all your doing for us to become better riders! Still bit confused though.. if the road were not slanted, you would just pull up to the side of the road and leave the bike facing direction of travel? Do you generally park your bike with the front facing towards the middle of the road?
@@FusioNNosferatu If you park it like a car, which is what I think you are saying, it will be hidden from vehicles that may think that parking spot is vacant, they might enter the parking area before they see your bike, then they need to revers out. I'm more of a 45-60 degree angle parker, but each to their own, we have mostly parking bays with lines here, but I would never park next to the kerb with the bike parallel to the kerb.
![VENEZUELA vs. ARGENTINA [1-1] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 9](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SJfoPdeOPCQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Hope this gives you a feel things to consider when parking :) Check out my podcast myignorance.com
That brake-rebound trick was new to me. Really handy on a heavy BMW GS!
Make sure handlebars are straight when doing it. Any tilt and bike will dive - don’t ask.
Doesn’t have to be...it’s good to be straight when first learning or attempting it but after that, not always necessary.
I do this a LOT. Even when pushing the bike in/out the shed. I'm not short...but I'm light... 55kg. So I use the brake bounce to get the bike moving or over a bump on the floor/drive. Uses the energy of the bike to move itself.
@@PiggyPower @ only 55kg, you need a new user name....
@@thebigbail hehe... I got the nickname young as I eat like a horse but never gain weight... So it's an ironic nickname. 20yrs on... Nothing much has changed!
One thing that I struggled with when I started riding was parking on hills (every other street here is a hill), dropped the bike a couple of times doing that.
I think it would be a good topic for you to talk about someday, new riders can struggle with simple things.
As a new rider or an experienced rider, the idea is to use your judgement before your skill. I never have or would I park on a hill. I park somewhere else and walk.
@@MotoJitsu I agree, but this is not possible in some places.
Now when needed I park with a little angle, like 75° instead of 90° with the front wheel pointing up.
Obviously, this is only for when absolutely needed.
Sure it is...why would it not be possible to park somewhere else?
@@MotoJitsu Have you ever been to San Francisco? There are some areas that are hills for long distances. Leaving your bike and walking a long distances I would not recommend, unless you want to test a theft recovery system.
Yes I have and I would find a new place to park.
For my fellow short riders who tip toe their bikes, don't be ashamed if you have to dismount to park. I'd rather dismount and walk my bike back into the spot vs trying to duck walk it back, loose my footing, and dump my bike. There should be no shame in adapting methods to make your life easier and safer
Yes! ruclips.net/video/M43WGedNd-s/видео.html
and this may help too
ruclips.net/video/OLBk6tX049s/видео.html
@@MotoJitsu I've only been riding since September but I was taught very early to practice only putting one foot down. Like you mentioned, my right foot rarely touches the ground now and I can lean my bike over slightly and just barely flat foot one side. So grateful I learned that skill early because it has helped so much
;)
I was also wondering how people park and unpark. It looks so easy when you can flatfoot 😅. I can't even flatfoot one side completely and got used to pushing my bike in/out of parking lots. Still feels a bit embarassing, but I can't change my height and the bike is already as slow as possible 🙈
As always, great info and useful tips! Only thing I’d add (and it’s most likely an obvious comment) is, if there’s a camber to the road or incline/decline where you’re parking, always make sure that front wheel is going “uphill.” Otherwise, if you park with the front wheel going downhill, gravity may pull your bike forward, causing the kickstand to retract and...
Thanks :) Yes, back up the bike.
I love these little bite sized lessons demonstrating motorcycle best practices.
:)
Exactly.
I agree. I think he’s able to reach more people by keeping the videos fairly brief and topic/skill specific like this.
When I was a kid we had to park our bikes up hill, both ways, in the snow!
hahahaha
👍🍻😎
Barefooted? 😬
@@mrantone916 Shorts and flip-flops
Thanks Fast Eddie! Here in Quebec, Canada we are asked to park at a 45 degree angle and to not have our back wheel touch the curb so we don't impede on the sidewalk and have pedestrians bump into the bike. As well when leaving from the parking if we are going right we are asked to put on our left blinker to let people know that we are leaving the side of the street and merging into the driving lane. If you put on your right blinker cars won't see it anyway because its on the side of the bike they can't see yet.
The wheel or bike won’t impede the sidewalk, that’s ridiculous.
@@MotoJitsu Not to argue but if you look at 1:12 of your video you can see the top case going over the curb... anyway, different country, different rules :-)
There’s no cop going to walk around trying to see if a fraction of the bike is going over...in that case, ever car’s side mirror is doing the same thing.
I clicked this with the assumption that there’d be some practical tip I didn’t know like the brake rebound. Great stuff!
:) thanks
An Alternative: Pull in parallel to the kerb, about 2 feet out (600mm). Stop in 1st gear, engine off. Handlebars full lock (USA - right, AUS - left). Clutch in and walk bike back until rear tyre ALMOST hits kerb. Clutch out, stand down, off bike.
Advantages: You have moved out of the line of traffic, attention on the parking spot. Stopping clear of traffic, and moving backwards, still away from traffic, therefore safer. The air gap between tyre and kerb: some kerbs may support the bike with no weight on the sidestand, making it easy for your pride and joy to fall over......
Disadvantages: a change in habits.
Many ways to do one thing.
Brake rebound trick is awesome. Never thought of that. Great info.
Glad it was helpful!
Never leave your bike on an even slightly steep surface without a gear! I did. I walked two steps away and heard it crashed on curb. I turned back and I thought I was going crazy.
Happy New Year, MJ!
Many ways to do one thing. You too!
@@MotoJitsu that was because I left my bike with front directed to curb but not touching it. It simply slipped and dropped.
ah :)
A few days after I got my first bike we had record winds and I learned that day how important it was my bike was leaned over enough on the kickstand. Unfortunately had to learn the hard way (seems obvious and it is but....i just didn’t realize the pavement was that titled) ....anywho...we live and we learn. Should have also realized my bike cover could act as a sail+parachute
Lesson learned :)
Brilliant! I need this. The most issue I have e is parking because I am short on a heavy bike. The brake rebound is awesome can’t wait to try it
Let me know how it goes
You help me a lot, I'm 40 and new to riding motorcycles, So Thank you to covering these parking scenarios
welcome!
MotoJitsu.com for my new app, books, merch, affiliate links to Revzilla, etc. :)
You can also hold the front brake and push down on the front forks hard and release the front brake on the rebound for an extra boost If its needed. Great video man. Learned alot from you. Just went from a klr 650 to a mt09 last month. Probably would have died without your videos lol.
that's what I did in the video :)
I like the way you make simple yet practical videos. Parking is one of the most intimidating tasks for those new to heavier bikes.
Glad to help :)
Wow, that brake bump thing was cool! Both my bikes can get a bit heavy at times, like whenever the law of gravity holds true. Anyway, I learn so much from these videos, thank you for making such great content!
Brake rebound. You know what i meant.
You're welcome :)
Great parking vid! One thing is, If you have a really heavy bike, make sure you are backed in uphill just like your video! I almost got stuck on my Triumph Rocket III on a very tiny incline that looked flat! It was all I could muster to back the bike up! Almost dropped a nut!!!!
Great video SenSei!!!! 👌✌👍🎄
:) thanks
It's so nice to see those beautiful streets in LA here from gray and cold Denmark. Could you to a relaxed drive showing your neighbourhood and maybe the ocean? That could be so nice while sitting here, drinking tea and waiting for the spring to come. :-)
I live in San Diego. There's videos like that I'm sure.
@@MotoJitsu Ah it's so pretty out there. Enjoy the weather and don't take it for granted. Greetings :)
I don't take anything for granted, not even waking up this morning.
Parking and getting the bike back out is my greatest nemesis. A vid on parking between two cars in a parking lot would be good. And how to deal with slight inclines (up or down, or side to side) in a spot would be good. I can get the bike in the spot, but sometimes the bike feels tippy or I can’t get the bike out of the spot (heavier 800cc bike). Thanks!
I have a video about that ruclips.net/video/M43WGedNd-s/видео.html You don't have to get off the bike of course...I just did that in this video...but sometimes I do exactly this.
Nice video, always useful to be reminded of the basics. Like all things it pays to practice reversing your bike in tight spots, especially if you have a bike with limited steering range (like the s1000r) and you sometimes need to park in tightly stacked motorcycle parking areas - getting the angles right takes a bit of practice and better to learn it in a car park or other safe area than when you are concerned about moving traffic. Also be selective about where you park - pick a spot that is safe from a theft perspective and if parked near other bikes and scooters pick a bike that looks well cared for to park next to, if possible. Other riders may not be as careful about your bike as you would like them to be, and if in doubt find another better spot to park in.
Yes!
Have said about this to a number of other riders as a thing you can do, as near on all bikes do not have a reverse gear.
Always wonder why people parked nose first, after talking to a number of them it has been laziness/quicker to do/don't mind the waddle backwards, even seen the tag team one on the bike and another pushing...
Depending on the parking spot most times am about a 60-80º angle of road flow, covers the length of the bike so it is not poking out but is also visible to others in cars, likewise if solo not packing deep in a car park to be hidden from people thinking it is clear.
:)
Great info👍, one thing to consider is when backing up bikes with low exhaust, that curb is going to find it before the rear tire!..also can happen when deploying the side stand & the bike leans.
Yes, you'll have to adjust any part of this video to have it work for you, your bike, your environment.
Some places, like where I live (Quebec), you cannot have any part of the vehicule over the sidewalk or curb. That includes cases. So after I hit the curb with the rear tire, I move forward a little bit to avoid a ticket.
These are good tips. Not everyone has a mentor to teach them first hand.
You can save your bike from damage and not piss off car drivers buy parking courteously.
👍🏼
Another thing to consider, If you have a rear Trunk/box, beware of “Parking Meters, Mail boxes and or Trees”. your Trunk/box can hit those before your rear tire hits the curb
Yes
I used that technique a lot while parking. Note, my last two bikes had no center stands. I also always assumed every nearby parked car wanted to back into me, and every moving car wanted to run into me. I even had a car (Buick of course) “creep” into me from the rear at a stoplight. At two way stop intersections where I had the right of way, I always watched the near front wheel, if it was moving I anticipated trouble.
Living in Brooklyn, I never see parking spaces that big. If you actually find a big space you never park in the middle, pull up or back making sure there is enough room for you and the guy in front/back can pull out. Any tips to lining up the the bike alongside the front car before you back up?
Just repetition :)
Agreed - also in NYC. I started with a scooter and was an asshole, parking in between cars leaving no space. Got myself a bigger bike and started looking what the big boys and girls do: driveways, fire hydrants and street corners are your friends, always considering that the car you're next to has enough room to get out without knocking your bike over. But in NYC that's 3ft.
Personally, I prefer Ace Ventura's parking method. "LLLLLLLIKE A GLOVE!"
Still looking for the handbrake on my bike though 🤔😂
hahahahahaa
Nice one. Thanks for reminding me of that scene.
@@amotorcyclerider3230 How could you forget !?
Excellent tips. Challenge I have with my Multistrada is when on a slope and parked it’s difficult sometimes to get the bike off the stand...need more practice!
thanks!
Another great tip. Thank you for sharing. Could you please do a video on how to jump start a bike (rolling down hill or by battery from another bike), and a video on trickle charging? Thanks again.
You're welcome! :) Maybe.. :)
@@MotoJitsu Now you have a good reason to park on a hill. Compression starting. A lot better then the push and then popping the clutch hoping you have enough speed.
I don't ever park on hills:)
Especially when the small bike battery terminals are SO close together and the jumper cable clamps are so big... 😖
And don’t park where you have to back out uphill, even if it’s slight, especially on a heavy bike. Learned the hard way & thank goodness a guy saw me struggling & offered help, which I gladly accepted🤪. Needless to say, I haven’t done that again😅
Lesson learned :)
I always give myself an inch or two clearance from the rear tyre to the curb. It always feels like the bike's fighting the curb when re-mounting afterwards. I also park as "perpendicular" as possible to put more pressure on the side stand. Some city streets have a mean old camber and I'm paranoid of the bike being tipped by a gust of wind or careless food delivery rider.
ok :)
As a new rider I always learn from the vids. Thanks Greg. You are the man. I also think you also did a vid parking in parking lot. That was also well done. Happy New Year and continued success in to 2021!
You're welcome!
Cool, I like that back in parking. I try to keep my front wheel out a few inches, maybe 6" at the most, so if the person in the car parked in front of me happens to check their side mirror before backing there is a greater chance they'll notice my motorcycle.
:)
Brake bounce is a great tip! Steering pointed straight ahead.
My tip is that if you’re parked downhill (even slightly) from big trees and whatnot, park so the bike’s rear tyre is a couple inches away from the kerb, otherwise when it rains all the leaves, sticks and other debris washes down the gutter and ends up all over it.
We get to park on the footpaths (kerbs) as long as you do not block pedestrian traffic. Awesome for congested areas where parking is at a premium.
oh ok
being an absolute newbie to the motorcycle world appreciate your 100 level videos.....On this one the motorcycle school I took suggested that when you park with the side stand that you turn the front wheel toward the kick stand.....your thoughts here please
It’s one way, not the only way.
I'm about to get my first bike today, and I am nervous about things like this. So I really appreciate this video 👍🏼
Nice job you're doing!
Great info, great skills!
Thanks a lot!
Greatings from Romania
Just purchased your new book! Glad to support your work! 😊👍
Awesome! Thank you!
Great series of tips for beginners in your recent videos would have been extremely useful when I was new to riding, will definitely point friends that are new riders to your channel!
Thanks!! :)
Another good tip👌
I being vertically challenged at 5.4ft only gets to tip toe or one foot down, so this suspension rebound is my regular thing.
Sweet! See my video about short rider tips? ruclips.net/video/OLBk6tX049s/видео.html
@@MotoJitsu sure would go through this .
:)
One alternative I used back in the early 80's.. I used to have an old Honda 550 Four. It was a Rat bike to me.. (Wish I had it now, worth a few grand) I used to pull up outside the local Biker pub and just lay it on the ground. Then when time to leave, pick it back up and ride off :) I kid you not.
lol!!
Would that work these days. Or would it make it easier to steal or drag along
I would add one more note. Blacktop vs cement, on a hot day, your kickstand can dig into the blacktop and can even tip over. You can get a steel plate, about the size of a coaster and place that under your kickstand foot. You can also have a pad welded or bolted on so that it has a larger footprint.
Or a piece of wood or a crushed Coke can or pretty much anything to spread the surface area.
I have an after market shoe the fits on the bottom of the side stand that little more than doubles the area that the foot sits on. (They can be had for center stands on bikes that go off road if you shop around a bit.) That's fine for asphalt but I keep a wood puck handy if I have to park on soft ground and the center stand isn't an option and there are no handy objects to lean against. The reason why I use a wooden puck is that if it gets stuck in the ground I can just leave it there and get a new one. It'll break down over time and it wont hurt anything. Plus it doubles as a handy coaster for my Starbucks. :-D (I drink coffee by the gallons, I have never once been in a Starbucks."
I make my own pucks out of scrap wood and a hole saw, once around the edge with a round over bit in a router. Takes all of two minutes to make a new one.
Also handy for off chamber situations where the side stand is on the down hill side and you need an extra inch or two to keep the bike from leaning too far over.
..had to learn this the hard way, don't ask!
I used to keep a crushed can Uber the seat for hot asfalt,grass, sand,etc.
Love your videos. I've learned a lot. Still a newbie but I was taught not to park all the way into the gutter. Reason being, you don't know what may be in, or go down, the gutter and get on your tyre.
glad to hear it!
MotoJitsu.com for my App, books, discounts, etc.
Thank you! You answered all my questions! I had trouble today trying to park on the side of the road with the off-cambered nature of the road and side stand not allowed to lean as much as I'd like. I thought about parking like in your video but wasn't sure about the length of my bike and having enough room on the road for cars to go by. It was a narrow residential street.
you're welcome!
MotoJitsu.com for my new app, books, merch, affiliate links, etc.
No matter how big or small, I learn something with every video👍. I wish you a very happy & healthy new year to you & your family Greg👍
you too!! thanks :)
If looking for the front suspension rebound to help initiate the reverse walk of the bike, as MJ demonstrates, just be aware of the need to have your front wheel straight when you hit the front brake, otherwise you have a good chance of dropping the bike right there and then. This is particularly so with the heavier bikes like my Honda ST.
of course
Thanks MJ. A very helpful video on parking basics.
My ST must be handled very carefully in this regard. It sure doesn’t respond well to a quick front brake application with the front wheel turned, even at parking speed.
Ok
Man, love the sound of your bike and your super smooth gear changes. Great clip as usual. 👍
Thanks! 👍
Helpful. My first bike got delivered today, an MT-07. 397 lbs wet, but it feels like a mountain to me.
nice!
Great tutorial! I'd like to add that if there's more than one bike, the last bike pulls out at an angle, as you indicate, and waits thus making it safe for the forward riders to park and then he/she parks once they've done so.
Comments on this practice?
Whatever works for you and the group. MotoJitsu.com for my new app, books, merch, etc.
I prefer to park at more of an angle to the kerb. In the uk the camber works against us. also never park behind a van as the rear view mirror gives no indication of a low vehicle.behind the van.
whatever works for you :)
Great tips, thanks a lot. Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and will have a happy new year 👍
Thanks! You too :)
Awesome video! Thank you for the great content
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you! Anything different if there is not a curb? That is what I have been encountering.
badly needed this advice! Thank you!!
You're so welcome!
Those asking about parking on a hill. Two things, park so that you are facing into the hill so the bike rocks back into the side stand. Leave the bike in gear, don't park in neutral. Being in gear helps to keep the bike from rolling. If you have to park across the hill you can put a puck under the side stand so it's not leaning too far. You want the side stand on the down hill side. If you can't stand comfortably on the hill then it's too steep, don't park there. The best option is to not park on a hill, but you should be prepared because that isn't always an option no matter how far you have to walk. If you know choices are limited before hand just drive the car and save yourself a repair bill if you happen to do it wrong.
I would never or have ever parked on a hill. Judgment over skill.
@@MotoJitsu You say that, but the dirt guys know the earth is not flat, and flat solid ground isn't a given. Better to be prepared.
In 7 years and 200,000 miles I've never parked on a hill nor will I. I don't want to deal with it...not worth the bs of it all. I just park somewhere else.
One thing to cover - dismounting going across (over the right side) the bike to stay out of traffic's way.
When I get off the bike, I'm not stepping off into traffic..did you watch the video?
What about if the street if not on a plain but down/up a hill?
Park somewhere else.
@@MotoJitsu haha perfect
Been wondering about this. Appreciate the demo man
Love that rebound tip... cheers mate.
Stay safe, matey.
thanks! Consider sharing this video!! MotoJitsu.com for my app, books, and everything else :)
Leaving room for critical thinking ! Thank you for giving good information !!!! Stay safe out there
You're welcome :)
I have a TU250X, and all I have to do is lift up the back end and swing it around. I do that all the time to fit the bike into the garage with a car.
:)
I do the same with parking my bike! Enjoy your videos 👍
Thanks, you too!
Yeah we live totally different worlds 😂 a space like what you called "tight" is a luxury for me. Also I prefer the bike at more of angle as the front end stinks out further than a typical car. our road is busy and narrow.
It's all about look your surroundings and common sense. Great tips.
Thanks
What’s your opinion on parking up on the curb or sidewalk (e.g. near a Dept. Store or grocery store, out front)? I’m not sure it’s legal but I see it many times.
I don't do that.
Thanks for tips. The area and streets are very beautiful :)
What gloves you wearing there & do you like them? Thanks!
All my gear is listed in the description to every video, love them.
Loved the tip about the brake. That will come in handy with a trike. 😊
That weight boost is a true saver, and I gotta agree 100%.
:)
Off topic: do you still prefer the Lee Parks gloves over everything else youve worn? I told coworker to try them bc of your channel and he loves them! Im still waiting to do it and get out of my funky feeling Dainese gaunlets
These are the only gloves I have...these Sumo R's and the normal shorty Sumo's too.
good episode, do you have any tips on parking on uneven road? eg slopes...
The best way that will work for you :)
Next video: How to open the door on a garage🤯
Just kidding, good tips for begginers 👍
:)
I’ve found that if you let the rear tire hit the curb, the bike wont lean all the way on the kickstand. Do you have that issue?
It may be cause i have an R3. (I’ve actually dropped my bike cause it didn’t lean on the kickstand completely.) I’d assume you don’t, just cause it’s a pretty heavy bike. 🤷♂️
No
May not matter with the parking but I always lock my steering. The bounce method looks viable with 680 lbs worth of VMax.
Give it a try
MotoJitsu® thank you. I can honestly say I need practice. I hadn’t owned a bike since 1990 and decided I didn’t want to live in the shadow of death. Lost my bio. brother January 9, 1990 and sold mine 2 weeks later. I started riding as a preteen but at almost 60 now I must have forgotten a few things. Thank you brother!
You’re welcome 😊👍🏼
Thanks for reinforcing situational awareness.
:)
i always use the center stand. side stand can sink into the asphalt if its warm or hot.
:)
I like the rebound trick especially, thanks.
No problem!
Learned my lesson when I pulled in downhill forward, in dirt. I struggled so much to back it uphill in dirt gravel. Managed to back it up a little at a time and grab the brake then did a 6 point turn and weaseled out. It was a sportster, anything heavier and I would be in trouble.
Great, insightful and very useful info... thanks sir!
Glad it was helpful!
What do you do if as you’re walking your bike backwards, your foot hits a slick spot and slides from under you? The bike then begins to drop because it’s so heavy and you just can’t muscle it out after it has leaned that far?
I've got a question (haven't found a specific video on it). I just finished my 2-day permit course (WA State): the instructor said to always point the front tire toward the kickstand (to the left). I've seen in other parking instruction videos that the whole line of bikes had the tires pointed to the right. In the ones I see of yours, they tend to be pointed straight. Any insight into that? Thx
That's what we tell new riders..what you do after you leave the beginner course is up to you.
MotoJitsu.com for my new app, books, merch, etc.
Which way does your steering lock?
Good refresh! Thanks for the the video 😊🙏
My pleasure 😊
Thank you! Great advise
Hi. Why you use 90 degrees angle? Why so perpendicular? 45 is much more comfortable, isn’t it?
Man when i look how you guys park i wish i was in a spacious country cuz parking in my country is hell. If i took up a car space with my bike id get my bike knocked over for sure 🤣
3:53 left... broken car...😂😂
:)
MotoJitsu... off video Question: what is the rear bag, and pannier setup you have on that bike. It's the perfect size rear Bag
I usually try not park on the road as people are mad and distracted all the time and could hit my bike. But when I leave on the road I try to do basically what you showed in the video, we try our best to protect our vehicle always 🤟🏻
Do you think the Tracer 700 is a good bike for a beginner rider?
No I don’t. I don’t think there is a beginner bike but I recommend 500cc or less for at least a year.
@@MotoJitsu I have a 350 scooter, would it be the same? Thank you.
👍🏼
Great video, as usual. How’s the 900GT treating you? And what do you think of the new 9gt?
Love it!! :) I don't think anything about it.
@@MotoJitsu I do....I'm on the list for a 2021 this Spring.......it's the nicest looking yamaha ever😬
Instructions unclear:
Bike ended up upside down and handlebars stuck inside exhaust. 🤷♂️
ah
Do you have any pictures of how you mount your camera to your helmet? Really great videos!
this :) www.amazon.com/MotoRadds-Motorcycle-Helmet-Mount-GoPro/dp/B074W2J774/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?crid=13CA3AW2GFBMI&dchild=1&keywords=gopro+chin+mount&qid=1609285161&sprefix=gopro+chin%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-11-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTVZKQzU0NlhPQ0wwJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjU2MjE1MjdQOEtaNkpPOTZUUiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDA1MjM2MTNKRFpLMFJVVlhCWCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
So when you back up are you in first gear or neutral
Quick question, why do you park your bike with it at 90 degrees to the road front facing to the road and not say with the front facing towards the direction youve been going?
I say in the video, the roads are slanted on the edges of the road and it would be way harder to try to back a bike from a hill vs just moving forward.
@@MotoJitsu i see thank you very much for replying. Appreciate all your doing for us to become better riders! Still bit confused though.. if the road were not slanted, you would just pull up to the side of the road and leave the bike facing direction of travel? Do you generally park your bike with the front facing towards the middle of the road?
@@FusioNNosferatu If you park it like a car, which is what I think you are saying, it will be hidden from vehicles that may think that parking spot is vacant, they might enter the parking area before they see your bike, then they need to revers out. I'm more of a 45-60 degree angle parker, but each to their own, we have mostly parking bays with lines here, but I would never park next to the kerb with the bike parallel to the kerb.
The front or rear tire must be touching the curb.
@@senditadv007 that was exactly what i was trying to say but failed miserably lol. Thank you all for the clarifications!
I'd love to see a luggage video. I wanna see how motojitsu carries a pizza and a gallon of milk home at the same time.
Hahahahahaa
Rumour has it his pizza always gets home piping hot and the milk ice cold.
Pizza goes in the top case. The gallon of milk is divided into two half gallon cartons and are stuck in the side panniers.
@@dalevoigt8612 That's a big top case or a small pizza.
@@alexanderkyte4675 It looks like maybe a 50 liter top case. It will hold a medium to large pizza flat.
Thank you for doing these videos😀
Glad you like them!