Ducati Monster Forum

I just picked up a cortech tail bag for my 696 as it is the perfect size to take everything I need for work, without wearing a backpack.  I put the bag on but can't get on my bike with it on.  My legs are too short to throw over the bag and rear end.   I'm 5'8 with a 30 inch inseam.  I have thick legs too since I work em out quite a bit.  Any suggestions?

I was avoiding a strap mounted tank bag as it seems like a pain for getting gas and heard they can scratch. 

Position your leg like you're stretching your quad, i.e. with your foot up by your butt.  Swing the leg over the seat while keeping your leg folded.  Then straigten out the leg.  Lean your chest into the tank as you swing your leg over.  It'll give you more clearance (and helps a lot).  Also if it helps, hold your leg folded. 

Alternatively, face the side of the bike and put your leg up and onto the seat (so that your leg is parallel to the ground and you're standing facing the side of the bike).  Hop on that way.  This is a little awkward, but it works.

i do the first method when i have stuff on the back.

Step on the left foot peg then throw yer leg over.

+1!! I strap a decent sized duffle bag onto the back seat of my Hayabusa (my sport touring bike) when on long trips. I also have a 30" inseam so it is difficult for me to clear the duffle with my right leg. I do what Ducaholic suggested. When the bike is still on it's sidestand I grab the bars, stand on the left footpeg and do the high kick leg swing with my right leg. No problem. [thumbsup] There has been no negative effect to the sidestand or left footpeg. Works like a charm and I am sure my big ass travel duffle is a lot bigger than your tail pack. Give it a try! [moto]

regular program of yoga and stretching  starting now for next season.   Everything else is a temp fix.   (29 inch inseam here). 

stretch before u ride,facing the bike from the left, shoot your leg out at seat height and brign it across the seat while u pivot on ur left foot.


or just get on it like a passenger. left foot on left peg then stand up and bring ur leg around.

How about the wild west-style, spring-board approach.  You know... how all the cool guys got on their horses in those old western films.  Run up as fast as you can from behind your bike, put your two hands on the tail bag, and use them to leap-frog yourself over the bag and into the saddle, um... seat.   :P

 Gladiator Kentucky Mt horse for sale NJ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mogBsHw7dJQ#lq-hq-vhq)

Use the peg as a step. 

You have a link for this bag?

What does that have to do with tailbags?

28" inseam here, it's tough but doable.  In addition to the suggestions on how to swing your leg over, stretching, keeping your leg folded, etc. you can also try grabbing onto your pants with your hand and pulling up a bit as you swing your leg over.  I always keep my left hand on the bars to steady the bike while I do so.

If I have stuff strapped on top of the tail bag then I use Spidey's second method.  It's not graceful but it works.

Pulling my leg back to my ass worked fine, it's a little painful but only for a minute.  As far as stepping on the peg goes, my dealer told me to never sit on the bike supported by the kickstand.  He said it was not strong like a japanese bike and would cause thousands of dollars in damage if the kickstand broke off.  Is this true?

Also, the bag says no more than 10 lbs in it.  How do they come up with this figure? I just weighed my bag with my lunch (and ice pack) duty radio, and back up firearm.  It weighed in at 11.5 lbs but I still would like to add some extra small tools. Do you think this is an issue? I was thinking off maybe adding a tank bag just for the firearm.  I would die if my firearm fell of the back of my bike and I didn't know until it was gone.  I am going to look for other options before I test this out with my firearm.

Once you have the leg over on the other side, you CAN let it drop - much better ;D

Me, I wouldn't step on the peg other than when the bike is off the side stand. Balance the bike first and be quick to get the right leg over, then fall down on the seat with both feet quickly on the ground.

Spidey's two methods must be a lot better though [thumbsup]


Weight in a bag should be as low as possible - it affects the handling. The reason why they say "max this/that" is that they won't risk being held responsible for a bag tearing off, hurting someone in an accident OR causing an accident by affecting the handling too much. In my experience, a well secured bag will carry more than 10 pounds without issues - it's just better if it's light.

Just position your bike next to a fireman's pole, and slide down onto your bike...viola!   ;D

yeah the ducati kickstands are bolted to the engine case not the frame like japanese bikes. so if the bolts on the frame were to break the case before the metal holder bent.. you'd have a problem.
how big is your firearm? how about carrying it under the seat? there is a hollow area behind the toolkit. take a look you might be able to strap it to the seat somehow (secret compartment like)

28 inch inseam here.  With my bag on the back end I can't even thinking about swinging the leg over it.  I just step in to it, doesn't look pretty, standing on 1 leg , grabbing the anle and then twisting and setting the leg down.  looks horrible, but get the job done. 

I would try carrying the backup firearm closer to you by the tank in the bag like you were thinking.  never know!!!!

Good instruction.  Here's a video illustration on how to get your leg over, the quick and easy way. 

P.S. I would stretch before attempting this.

Bruce Lee - Enter the Dragon super kick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cScJZqKpMq4#lq-lq2-hq-vhq)

True. I also heard from a dealer this weekend that they have seen a couple side stands on the new bikes (specifically 848 and 1198) punch through the engine cases...caused by sitting on the bike with the stand down. The newer vacuum cast cases are lighter, and thus have thinner walls. Not sure if this applies to the 696 cases though.

I'm almost certain I saw it in the 1100 brochure as using that vacuum casting method.  Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere for the 696.

Try this?

http://www.trampoline.com/14foot.html (http://www.trampoline.com/14foot.html)

Get a Magnetic tank bag instead (unless you have a plastic tank) as long as you don't lay it down on the work bench with all the metal shavings and drill curly Qs it wont scratch your tank.

i used a strap mounted for the 2k trip i did. IF it had been made for the bike, i would say no big deal. i had no scratches and at times i was going more than 100mph. the fueling part for me was an issue because it wasn't made for my bike and the fueling cutout didnt line up. but most of the one's i've seen made specifically for a bike have a cutout in the right place. you just unzip the bag, like you would pull off a mag-bag.

I ended up returning the tail bag and exchanged it for a Rapid Transit Recon 19 Strap Mount.  Kinda a pain to set up but I think much safer for what I need. For fueling, I can just undo the lower clip and flip the whole thing up.   I can deal with that.   The weight does feel different on the bike as opposed to wearing a back pack with the same contents.  Might take some getting used too.  I am a little worried about the weight closer to the front as I am already 210 lbs and have stock suspension.  I wish someone would come up with an easy and affordable fix for the 696 forks.  Haven't seen anything by Racetech yet. 

Thanks for all the responses, especially the Bruce Lee video. 

[beer]

always park near a curb.  ;D


i've had trouble getting on the XR when it's all loaded up. i always just put my leg straight over the bike or stood on the peg.


the monster has about 5 inches of standover height for me so it's not a problem. :P

I had to test my idea before i posted, i was going to suggest doing a cartwheel onto the bike figured with enough momentum and your leg swinging down onto the other side of the bike would do the trick.At 9:30 last night i went for it. DO NOT ATTEMPT this moove while brilliant in concept i misscalculated and got the handlebar to my taint fell down hit my head
( not wearing helmet ) and blacked out. I was 3 hrs late to work this morning cause i was still in the garage and theres a wicked ringing in my ear......what was i saying. What day is it, Where am I??