Why Is It?

I suppose.
Just a suggestion :P

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

i figured it might be because of the way an engine is generally configured...if the side stand was on the otherside, all the oil would be in the clutch housing and not on the crank side. Might be a really insignificant reason, but its got to help right?

No, not an issue, not all engines are arranged in the same way. Other arrangements and varieties are rather less common, but again it's just convention that has so many different engines arranged in such a similar way.

Originally Posted by custard

IIRC twist grip on indians was on the left so US police could fire their gun with the right

I'm not convinced - as I understand it simply Indians had left hand throttles before convention started to dictate where the various controls would be, that there was an additional advantage - when Indian attempted to sell in numbers to the Old Bill - that was capitalised upon as a feature rather than being designed in.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

I'm not convinced - as I understand it simply Indians had left hand throttles before convention started to dictate where the various controls would be, that there was an additional advantage -

Don't you need two hands for bow and arrows?

[embee]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Kickstart not always on the right, two spring to mind immediately;

Morini.


And BMW, but I can't find a clear picture of one of them.

There are others too, I recall a trialy that had a kicker on the left rotating forwards.

.....and it swings out sideways! It can only practically be used with the bike on the centre stand, and it's nigh on impossible to actually start the bike with it. Might have been OK on a 500 but not a 900.

Also my "spare" Zundapp engine


As for the sidestand thing,

Dunno ??


maybe bikes were first designed by a Catholic

[BanannaMan]

Originally Posted by Lissa

Why do all bikes have the side stand on the left? Yes, it works fine for us in this country..........you park up at the side of the road and your bike leans away from the traffic..........but considering most countries in the world drive on the right it means that their bikes will be leaning towards the traffic.

Ahh....Leaning towards traffic...well.... perhaps..
But it also means we park the best side of the bike where it can be well admired.

Originally Posted by MattCo

The answer might go back to the days of horses which are nearly always (unless trained otherwise) mounted and dismounted from the left.

+1
Old habits die hard.
Even pedal bikes are mounted from the left.

Originally Posted by Lissa

But why do Harley have them on the left? Huge manufacturer, the Yanks drive on the right.

Yes, but driving on the right means the drivers seat would be on the left side of a car.
Riding/driving anything in the US, you always get into or onto the drivers seat from the left side.

[Mr Speirs]

I think it is a natural instinct. The same instinct which when you fall makes sure you land on your right hand side. Or when someone goes to hit you you turn to your left exposing the right hand side of your body. Its the natural instinct that tries to protect the heart by getting it further away from the impact.

I think that's why it feels very strange to mount a horse, bicycle or motorbike from the right hand side as your body feels like it's leading with the left hand side (heart side) which it doesn't like to do.

I reckon that's why all side stands are on the left, would also explain why all manufacturers regardless of what side of the road they drove on put their side stands on the left.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by amarko5

Dunno ??


maybe bikes were first designed by a Catholic

[ixlr8]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

I think it is a natural instinct. The same instinct which when you fall makes sure you land on your right hand side

??? # of left.. radius, clavicle, tibia/fibula x2, rotator cuff, 1st metacarpal, knee medial ligament, 5th proximal phalanx, 5th metatarsal. On the right, nothing. Given that the right-handed boxer rotates his left side forward ?

I reckon

side stand was an after thought.. Initially bikes had centre stands and all the gears brakes foot brakes throttle etc configured..

Then. along comes a side stand idea but the front brake was alreadyconfigured as the right hand lever.

ergo- having to apply the front brake whilst dismounting as we all do and holding the front brake to drop said side stand it HAD to be on the left..


THE END.. sleep well Lissa..