With the winds being very strong on any given day here in eastern New Mexico, you have to be very careful parking a bike. A "calm day" is usually around 15-20mph winds. I've learned a good safe way to park, after knowing more then a few co-workers that have had thier bikes blow over.
What you do is after you pull into a spot or back your bike against the curb; turn off your bike, handle bars to the left, then slowly lean the bike left till its resting safely on the crash bars (if equipped) or exhaust and handlebars. This will ensure that your bike will be parked in such a way that it cannot be blown over. Mounting the bike, especially a 900lb beast is easy. Simply walk into a dealer and buy a new one, these things are freaking heavy, no sense throwing your back out picking one up.
Consequently New Mexico is littered with touring bikes left on thier sides but that's a DOT problem, not mine.
