Lifting your Motorcycle

[cuervo]

It's a topic that everyone has to face eventually...

What is your preferred method for lifting your motorcycle up? Back to the bike and lift the body? By the handlebars with them turned away? Turned towards you? etc....

[Quigley]

Originally posted by Cuervo
It's a topic that everyone has to face eventually...

What is your preferred method for lifting your motorcycle up? Back to the bike and lift the body? By the handlebars with them turned away? Turned towards you? etc....

My "preferred" method is getting someone else to help me.:brow

Besides that, I'd try the my back towards the seat method.

[dizave]

Originally posted by Quigley
My "preferred" method is getting someone else to help me.:brow

Besides that, I'd try the my back towards the seat method.

Back to the bike. The GS pops up like a toy this way, even when it is angled downhill. Biggest problem is making sure not to toss it back over on the other side.

[fish]

An easy way to pick up a fallen motorcycle, (http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/pickup.html) by skert at ibmwr.com.

http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/pickup2.jpg

[kbasa]

Like this:

http://www.mortonsbmw.com/steve/skirt_bike.gif

That's Skert picking up my K75 at the RA in Greenfield, MA.

[dizave]

Fish don't have arms.

[fish]

Originally posted by dizave
Fish don't have arms.

no. :(


but we have very talented fins :evil

[lorazepam]

Dang, wimmin pickin up motorcycles, whats next, wimmin kickstarting them too???

[jerryb]

I've seen this lifting technique explained in so many mags. in the past (and shortly forgot...), having it digital makes it so nice. I'm going to copy and paste the text to Notepad, print it out, laminate and put it permanently somewhere on the bike.

jerryb

[jerryb]

Jerryb you could laminate it and place on your kickstand puck. Or how about a Tankbag Beer coaster ?

The last time I dropped my bike I had the Fire Company pick it up because it was under a truck. The first time I had Swift Water rescue get it about 100 meter's down stream, and thank God there was no Enviromentalist there. :violin I called that one my U-Boat. :german Those R 80's were well rounded but did'nt float well.


How do you pick it up if you are a 230 pound weakling ???? :lurk


Statdawg you are a crack up!

You make me feel lucky that I spent my crazy years on dirt bikes where most crashes were in sugar sand.

jerryb

[SheRidesABeemer]

My "preferred" method is getting someone else to help me.:brow


I'm with you 9 out of 10 times I get help. As for the "method" demonstrated in the videos...I suppose it works if you happen to drop your bike on a towel in a field. I have yet to have this happen to me. :doh

I once dropped my K11LT at a scenic vista in the middle of a mountain road. It was the middle of the afternoon, not a chance for help. It was down on its left bag (split), there was a cliff to the right. Step one; get it back on the tires. Step two was to get a leg and hip under the seat, and then I heal and toed it as if I where moving a refrigerator. I did like the advice of turning the handlebars all the way...I hope I don't have the opportunity to try that on my much better balanced GT.

[BubbaZanetti]

i usually just yank on the handlebars till it comes back up, luckily R bikes never fall over that far..............

[Mika]

How you lift your bike after you drop it depends on a lot of things. This guy needs help, (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v238/2001gw/?action=view&current=Learntoride.flv) in more ways than one.

[The_Veg]

luckily R bikes never fall over that far..............
Gotta agree. The BatBike is RIDICULOUSLY EASY to pick up.

[PacWestGS]

Didn't we just have this conversation? Oh well, won't go there again. :brow

Just remember to put it in gear or hold the front brake lever closed while lifting or it will roll around you. Also if lifting up from the right side, put the side stand down first so you don't toss it over the other side.


Doc

[jerryb]

SFDOC, Nothing wrong with your memory. I dug this up from June 2003.


jerryb

[PacWestGS]

SFDOC, Nothing wrong with your memory. I dug this up from June 2003.


jerryb


Nope much sooner than that 04/13/06 http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10104

Anyway may give some more advise if you want to read through it. :brow


Doc

[OUTBACKUFO]

I use this method normally...


http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/yoda/img/movie_bg.jpg


















But if he is in the bathroom or stuck in the side case then i lock the handle bars and push it up... i make a standard to be able to leg press in the gym even out of shape the weight of the GS and side cased loaded... so i can lift the cycle... use you legs!!!

[jerryb]

Nope much sooner than that 04/13/06 http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10104

Anyway may give some more advise if you want to read through it. :brow


Doc


SFDOC, I read http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10104 and your points about times you may have to dead lift the bike were helpful.
But really your advice: "Take a break, gather your thoughts", that's the advice I need, but before the fact, not after.
When I drop the bike I tend to get frustrated and use Bubba Zanetti's method: "i usually just yank on the handlebars till it comes back up, luckily R bikes never fall over that far...........". Not Good!
I've read about the proper lifting technique many times in mags. but it never seemed to stick.
I'm finding it very interesting that what I read in the forums brings a whole new realm of comprehension and retention compared to reading the same thing in a magazine.

jerryb

[PacWestGS]

SFDOC, I read http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10104 and your points about times you may have to dead lift the bike were helpful.
But really your advice: "Take a break, gather your thoughts", that's the advice I need, but before the fact, not after.
When I drop the bike I tend to get frustrated and use Bubba Zanetti's method: "i usually just yank on the handlebars till it comes back up, luckily R bikes never fall over that far...........". Not Good!
I've read about the proper lifting technique many times in mags. but it never seemed to stick.
I'm finding it very interesting that what I read in the forums brings a whole new realm of comprehension and retention compared to reading the same thing in a magazine.

jerryb

Jerry, except for the fact that the scavenger pump is no longer picking up oil, turn the bike off and take all the time you have, short of getting hit by traffic. "The natural resting position for a motorcycle is on its side", it doesn't care how long its there. Unless it's in a creek, but then again the damage is aready done.

In motorcross now days with the advent of the 'Four-Stroke' the number one lesson is never let go of the clutch, if the engine is running keep it running, because those things are Beach to start hot. If you watch motorcross on the tele, these guys will do what ever to pin the clutch lever and then just pick up their 240# bikes with what ever hand they have available by the low-side handlebar grip. But, 500# bikes with an electirc starter are another animal altogether.


Do the practice as listed in the other 'thread' get a friend, lay down a blanket and lay over your trusty steed and try each technique, alone, they both have their strong and weak points and so do you on any given day.

Dirt bike racing, crash, get it up and go, no thinking. Street bike, anylize it, step back if you can, remember all the required steps and then pick it up, after that think about what could be loose (like panniers, strapped on cargo, or mirrors and turn signals) and make sure everything is ready to go down the road again without falling off.

When I dropped my GS in the road and in the yard, it popped one of the Jesse latches loose on that the side that hit the ground, just the way they are. I don't know about 'system bags' I don't have them, but would suspect the same thing.


Doc

[bubbagazoo]

Nope much sooner than that 04/13/06 http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10104

Anyway may give some more advise if you want to read through it. :brow


Doc

As the originator of that thread, I must say that the easiest method is to get help. I have not had an opportunity to try Skert's method although I should probably get my DSW to help lay my bike down in the back yard and try it. Hey, I've got a fence that nobody can see through so I'm not going to embarass myself.

Along the same thought process, I am in the shopping process to buy a motorcyle for my DSW to ride. One of the considerations is weight. We have narrowed the search down to either the Kawasaki Vulcan 500 Ltd or the Suzuki S40. I wonder if the dealer will let us lay one of each down in the showroom to try and pick it up?

[PacWestGS]

I wonder if the dealer will let us lay one of each down in the showroom to try and pick it up?


:laugh :laugh yeah, it goes along with the test ride they won't let you do! :thumb

[Motorman]

The way I was trained to lift a heavy bike (850 lbs dry) was to take the handlebars and turn them away from the bike. Then squat facing the bike and use your legs to lift while holding the bars at full lock again away from the downside of the bike. Once vertical use the kick stand and take a break.

[BradfordBenn]

Two words: "Anonymous Book"

Yup the person answering the phone is going to laugh at you.... but hey a rider in need is a rider in need.

[Dick]

Skert's method has served me well when there is no help around. I fell on a large sheet of ice in Death Valley and using the butt on the seat method does not work if you can't find purchase for your boots. I sat there laughing at myself until a nice pair of German tourists happend by to help right the bike.