picking up a dropped bike

[Murs]

I found this online and thought it might be useful info

http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

[Paduan]

It's all about positioning and proper technique.

Most people limit their ability to lift by employing the back structures, which is really the wrong way to go about it.

Just about anyone can lift 3 to 4 times their body weight by using the legs properly.

All that aside, when you throw a leg over a Gold Wing, you say to yourself, "Damn, I better not drop this beast!"

[remy_marathe]

I wish they'd laid down bikes for us in MSF, so we could lift them properly. Apparently some courses do, some don't. I read online howto's, knew in theory how to do it the proper, easy way.

But the other week when I needed to pick my bike up, the adrenaline and the desire to get my bike out of the middle of the road made my brain completely lock up. I considered the problem briefly, knew it wasn't going to come back to me in my present state, so I just went at it brute-force. Squat, grab the handlebars, lift. Luckily, my bike is light and I know how to lift with my legs. With a 700lb bike, I'd have either thrown my back out or held traffic up while I tried to remember the easy way to lift it.

My point is, if you ever have an opportunity to practice lifting a bike in reality and when time/traffic/adrenaline aren't hindering you, it'd be worth it for the body memory. It's tough to reason out immediately post-crash.

[Chrystal]

The pink ribbon stuff didn't work for me. :(

My baby layed on the ground for 3 hours til some tall muscular lumberjack picked it up like it was nothing.

If it tips over when I'm all alone I'm sh*t outta luck unless batting my eyelashes at some random dude works. :)

I'm fine with that possibility.

:)

[subvetSSN606]

That technique is often helpful, but certain bikes and certain incidents don't always wind up with the bike in a position that lends itself to using it. But all the general principles of using your legs and good leverage are still sound.

Nothing wrong with getting someone to give you a hand, but if whoever it is isn't a rider make sure you tell them where to grab onto something solid that isn't going to snap off when they try to lift... and oh yeah, tell 'em not to touch the hot parts. ;)

Tom

[Zixxer10]

I second the "bat your eye lashes and look helpless" technique (doubt if it would work for me though). The technique illustrated should be the one first attempted, but keep in mind a drop on level ground with good footing probably isn't going to be the norm. If at all possible, get some help. My wife dropped her little GS 500 once with the wheels pointing uphill and somewhat down in a ditch. It was almost more than I could do to get it back up without scraping it up worse than it was. She turned down some help before I got back to her!! Thanks a bunch lady!!! (:) )

[Cindy]

With the pink ribbon technique, I can pick up any bike I've ever ridden. I am sure having engine guards help. It keeps the bike from laying flat on the ground and gives you more leverage. With the jugs on the BMW it's half way up anyway.

It doesn't hurt to lay your bike down in the grass and practice.

[RockyMtnRoadRash]

That technique works great. I've had occassion to use it twice, one time in tandem with Clair, and it worked for him too. It was totally his fault though for smearing barbeque sauce all over the Vulcan.

hehe, Cindy said Jugs.

[Clair]

Yeah, having Todd help lift my bike ... let's not bring back those memories of you dropping your bike into my bike ... was a help. In my case, the pavement slanted downhill, so to lift my bike I'm already somewhat below it. Not level ground. Thus, I had further to lift it. I could do it but having Todd there to help was nice.

Of course, that's when I realized Todd's bike had dented mine, broken the knob off of the brake lever ... the bastard ...

But, we're not discussing Todd or his evilness, we're discussing picking up dropped bikes ...

[Smitty]

Note the first quarter of bike bike is already off the pavement what with the engine taking part of the weight & hard pannier cases the other. Also with some bike there is no way to raap under the saddle or such. Look at sportbikes & you will see what I mean. Mind you most on this board are riding HD/Cruisers to regular bikes so that other grab besides the handlebar grip is there.

Remy the idea of it being tought in the MSF is not of much use for said 125 to 250cc bikes are not close to the weight & bulk of a regular or cruser.

Though some yrs ago, when full fairing were on some bikes we had a customer that took the regular Govt test for a m/c license. At the end the Govt official told him to lay the bike down & then pick it up. He told him exactly were he could stick that head of his.

At our shop we quoted him the costs of replacing said scratched parts, possibly how long we might have to wait for delivery, & what WE would charge for the service work. He went back & got ahold of said twit & said he would lay down the bike & pick it up IF said Govt Official was willing to put up the money for replacement parts & work (he had the letter head from our shop as to estimated total costs & time he bike would be in our shop), PLUS around a week of his salary in not being able to get to & from work. End of said brain fart & he got his license for riding a m/c.

Another realizing this m/c license was so important rode down his bike, very similiar in full fairing, but another make, & when given the same bit about laying down the bike & picking up the bike he told him that would cost said Govt offficial an even higher price. So he got m/c driving license as well & from then on it was not requested. For it was a brain fart in said officials screwed up mind & NOT officially requested by the B.C. Govt.

[safety geek]

I dunno. They teach people how to ride on 125-250 cc bikes in the MSF course, and those techniques transfer directly to larger bikes...so why would teaching the proper technique to lift a bike be any different? The course doesn't so much prepare you for the real world, but it does prepare you to practice on your own in the real world.

I have put this bikelifting information on the MMSC Safety Tips page, as well. There's quite a bit of other stuff there worth reading as well. See for yourself:

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/mmsc/latest/MMSCHomeSecondary.asp?cid=5&mid=32&scat=27

Pat

[SabreScott]

I've had to pick my bike up twice and the technique worked fine. When Karen's gone down, there's always been someone there before I could get there.

In the Ride Like a Pro video, the first thing they do is show you how to pick up a large bike. He even shows his wife picking up a large Harley. I think everyone should practice the technique. (Of course by laying it down easy and having some help just in case.)

[Derick]

All that aside, when you throw a leg over a Gold Wing, you say to yourself, "Damn, I better not drop this beast!"

Ahh hogwash.. A dude that was looking to buy my magna set his goldy down to show me how easy it is.... Pfft, with as wide as it is, its only about 15 degrees off vertical anyhow.. :)

[Bugguts]

But the other week when I needed to pick my bike up
Remy! Hope you and Sonya are okay?!

[remy_marathe]

Remy! Hope you and Sonya are okay?! Oh yeah, I'm fine, and after this weekend the bike should be too, once I put on my fancy new $14 handlebars and blingy gold bar-ends.

[E-Man]

The Ride Like a Pro DVD shows a couple ways to pickup a dropped bike.

Besides the MSF Course, this was money well spent.

http://www.ridelikeapro.com/RLAP4.asp

[sandrunner]

We teach the proper technique in our MSF class here in Japan. I think it's more of an instructor preference, but we see it as nessesary. Part of the Japanese test is the ability to pick up your own bike. It's one of the first tests, so if you can't do it, they won't waste time seeing if you can do anything else.

[Bugguts]

Oh yeah, I'm fine, and after this weekend the bike should be too, once I put on my fancy new $14 handlebars and blingy gold bar-ends.

OOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHH! You bought Sonya new bling!