How to pick up a fallen bike

[lecruz]

Hi! I've seen great videos (from here especially) about how to pick up a bike if it falls on the right side. You can use the kick stand to balance it once it's upright, but what do you do if it falls on the left side? I feel like the answer is obvious, but can't think of it!

[ImaSoftT]

Duh, take your helmet off, shake your hair out, pout up your lips and wait for a man to come along and rescue the damsel in distress. :lol:

[BlueLghtning]

Hi! I've seen great videos (from here especially) about how to pick up a bike if it falls on the right side. You can use the kick stand to balance it once it's upright, but what do you do if it falls on the left side? I feel like the answer is obvious, but can't think of it!

Actually, its trickier if it falls on the right side. You have to remember to put the kickstand down before you pick up the bike unless you have help and someone can do it for you. This actually happened to my Dad. He dropped his bike on the right side and of course his adrenaline kicked in and he picked it up only to realize he was now standing on the right side of the bike and the kickstand was not down. Due to where he was standing in a hole, he couldn't mount the bike from the right side. He ended up dropping it again, walking around and putting the stand down and picking the bike back up. He said it was much harder the 2nd time. :lol:

The leftside is actually easier. Once you pick the bike up, you just balance it against your hip. The bike will actually be very stable like that on your hip and then you can just lower your kickstand and set it down.

[Cyclone67]

The big trick is picking up your bike on a hill! I used a zip tie to keep the front brake on so it wouldn't keep rolling when I was lifting it. That's my helpful hint of the day.............

[KansasKawboy]

The big trick is picking up your bike on a hill! I used a zip tie to keep the front brake on so it wouldn't keep rolling when I was lifting it. That's my helpful hint of the day.............
We don't have to worry about that here in Kansas. :lol:

[Astir]

Duh, take your helmet off, shake your hair out, pout up your lips and wait for a man to come along and rescue the damsel in distress. :lol:

:rofl: Works for me!

Seriously - don't forget to put that kickstand down when it falls on the right side. Seriously. I once tried to go over to get the kickstand down, and dropped it a second time. Hmmm.... maybe I should practice getting on the right side. :lol:

[Clanofants]

Unfortunately I end up picking my bike up at least a couple times every time I ride. I have done the "Harley" method (using your butt, facing away form the bike) and had a surprisingly difficult time!

My method is facing the bike. I squat down, wedge my knee under the tank, hands on both clip-on's and as I stand the bike is lifted to an angle where I can lean on it to get it up the rest of the way, no kickstand necessary and since my hands are on the clip-on's I can use the brake.

This method probably only works on sportbikes (~400 pounds and a bulky tank for leverage).

[Luna Tique]

I use this method by bringing my knight in shining armor with me most of the time :thumbup:

Duh, take your helmet off, shake your hair out, pout up your lips and wait for a man to come along and rescue the damsel in distress. :lol:


I have tried the butt on the bike method and I agree with Clanofants sport bikes lay all the way down not resting on the running boards, the crash bars or the luggage.

By the time I would get my knees bent far enough to get my butt in postition I am just about sitting on the ground and at that point all I can do is laugh no way I am going to pick the bike up.The most I could in that postion is slide it along the ground and we know that is not going to help.

I haven't dropped the KLR so not sure if this method would work on it or not.

[Follow]

Hi! I've seen great videos (from here especially) about how to pick up a bike if it falls on the right side. You can use the kick stand to balance it once it's upright, but what do you do if it falls on the left side? I feel like the answer is obvious, but can't think of it!
If it falls on the left side you would lift the same then as you get just about 90 you turn your hip to the bike use your right foot and put the stand down, or for some, (this is easier for petite people) you can swing your right leg over straddle the bike as if riding and use your left foot to put the stand down as normal.

[Follow]

The big trick is picking up your bike on a hill! I used a zip tie to keep the front brake on so it wouldn't keep rolling when I was lifting it. That's my helpful hint of the day.............

Keep it in gear..:D:

I dropped the ST1300 (dang lady pulled out if front of me) on its right side nose facing downhill (like the streets of San Francisco) it took everything I could muster with my 5'2" frame to pick up that bike...I had to do the butt method. Weight of this bike is roughly 700lbs.

Hubby says picking up the KLR off the ground is a biotch, he is 6'3" and he says its hard to pick up in the snow or mud but too low on the ground as well.

Here are pics of my bikes, I've :o: had the pleasure of picking up all three of course at different times from the laying on the ground position....:D:

[KansasKawboy]

I use this method by bringing my knight in shining armor with me most of the time :thumbup:




I have tried the butt on the bike method and I agree with Clanofants sport bikes lay all the way down not resting on the running boards, the crash bars or the luggage.

By the time I would get my knees bent far enough to get my butt in postition I am just about sitting on the ground and at that point all I can do is laugh no way I am going to pick the bike up.The most I could in that postion is slide it along the ground and we know that is not going to help.

I haven't dropped the KLR so not sure if this method would work on it or not.
The KLR will lay over like a sport bike unless you have the luggage on then not so far. I've had way to much experience.

[lecruz]

Thanks for the hints everyone! Do most people use the "butt method"? That's the only one I've seen in action.

[ImaSoftT]

Like I said before, I much prefer to have my HH (handy husband) do the heavy work, but after reading this thread I'm beginning to think it might be a good idea to find out if I could get my bike up by myself if I needed to, so this weekend we are going to lay mine down (gently) and give it a try. I'll let you know how it comes out.

[ridingAK]

With a heavy bike, the butt method is the only way I could lift a bike. There is no way I could muscle a heavy bike up with upper body strength.

[msyzf2u]

The big trick is picking up your bike on a hill! I used a zip tie to keep the front brake on so it wouldn't keep rolling when I was lifting it. That's my helpful hint of the day.............


Excellent Trick of the Day!

[Calif Girl]

In the motor school my departmen tteaches, everyone has to lift a police motor. If you do not do it you do not go on with the school. No one in my class had any problems. When I went through we used the KZ P1000 bike.

We were taught if the bike was on it's right side to start by putting the kick stand down. If not when the bike is up far enough put the stand down with your foot.

To lift the bike stand by the down handlebar, turn the front wheel up. Cup your hands together under the down side handlebar end, position your body to face the bike with your outside shoulder at about where the windshield is. Start walking slowly toward the bike. The bike will lift easily. Continue walking toward the bike until it is lifted up.

This method works for me and allows even a smaller person to easily pickup a big bike.

[KansasKawboy]

In the motor school my departmen tteaches, everyone has to lift a police motor. If you do not do it you do not go on with the school. No one in my class had any problems. When I went through we used the KZ P1000 bike.

We were taught if the bike was on it's right side to start by putting the kick stand down. If not when the bike is up far enough put the stand down with your foot.

To lift the bike stand by the down handlebar, turn the front wheel up. Cup your hands together under the down side handlebar end, position your body to face the bike with your outside shoulder at about where the windshield is. Start walking slowly toward the bike. The bike will lift easily. Continue walking toward the bike until it is lifted up.

This method works for me and allows even a smaller person to easily pickup a big bike.
That sounds like a good way to do it. :thumbsup:

[ImaSoftT]

I did it :yahoo::yahoo::yahoo: I watched a few of the videos that showed the butt method, well it worked like a charm, and it didn't really seem all that heavy. I estimate my bike weighs in around 800 lbs with the bags, windshield, engine guards and other stuff I have added to the standard weight. I only tried it with the right side down because my bike has been lowered to the point where I have to tip it to the right a little bit just to get the kickstand down all the way, so I'm pretty sure that if I was down on the left side, the bike would go over on the right before I could get the kickstand extended all the way, so I didn't even try that side. I'll keep using the tried and true, "Hey Honey" method for that side.:wootrock: But at least I now know I can get it up by myself if I needed to, I'm so happpppppy.

[Luna Tique]

:clapping: That is terrific SoftT:pompom:

[KansasKawboy]

:clapping: That is terrific SoftT:pompom:
:iagree: :thumbsup:

[lecruz]

I did it :yahoo::yahoo::yahoo: I watched a few of the videos that showed the butt method, well it worked like a charm, and it didn't really seem all that heavy. I estimate my bike weighs in around 800 lbs with the bags, windshield, engine guards and other stuff I have added to the standard weight. I only tried it with the right side down because my bike has been lowered to the point where I have to tip it to the right a little bit just to get the kickstand down all the way, so I'm pretty sure that if I was down on the left side, the bike would go over on the right before I could get the kickstand extended all the way, so I didn't even try that side. I'll keep using the tried and true, "Hey Honey" method for that side.:wootrock: But at least I now know I can get it up by myself if I needed to, I'm so happpppppy.

Hey that is awesome!!

[Lady of the NightHawk]

The crazy thing is that when I dropped my bike.... I did a quick look around (as if to say, Who saw me) and then the next thing I knew I was picking it up. I sure did not want anyone seeing the dump the rookie just did. But now I know that was a dumb thing to do. I really should have thought through it and picked it up without hurting myself. My back knew that I picked something up that I really had no idea how to properly pick up.

[Astir]

Gotta love that adrenalin! :thumbsup: