Picking up a fallen bike.
#11
RE: Picking up a fallen bike.
I saw the procedure on the "Ride like a Pro" DVD. Luckily I haven't needed it yet on the 08 Ultra. Had an 02 Dyna that was knocked down in a parking lot once, had a devil of a time getting it up....with no crash bars it went totally on its side and there isn't anything solid to grab ahold of on the back end (I had leather bags, so couldn't grab the shock). But even then if I had known the "right way" I might have gotten it up without asking someone for help.
#12
RE: Picking up a fallen bike.
The "Ride Like A Pro" video shows the complete procedure being performed by a female. As previously stated you walk the bike up with your rear against the seat while grasping the handlebars and rear bag bars. If the bike has fallen to the right side you should lower the kick stand prior to walking it up. If you have not seen this video I think it well worth the $20. JMO
#14
RE: Picking up a fallen bike.
Been there, almost done that. After watching the Ride Like a Pro DVD, it makes the slow speed maneuvering much easier. I thought I did pretty good at these maneuvers, but with his methods (riding the clutch and rear brake while at double idle rpm) you feel so much more in control.
A buddy rented the DVD from these guys
http://smartflix.com/store/category/26/Motorcycle
A buddy rented the DVD from these guys
http://smartflix.com/store/category/26/Motorcycle
#16
RE: Picking up a fallen bike.
#17
RE: Picking up a fallen bike.
cut & pasted from the "tech tech" forum and it works!
https://www.hdforums.com/m_67461/tm.htm
Also check here for pics... http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html
OK, so most motorcyclists go to a parking lot to practice riding skills, not to dump their bikes so they can have the pleasure of picking them up again. I guess Elaine and I are not exactly 'normal' - we like to think of ourselves as 'odd ducks' - because a few weeks ago we did just that.
After Elaine practiced driving the Wing by herself I had her dump it on its left side for me. Though she was not going to try to pick it up herself, since she had never dumped the Wing before I wanted her to learn how to do it without ending up under the thing.
She dumped it on grass covered firm ground and then I approached the bike and considered all I had heard about how to pick up 900 pounds of bike by myself. I weigh in at only about 160 lbs. and am only 5'8" high. Frankly, I wasn't at all sure I could do it and had studied the advice of others to try to avoid doing something that could hurt me.
Virtually everything I had read in the past on the subject argued that you are not to try to lift the bike with your arms or back - that you should use the largest muscles in your body instead - your legs. So that is exactly what I intended to do - and this practice event would be more learning than practice for me as I had never before tried to pick up a down Wing by myself.
Let me tell you that a dumped bike on grass is harder to pick up than one on the street for two reasons:
The case guard and rear guard dig into the ground just a little, but that makes the lean angle of the down bike significantly more than it would be if it were lying on pavement.
Getting good traction with your feet on grass can be iffy at best.
The significance of the fact that the bike rests lower when on ground versus pavement is that you are often unable to get a low enough purchase on it to bring it up without lifting. That is, the secret to 'picking up' a big bike by yourself is that you PUSH it up rather than LIFT it up, and if it is laying over at more than a 45 degree angle you will have to do some lifting!
The smaller the angle of lean (relative to vertical), the easier it is to make that angle still smaller. In other words, it is the first inch or so of movement that is the hardest. So, the very first thing you should do is try to get the lean angle to be as small as possible. If you are on an incline, for example, twist the bike until its tires are facing downhill.
The next thing you do is to turn the front wheel as far as possible TOWARDS the ground. If possible, turn it to its stop and lock it in place. (I found that on the ground I could not get mine turned all the way - perhaps I am not strong enough, or the bike was leaned too far over.) You may have to jerk hard on the handlebar to get the wheel turned, but this is a very important step. Why? Because by turning the wheel towards the ground the frame of the motorcycle is lifted off the ground. This means you are reducing the lean angle before you even begin to try to pick up the machine.
If the bike happens to be on its left side, you should check that the side stand is up, if possible. If it is on its right side, you MUST make sure the side stand is down (before you pick up the bike!.)
If possible, insure that the bike is in a low gear or, in the case of some GoldWings, in reverse, so that there is minimal chance of the bike rolling when you get it back on its wheels.
Next, you are going to plant your butt (not your hip) on the seat. So, face away from the motorcycle and lean against the seat such that the top half of your cheeks are above your contact with the seat and the bottom half are pressed solidly against the seat. Your feet
https://www.hdforums.com/m_67461/tm.htm
Also check here for pics... http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html
OK, so most motorcyclists go to a parking lot to practice riding skills, not to dump their bikes so they can have the pleasure of picking them up again. I guess Elaine and I are not exactly 'normal' - we like to think of ourselves as 'odd ducks' - because a few weeks ago we did just that.
After Elaine practiced driving the Wing by herself I had her dump it on its left side for me. Though she was not going to try to pick it up herself, since she had never dumped the Wing before I wanted her to learn how to do it without ending up under the thing.
She dumped it on grass covered firm ground and then I approached the bike and considered all I had heard about how to pick up 900 pounds of bike by myself. I weigh in at only about 160 lbs. and am only 5'8" high. Frankly, I wasn't at all sure I could do it and had studied the advice of others to try to avoid doing something that could hurt me.
Virtually everything I had read in the past on the subject argued that you are not to try to lift the bike with your arms or back - that you should use the largest muscles in your body instead - your legs. So that is exactly what I intended to do - and this practice event would be more learning than practice for me as I had never before tried to pick up a down Wing by myself.
Let me tell you that a dumped bike on grass is harder to pick up than one on the street for two reasons:
The case guard and rear guard dig into the ground just a little, but that makes the lean angle of the down bike significantly more than it would be if it were lying on pavement.
Getting good traction with your feet on grass can be iffy at best.
The significance of the fact that the bike rests lower when on ground versus pavement is that you are often unable to get a low enough purchase on it to bring it up without lifting. That is, the secret to 'picking up' a big bike by yourself is that you PUSH it up rather than LIFT it up, and if it is laying over at more than a 45 degree angle you will have to do some lifting!
The smaller the angle of lean (relative to vertical), the easier it is to make that angle still smaller. In other words, it is the first inch or so of movement that is the hardest. So, the very first thing you should do is try to get the lean angle to be as small as possible. If you are on an incline, for example, twist the bike until its tires are facing downhill.
The next thing you do is to turn the front wheel as far as possible TOWARDS the ground. If possible, turn it to its stop and lock it in place. (I found that on the ground I could not get mine turned all the way - perhaps I am not strong enough, or the bike was leaned too far over.) You may have to jerk hard on the handlebar to get the wheel turned, but this is a very important step. Why? Because by turning the wheel towards the ground the frame of the motorcycle is lifted off the ground. This means you are reducing the lean angle before you even begin to try to pick up the machine.
If the bike happens to be on its left side, you should check that the side stand is up, if possible. If it is on its right side, you MUST make sure the side stand is down (before you pick up the bike!.)
If possible, insure that the bike is in a low gear or, in the case of some GoldWings, in reverse, so that there is minimal chance of the bike rolling when you get it back on its wheels.
Next, you are going to plant your butt (not your hip) on the seat. So, face away from the motorcycle and lean against the seat such that the top half of your cheeks are above your contact with the seat and the bottom half are pressed solidly against the seat. Your feet
#18
RE: Picking up a fallen bike.
ORIGINAL: Dago_RoadKing
It's great to see that you can still get a direct answer on this site without some Jack @$$ telling you to do a search. In my opinion some topics deserve a fresh thread every now and then.
It's great to see that you can still get a direct answer on this site without some Jack @$$ telling you to do a search. In my opinion some topics deserve a fresh thread every now and then.
You are correct. Some topics need refreshing.
#19
RE: Picking up a fallen bike.
Jim,
True confessions - I droppedmy Road Glide inthe parking lot at work on Fridayand also have a bad back. Have an arthritic right hip and the bike fell on that side in a split second as I stopped it to back it against the curb.
Of course the only thing I could think of was to get it back up ASAP before anyone saw the dumba$$ who dropped it. At least I remembered to put the kick-stand out and then a co-worker stopped by to help and we got it back up no problem.
Myobservations:
1. I'm surprised thatI can't find any scratches on it anywhere and can't figure how the engine guard somehow seemed to protect the entire bike.
2. I'm surprised how fast it happened. I was stopped but guess I didn't get my foot down in time.
3. I ALWAYS wear my riding boots, even to work. Well, not on Friday (had them in the saddle bag because I was going to have them resoled).
4. Picked up the Ride Like a Pro IV DVD from a friend on Sunday.
5. Reading your post and the links provided hereas a goodrefresher if it ever happens again. Glad to know I'm not the only one with the dropsies.[sm=itsok.gif]
True confessions - I droppedmy Road Glide inthe parking lot at work on Fridayand also have a bad back. Have an arthritic right hip and the bike fell on that side in a split second as I stopped it to back it against the curb.
Of course the only thing I could think of was to get it back up ASAP before anyone saw the dumba$$ who dropped it. At least I remembered to put the kick-stand out and then a co-worker stopped by to help and we got it back up no problem.
Myobservations:
1. I'm surprised thatI can't find any scratches on it anywhere and can't figure how the engine guard somehow seemed to protect the entire bike.
2. I'm surprised how fast it happened. I was stopped but guess I didn't get my foot down in time.
3. I ALWAYS wear my riding boots, even to work. Well, not on Friday (had them in the saddle bag because I was going to have them resoled).
4. Picked up the Ride Like a Pro IV DVD from a friend on Sunday.
5. Reading your post and the links provided hereas a goodrefresher if it ever happens again. Glad to know I'm not the only one with the dropsies.[sm=itsok.gif]