can't pick up my own bike

[roadrider]

Brings up a question...how does a girl get her bike back up w/o help? I dropped my bike when I was by myself(stopped in soft sand/gravel drive, foot slid and over it went) I was lucky that it was near enuf to a road and someone saw my predicament. Stopped and helped me. I tried but no way could I have done it w/o help. But I ride by myself most of the time. The guys at the race track said there was a trick. What would that be? Bet it sounds easier than it is, that bike is heavy!

[keeena]

The only 'trick' i know of is this: get in a low squat position with your lower back against the top of the tank (top of tank because the bike is over). Grab the bars with one hand and something strong on the other side of the bike (seat, grab bar if possible, rear subframe). Once you've got a good grip, push up with your legs. You will get more leverage this way than if you had your stomach against the tank while trying to lift it. Just be really careful as you get close to upright...you don't want to lift it so fast or uncontrolled that the bike falls over to the other side.

[elaineo]

in my opinion, the "squat" method doesn't work on sport bikes, because sport bikes have a high center of mass and when they fall down, they lay down flat so it's really difficult to get your hips under the tank.

i practiced droppping and picking up my bike a lot when i got it, and could never lift it using the squat method.

after much thought and analysis, i figured out my own method that works for me (and would probably work well for most sportbikes):

squat, facing the bike, near the handlebars/tank. grab the lower grip with your left hand, and the upper grip with your right hand. wedge your left elbow between your rib cage and your hip bone. Then, lift with your knees! Once you get the bike off the ground a few inches. wedge both knees under the tank/fairing. Then, PUSH! make sure you're grabbing the front brakes, and the bike should go up.

i practiced this on a flat, concrete surface and used every ounce of power inside of me to get the bike up. Not sure if i could do it on a gravel surface or whatever. definitely practice though, because it took me several attempts using several different methods before i found what worked for my bike. tape up your fairings and remove your mirror/turn signal first, too

i am less than 100 pounds and have the muscle strength of a fly... if i can pick up a 370-lb bike all by myself, ANYONE CAN!

[Kham]

Originally posted by elaineo
because sport bikes have a high center of mass

let me get this straight. sport bikes have high center of mass compare to what goldwing? any other confirmation?

[SSearchVT]

In addition to locking the front brake, don't bother trying to keep the handlebars straight. Let the steering rest against its stop so you can focus all of the energy into lifting the bike.

[roadrider]

Thanks for the input. I have a ZX6E and it weighs almost 500 lbs.(I had just filled the tank) and I weigh about 135 so... I'm no light weight (for a girl) but! Also when I dropped it it was nearer to the edge of the drive and was laying downhill just a bit. It had rained and the surface had gotten soft which made it harder as it slid when I tried to stand it up. My back is still feeling it. But yeah I need to lay the bike down and practice standin it up. I'll have to invite somebody over for an xtra set of hands in case I can't.
Hey Elaine, glad to hear you're ok!

[beet]

fell on a hill what i did was pushed it up 600 lbs (tires up hill) waterbury
i was avoiding the copps so i think that helped me
still sore back next day

[bigred875]

Originally posted by beet
fell on a hill what i did was pushed it up 600 lbs (tires up hill) waterbury
i was avoiding the copps so i think that helped me
still sore back next day

lol..nice

I would say try not to pull onthe subframe as much as possible...IMO they aren't that sturdy.

I usually don't have a problem picking a bike up...I'll just yank on the bars until the bike is high enough to get my knee under..stable the bike..re-grip and stand it up all they way... eat your wheaties?..lol j/k

[Suf Daddy]

I thought about this and figured leaning way back while pulling on the bars should give you the most leverage to at least tip it up? -Suf Daddy

Originally posted by bigred875
I usually don't have a problem picking a bike up...I'll just yank on the bars until the bike is high enough to get my knee under..stable the bike..re-grip and stand it up all they way... eat your wheaties?..lol j/k

[cyberxen]

I'll have to invite somebody over for an xtra set of hands in case I can't

Hmmmm, you live near the Kangie, don't you ?.......

[jesse_k]

I dropped my bike a few times, not moving, and catching it so it did not hit full force, never scratched it or anything, but i will tell you being 6 foot 1 and 230 pounds makes getting it up pretty easy....my brother is even bigger, 340 pounds and he must be able to pick it up like a bicycle.

[beet]

Originally posted by Suf Daddy
I thought about this and figured leaning way back while pulling on the bars should give you the most leverage to at least tip it up? -Suf Daddy

sorry i should a said back 2 the bike
pushed it not pulled

[OreoGaborio]

watched an AMA Superbike race today on On Demand... a Yamaha rider picked his bike up & when he got it upright he was at the front of the bike facing the rear w/ his hands on the bars. Didn't look like he had too much trouble gettin her up... almost like he had alot of practice

oh, & he was in 2nd place before the red flag came out for another rider... ended up in 5th after the re-start & that's when he went down.... Tommy Hayden happened to lead every... single... lap... of that race all the way to the win

[greenmonster]

Run into the nearest bar and yell "free beers for those who help me get my bike up off the ground!" You'll be amazed at how quick and effortless it is to get that bike back up!!

[Cowboyrider]

I wish I could remember how I hefted my bike up...but I did it. Rock and JJ were coming to help me and I just lifted it off the ground. I definatly did it with adrenilen though because I was in the middle of the road and wanted to get out of the way quick!!

Mine is only a 500, but I'm not a big person either....

[JJ]

Originally posted by Cowboyrider
I wish I could remember how I hefted my bike up...but I did it. Rock and JJ were coming to help me and I just lifted it off the ground. I definatly did it with adrenilen though because I was in the middle of the road and wanted to get out of the way quick!!

Mine is only a 500, but I'm not a big person either....

You was like HULK picking that bike up over your head. Best thing I can say is try to get your thigh/leg/quad (whatever you want to call it) under the tank after you lift it a little and use your legs as much as you can to push it upright.

[roadrider]

Thanks for the input, now I just need a little practice. Though just thinking about laying it down even on purpose makes my back hurt! I do like the fix that greenmonster suggested, sounds good to me!

"Run into the nearest bar and yell "free beers for those who help me get my bike up off the ground!" You'll be amazed at how quick and effortless it is to get that bike back up!! "

[oreo_n2]

or just call the nearest ape.

i know of a few, gimme a call next time!

[roadrider]

Be careful, I might just take you up on that!
Then you'd have to ride all the way up here.....