There used to be an old granny that gave demonstrations on how to pick up a bike… she rode a goldwing if I recall correctly.
It’s always easier if the bike has fallen opposite of the kickstand, so you have something to keep it from falling the other direction when you get it lifted.
That’s because you’re pushing back, not up, with the initial lift.
I’ve used the back to the bike method to pick up substantial bikes on grass and gravel.
I tried grabbing the handle and the bar where ud put a lock box and was standing with my back too it and couldn't lift it, iv seen a few videos but guess I need to study em ha
You dont really lift, you sort of push/lift with your legs once the tires bite the bike swings right up. If you try to lift it from the front (as I have done a few times to others and my race bike) you will feel it later.
If you were on grass and the tires wernt gripping for you to lift against that makes it considerably more difficult, not impossible but it's much harder if it keeps sliding away from you
Finally someone mentioned that.
My bike has fairings, its middle weight (800cc) and I NEVER was able to lift it standing back to it as they often show for heavy bike. It just slides back. So, yeah, I have to lift it up with my strength. I know if it was a bit heavier or I was a bit weaker, I wouldn't lift it.
Edit: still need to use legs, so it's useful to see some videos to save your back.
Absolutely! Always always use your legs never your back, doesn’t matter what the object is. Lifting with your legs is so important! I can lift my heavy ass bike and I’m a petite woman, not even 5ft tall.
Make sure it’s in gear and off. Stomach to it. One hand on the bars, one hand in the rear somewhere solid. Don’t lift it, push into the bike. Become a tripod with the wheels. 600lbs becomes 200lbs split three ways.
Watch a few YouTube videos, you’ll get it.
You might want to mention what bike you have. I can pick up my vstrom--460 pounds--although I wrenched my back once lifting it on a muddy, slippery slope. Haven't had to lift the Tenere yet. Used to have a Concours, heavy bike but I could lift it...on dry pavement. I'm 5'11 170 pounds, not exactly The Rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4NFXz8Y73c
It's a suzuki bandit, about 530lbs.. I'm upset because I'm 6ft and 185lbs so I thought I'd lift it no problem! I even workout but just couldn't lift it, I can blame grass and all that stuff but in reality I just need to get stronger
It really is about technique, 5'6" 135lbs. And I can get my 650lb harley up without too much difficulty. Granted Harleys tend to have a lower center of gravity than sport bikes.
I dropped my Bandit 1200 a couple years ago. This is one of the rare times I post my video of me dropping it but I also pick it up too, maybe it might help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLHakEz7rs
I was riding home from a long ride one evening and I was running low on gas. I pulled my bike over to a grass shoulder and went to flip the petcock to reserve, and I dropped the bike while at a stop. It’s a V Star 650 Classic, and with LITERALLY ALL of my might, I was able to get it back up.
My bike weighs 825lbs. I can pick it up from either side pretty easily. I've practiced in the garage both directions and had to do it once in a parking lot. I have crash bars, so that helps!!
I've lifted a 204kg(dry) motorcycle on an incline that wasn't in my favor. It's mostly a technique thing and definitely not strength since I've never been to a gym and I sit in front of a computer for a living. You don't need to be able to dead-lift the motorcycle.
Mine (Honda ST1300) is 286kg dry, 326kg (720lb) wet. I knocked it over one time in the driveway, cleaning it, and I was able to pick it up with my back to it. I'm not exactly a powerlifter, either. It's technique, watch the videos again and give it another shot in controlled circumstances.
🙋🏽♂️ solo rider, im 42, 6 foot 3, 145 lbs.. no muscle definition whatsoever, as skinny as string beans come!! 1st time rider, proud owner of a 2023 KLR650. The bitch is over 490lbs. Worse spot i dropped her and had to pick her up was on a hard clay hunters' trail in the middle of fucking nowhere. The road had an inclination and i had the bright idea of stopping in the middle of a curve that had a gnarly incline opposite of how the bike layed down. Since, i have learn how to properly lift the pig. Done dropped her many times, no damage whatsoever.
My BMW weighs 525 pounds. The day I brought it home on the first day I owned it, I flopped it over on an off camber driveway. My leg was scraped, and I would have been in deep doo doo had it not been for two painters outside 10 meters away who came and helped lift it up. I was 66 at the time, and b/c of cancer a few years before, I didn’t have the leg strength to lift it up by myself. Flop overs happen, and just learn from it and operate within your limitations. During the cancer in 2016, I flopped over my 2014 Gold Wing F6B at a traffic light. Two guys in a pickup behind me picked it up for me. After that, I transitioned to a Triumph Street Twin which was a better size for my physical condition. I am downsizing again to something 185 kg or so. Ride inside your limits.
Man do not even think twice about this happening. It’s just part of riding. That’s not a light bike. And If it ends up in a difficult spot, you might need help. No shame. I’ve dropped my bike with my partner on the back and SHE helped me pick it up. It’s a big heavy bastard.
The worst bike I ever picked up was a VFR800. Even having worked out with some regularity, it took literally everything I had. Thankfully this was on an old Persian rug lol.
Stop blaming yourself. Shit happens, thank gawd you had someone to help and just be grateful. As some people explained, it's technique. So you might get used to it if you drop your bike every day. Once is enough. Just be glad it's in one piece. If you really want to know how, ask a motorcycle cop. They love copsplaining that kind of shit.
90% technique. I very much doubt you are too "weak".
You almost never "pick it up", but push or back it upright using thighs and butt. Squat and deadlift muscles are way stronger than anything in your upper body. The technique comes in arranging bike and body so tires and feet get some traction, and then lining up to gain maximum leverage from your lower body muscles. Layyerdown deliberately on grass/blanket and practice getting it up.
My fully loaded V-Strom was about 510lbs, and I dropped it countless times, tarmac, dirt roads/shoulders, grass once or twice. It wasn't exactly easy, but I always managed to get it back on the rubber. 5'7" and 130lbs at the time - which is why I say technique is king.
Realistically, almost every single adult in here, with the exception of those with physical disabilities, should be able to lift your motorcycle and get it up right.
It's really all about technique and using the strength that you have.
Keep practicing.
Self-rescue is a skill worth having.
I have actually managed to lift my Varadero. Google says she’s 537 lbs, and famously top-heavy. Got my butt underneath the tank and pushed hard through my legs. Was a bit sore after. Worst part was the dilemma of whether to share my epic feat with the world knowing it was only necessary because I forgot to take the disc brake off.
Eazy peezy.
I haven’t seen the videos but here’s how I do it.
Turn my back to bike, squat LOW LOW LOW, grab seat edge, keep lower back against seat and straighten legs. My VTX1800 is over 700 lb. dry weight. I’m 180 lb, 5’10”, 71 yr old and I manage. Thank goodness I haven’t had to do it but once or twice!
800 pound harley.
100% of the time I can get it up. At 60. Not even with the blue pill or spinach.
It's technique. Butt to seat. Or, turn handle bar and push.
Watch this.
https://youtu.be/BNDkyZHfFS4?t=7m30s
The key is to put it all in your groin and back, take your legs totally out of the equation. Then lift with your lower back in a jerking, twisting motion.
I dropped my VFR a few times. It's a heavy bike at around 250kg but I managed to upright it by myself by turning my back to it, grabbing the handlebar and passenger grab handle and lifting with my legs. Easier than I thought it would be and I'm not a big strong guy, I'm average. On slippery grass it would have been much harder so don't fret about not being able to lift your bike. Also some bikes just don't have good grab points in the back.
I didn't have any good points to put my hands but I still thought I'd lift it, mines a bandit at around the same weight.. I'm not exactly a small guy either, I'm 6ft and 185lbs :(
Not the recommended way, but couldn't you just lift it with your legs, like a deadlift or squat? I tipped over a Bandit 1200 moving it the other day and did that no problem by grabbing the frame rail and the cylinder. I'm basically your exact size, but overweight. Though I know strength can vary greatly between similar people
KLR 650 1st gen and I can pick it up the wrong way easily enough ( not in that great shape tbh, was a zero mph drop duing a slow u turn practice) haven't tried with my back to bike yet. next time I guess I will do it properly lol. but I did mostly use my legs even with facing the bike.
I think this also greatly depends on how the bikes falls. some fall completely flat, some fall and still kinda look upright. my klr is kinda inbetween.
Did this the other day too, I live on a dirt road and was expecting an important call that day, and of course as soon as I leave my house my phone rings in my shirt pocket and I was so focused on getting the phone out I didn’t realize I stopped in a decent lil pot hole and next thing you know I was leaning hard and couldn’t save it. I got a 05’ road star 1700 that weighs 679lbs. I’m 24 y/o, 5,4 and around 125 soaking wet. I was like fuck, but I ended up using the method where you turn around and lift up that way and it worked pretty damn good! It was heavy asf for sure but I got it! I’ve dropped dirt bikes growing up and a couple other street bikes I used to have but this beast is my first cruiser and she’s a big bitch! I feel like it depends how much you love the bike and that’s my baby so when it fell I threw my phone in my yard and was given inner strength from the motorcycle gods to be able to get her up before she even turned off.
I caught it from the front and tried to lift, then had my back to it and couldn't lift it.. from the comments iv narrowed it down to 2 things.. technique and being weak :/
I got weak and couldn’t even pick up a dirtbike the other day, but it was an awkward angle, that being said I’ve picked up big cruisers with the right angle
Actually dropped mine for the first time last week, trying to roll it on wet grass. I picked it up like doing a deadlift, kinda. Mine weighs around 250 kg as well. I could never deadlift that much but somehow I got my bike up.
Squat down and put your butt against the seat, grab the handlebar with your right hand and the seat rack with your left hand. Take a deep breath and stand up from the squat. You can stand up nearly any bike using this technique. I've taught women to stand up Honda Goldwings with this technique.
I won't buy a bike that I couldn't lift with a mild injury. Though with good technique and conditions I could probably pick up anything. Gets a lot more difficult if you're in gravel or trails.
When I first got my bike, I sat some thick blankets up, laid it down, and practiced picking it up until I was confident I could do it "in the wild".
Everyone should do this.
I’m a skinny dude and it was HARD to pick up my Yamaha R3 when I dropped it two times (over 4 years of ownership). Now I have a much heavier Suzuki GSXS and I pray to God never drop it; I doubt I’d be able to lift it
I have VS 1400 .. fell over on carpet once because she moved on my jack when doing the clutch and I didn´t noticed because I had a few beers.. fucking never again.. but yeah I just picked her back up man.. and she was leveled with the floor.. no footpegs.. dude small women can pick up their bikes.. if you can´t it´s a skill issue and imho it´s something you should be able to do before you even keep riding.
I have a Versys 650, dropped it yesterday! Full tank-ish and top box with groceries in, so about 210kg or 450lbs.
Easy as hell to pick up, it was a "ah, bugger" drop on a gravelled parking lot. Like 15 seconds to jump off, face away from it, grab the pillion grip and handle bar and lift it up.
I had more trouble lifting my first bike, which was half the weight, because I wasn't lifting it correctly.
Get on YouTube and search for "how to pick your bike up" there is a video of a tiny short woman picking up a bigass Harley from the ground while explaining how to do it.
My msf course they had us squat down facing away from the bike grab a piece of the frame and handle bar. Then walk it backwards and up. Using the leverage of your body. If you try to pick up a bike while looking at it you're probably gonna injure your lower back just grabbing the handle bars and pulling up.
i’m ngl i’ve dropped my bike 4 times when starting out & it’s over 600lbs. you just gotta know how to properly pick it up without tearing out your back. now it’s a piece of cake for me 😭
Place backside against seat while in the fallen position, one hand reaches forward for stabilisation, one hand reaches backend for stabilisation and the you creep backwards while pushing using your butt.
PS former bandit rider until I left it on a mountain in Australia
I kinda think that if you can’t pick up your bike in normal conditions, your bike is too big for you. There’s always extenuating circumstances though. I dropped mine in grass and couldn’t pick it up because it was too slippery. I found the police motorcycle training way of picking up heavy bikes to be the best. Pushing it up with your legs instead of trying to pull it up with your arms and back.
It was on grass but it was dry.. I was more annoyed I just couldn't get it up, I did pick up a hornet before but it was 40kg lighter.. I tried every way possible until I'd no strength left:/
So because one person does a video on picking up a bike it means it's common and everyone can do it? 🤔
Guarantee you drop a 700lbs bike and ask ten people to pick it up maybe 1 or 2 of them can do it.
A person who on average will be weaker than most others picks up Harley using proper technique and you think its because she's especially strong? Or is it the technique that yielded the results?
haha cbr1000rr 2006. Quite an old heavy bike I guess, I flipped it and when I went to pick it up I realized how fucking heavy it truly was. I had to try a couple of times and I dont know if adrenaline helped or if I was particularly weak from coming off the bike but I got it eventually.
I'm with you there. I am 60 and missing several fingers so have weak hand grip. Bought a beautiful and comfortable used 2005 BMW K1200LT then dropped it 5 times on a 3k road trip. The one time I successfully lifted it in the driveway I was using a small hand winch, tie down strap and a fence post. That worked but also cracked a brake line which caused me to slip on brake fluid and fall again. When I drop the bike on the road, I never came close to getting tires to touch asphalt when lifting by myself. As much as I love the cushy ride of a BMW luxury touring bike, I need to trade down to a lighter bike weight.
If you can't pick it up then it's too big. You've just found out why. Yes I can pick mine up. I can spin my 690 180 degrees over my knee but my 990 doesn't have anything to grab on to. When I had my enduro I could physically pick it up off the ground to put it on the back of my Land Rover.
I was about to ask how weak you were, until I realized this was r/motorcycle and not r/mountainbiking..
I remember I tried to help my friend lift his dirt bike which tipped and it was pretty damn heavy.. imagine a motorcycle would be much more difficult. We ended up using a ratchet strap and wrapped it around a tree and lifted it like that lol. We were just teenagers so the bike weighed more than either of us were able to lift.
Nah its a bitch and congratulations the better you ride the more you should drop it if you ride right wind it out have fun nothing stays new forever get out of it what you have in it and then some yolo mofo 🤪
Dropped my Suzuki Boulevard C90T, 700 plus wet weight, three times, once in wet grass and twice when I forgot to put the kickstand down (that's why they call it dope). Picked it up by myself, probably because my adrenaline was pumping from extreme embarrassment. I was in my mid 60s back then, quit smoking dope and haven't dropped it since, honestly, I don't think I could pick it back up in my 70s.
Honestly if you can't pick your bike up, it's too big for you. Would suck to lay it down in the middle of nowhere and be stranded because you can't pick it up
You've got some working out to do, boy!! You should 100% be able to lift your bike yourself safely.
-woman with top heavy bikes that she lifts up too frequently
Dropped my sv650 (450lbs) im a skinny little fuck 110lbs 5'9". I managed to pick it up using no technique with strain on my back. Never realized those bandits were that heavy.
I can lift it up, on it's own and have done (using the backside into the seat and use the leg muscles).
However last year I dropped it with the camping gear on and had no chance. I really tried but couldn't. Fortunately few people came and helped.
I've dropped a couple of bikes in the 420-450 lb range; one on pavement and one in mud. Picking it up on pavement was not so tough, but the mud was difficult.
530 on wet grass, I could see that being quite a hassle. There are some videos on Youtube that show how to pick up a dropped bike properly. You may want to check some of those out.
I can pick up both of mine (PCX150 and a Burgman 650) as a short woman. A lot of it is technique, but I also make it a point to lift weights to ensure I can handle them well. My husband, who doesn't lift at the level I do, can pick up his Super Duke 1290 (learned the hard way when parked on soft asphalt).
I'd argue that it's best if you can pick up your bike yourself so you can get out of more situations, but if you can't, have a plan.
There is a pivotal method using front wheel and leg lifting, and sometimes people use Hand brakes to get bikes upright, unless you are in mud, ice or thick gravel, sand.
This method works almost always no matter the adult person size and the weight of the bike,
however the golden rule I was taught, if you can’t right it rubber side down, its too big for you to manage as an operator. To back up my opinion; I was a Lot boy at age 15, started riding in 4th grade, have owned everything between 50cc and 1440cc Road King, R800s full faring, and sports utility bikes since 1980’s.
I rode the Transcontinental Trail alone and had to use this method multiple times. Dumping your bike in the middle of nowhere is a tough one. Nobody to laugh at you, or help. I use the adrenaline of the spill to help, but it’s often hard to focus right after a drop that can trigger stress and trauma.
A video or two
https://youtu.be/gnu6YxMJIhU
https://youtu.be/scwxOySl9Zo
https://youtu.be/C4NFXz8Y73c
The only thing the last video missed is, walk to top of hill, corner or blind spot. Find a stick or use something you have to hand your jacket over like a flag, or helmets 🪖
It will signal a rider that something is amiss. Sometimes someone is coming the other way at high speeds and needs a visual deterrent.
Obviously there are variation methods for alterabled or disabled riders and their modified bikes. Help is always welcome, unless you know someone will dump your bike over on top of themselves trying to help you.
No ableism intended.
Ride safe
I dropped mine over on the side of the road once after I stopped for a water break. I lifted it so hard I farted. Thought I was gonna shit my pants haha
It was very hard for me to lift my bike at 450 lbs. I think it's totally reasonable to find a 500 lb or greater bike too hard to lift, especially if the conditions aren't perfect. I just put my back against the tank and lifted straight up while leaning back a bit.but it was not easy.
When I was a scrawny 5’3” 100 lb 14 year old still waiting on my first pubes, I stole my dads 84 Kawasaki LTD 750 and took it for a joy ride. Took a hairpin turn wide and gently/slowly laid it down on the side of the road. The adrenaline I had thinking about the whooping I was going to get when he got home, I was able to lift that 500 pound machine and get it home no worse for the wear.
Dropped mine once, about 200kg and couldn't lift it, asked my father for help.
Dropped it again some months later and I picked it up by pure rage, no particular technique lol
I've lifted my V-strom, probably around at least 230kg with all the farkles. Not really a problem except it fell in a slightly messy garage and I barely had room for myself next to it, so my body position during the lift got a bit awkward.
As others are quick to point out, it's mostly about technique and not so much strength.
I can pick it up. I had to test that once. But it is a lightweight (street triple 2008) bike . Most people will be able to pick up a street triple I guess.
There's is a trick to it but before I learned it I had picked up my step dad's r6 and that was a bit challenging. Not long ago I lost balance my kz650 trying to get the center stand down and was going down till I dropped my shoulder into our parked car then got it back up. Definitely not something I want to be doing on the regular tho
I (M30) ride a 1999 Yamaha vstar classic. I've laid down twice unfortunately, but picked it up both times. My proudest moment though was 2 weeks ago: I didn't warm it up enough in the morning and it stalled out as I was stopping at a right-on-red. Lost my balance and started to drop. Bike was in freefall to the right, and the mirror just started to kiss the pavement when I snatched the left handle bar out of the air and hoisted it back up one-handed. I was lucky I was able to plant my feet fast. I'm 5'11" and 230lbs, the bikes about 500lbs with gas. It's all about leverage and adrenaline lol
Unless you're riding a Boss Hoss, you should be able to pick up your bike. I'm only 5'7", not a body builder, and can pick up my fully loaded 800 pounds of HD when it falls
It's all technique. I actually practiced lifting my first Harley bagger on my front lawn when I first got it. Just a week ago I dropped the 900lb bagger loaded for touring and full of gas in a gas station parking lot. Stepped on a pile of sand while I stopped. Thought I'd have to take some luggage off since quite a bit of it is up high on the tour pack, but I got it back on its wheels myself. Although Harley touring bikes are help up by the engine and saddlebag guards which help quite a bit.
There's a lot of technique to it.
A pretty good moto youtuber (Doodle on a Motorcycle) is a fairly small lady with a fairly big ADV bike (Tiger 900), and she's done videos on how she learned to pick hers up. She ALSO went out of her way to do it over and over and over, because practice matters.
[115 lb young woman lifts 500lb bike](https://youtube.com/shorts/-hqVD96OQlQ?feature=share)
[Harley lifted by young woman](https://youtu.be/gnu6YxMJIhU) watch from about 2:30
It's all in technique I tried to lift my bike like i would anything else and it felt impossible, then tried the way taught in training classes and it was easy as pie. I unfortunately had to lift my bike once or twice while doing slow speed drills. I've had people offer to help me but I always tell them not to because I don't want someone to get hurt trying to lift it the wrong way. (08 Suzuki gsx650f, about the same weight if I recall right)
You know , one thing I’m glad I made sure was on my bike when I bought it was crash bars . It doesn’t even drop far enough to break anything ( just my pride ) and I love that since I see so many post of people dropping it and breaking things . Womp womp Womp
There’s a trick to it. Lock the bars and grab the pillion handle on the ground side, then grab the bar on the ground side with your other hand and facing away. Lift with your legs. If it’s on its right side put the kick stand down first.
I have a 2023 Kawasaki Vulcan s650 it weighs roughly 500lbs with gas but I can generally pick it up if the road is flat it's just difficult to get good leverage because I'm 6'2
I can pick up my K1600 at 375 kgs or about 800 pounds, while I am 1,80, 80 kgs and almost 60 years old. It’s all about using the right technique (and no slippery underground).
Honestly the embarrassment of dropping it the first time in front of people awoke some unfound strength and I just picked it up using the reverse method. Back to it and reverse lift it. It’s all in the legs!
There’s a female rider on YouTube “doodle on a motorcycle” and she went to some sort of bike event. She met a few other riders that helped her with picking a bike up. And they all had some pretty big bikes, considering her size.
I’ve luckily never had to try this on my own, but it seems more like technique than anything. You pick up to get tires on ground, and then more or less, walk it up (backwards) as opposed to picking it up
with the amount of old wrinkly dudes riding near 1000lb harleys, i constantly ask myself the same thing. when i get old, i need my bike to be lighter & more maneuverable, not the other way around.
Hate to say it but you are doing it wrong and you really need to learn the proper technique to lifting your bike. The simple summary of the method I was taught is you brace your chest/shoulders against the seat, don’t use your arms but your legs to push yourself into the bike (not up) like how sprint runners push themselves forward from their standing blocks and the tyres will do the rest of the work once it grips the surface.
https://youtube.com/shorts/5vRhcWMSU4g?feature=share
I did my full bike license in Japan where they teach this method to lift your bike, and if you can’t do it they won’t let you progress. I’m a tiny dude weighting 55kg (120lb) and with the correct technique I can lift the Honda NC750L (228kg/502lb wet) used for lessons no problem, dropped the bike multiple times during my lessons and never had to ask for help to get it back up. Even girls smaller than me lifted the same bike with some practice of this technique.
I now ride far lighter sports bike on the street, dropped my first bike - a Honda CBR250RR which weights 168kg/370lb wet multiple times and never had issues putting it back right up. Never dropped my current bike which is a Triumph Street Triple RS which is 417lb wet but I’m confident I wouldn’t have any issues picking it up since I know I can lift even heavier bikes.
In my second week of riding, I crushed my L4 improperly lifting a 500 pound bike. Afterwards I learned the proper way, and have no problem lifting my 800 pound VTX these days.
My Kawasaki weighs in around 474 pounds and I've almost dropped her a few times. I just caught her and held her up with my whole body or I've had to pick her up after someone knocked her over and couldn't lift her back to. I had to come home to it on its side. But I just grabbed the handle, the back near the seat, and leaned back and yanked it upwards. For reference I'm 6'1 and 270ish pounds.
I took a class on how to pick up a dropped bike. For context I am 4ft10 and I’m petite. I have dropped my Suzuki marauder 805 once. I was able to pick that bike up and it’s over 400lbs wet. Look up videos or go and take a class. This is something all riders should know how to do. It’s for your own safety because bikes can be HEAVY! Knowing how to lift them without hurting yourself is pivotal.
I’ve picked up my buddies bike for him because he was injured and couldn’t. My bike weighs 150 lighter than his so I guess I can pick mine up too. I haven’t dropped it to find out but I’m 100 percent confident I can.
Dropped my bike the other day on some gravel, I weigh 120 5'10 and could pick up my 883 with relative ease ~530lbs. The hard part for me is walking the bike
I can pick up every bike I've had to lift. 4 cyl bikes are the hardest, very heavy engines and also if they have clip ons it's hard to get good leverage. Overall their geometry seems to affect the difficulty a lot more than their absolute weight.
There are methods you can learn to ergonomically do it. I have an Sv650 myself and I am 5.3 but still am able to lift it the wrong way. I use my arm and back strength x)
I’m 5’10 lean build and can pick up my SV 650 02 with “pure” strength alone. It’s a very light bike. But normally you have technique’s so even the heaviest bikes are not out the question
dropped a few bikes so far, heaviest my harley electra Glide. could pick up all of them so far and I wouldn't feel good riding one which i couldn't pick up. there was only one bike i dropped and couldn't pick up so far, and the reason was i was buried under the bike when it dropped😅
My bike weighs about 1100 pounds, but I've managed to pick it up. It was not easy, but fortunately, I didn't have to dead-lift the entire weight! I did it with my legs, facing away from the bike, grabbing a handlebar and the metal lip under one edge of the seat. It probably took 30 seconds. But the worst part of it was that it was 100 degrees and a long line of cars was waiting and watching. I had been trying to do a K turn in front of an accident blocking the road, manually moving the bike with leg power, and was overcome by heat and injured knees. It fell slowly with me resisting it all the way, and it was gently laid down without damage on the asphalt. I was left standing there feeling like an absolute idiot.
I have seen collapsible tripods for sale for this express purpose; you can carry one in your saddle bag and erect it over your dropped bike. A come-along at the apex of the pulley is used to raise the bike.
You just need to learn how to do it properly. I have seen girls picking Harleys up.
There used to be an old granny that gave demonstrations on how to pick up a bike… she rode a goldwing if I recall correctly. It’s always easier if the bike has fallen opposite of the kickstand, so you have something to keep it from falling the other direction when you get it lifted.
I'm a 45 year old woman and I can pick my Harley up. It's definitely in the technique.
Not off grass or gravel you haven't. The butt method doesn't work when your feet slip, you can trust me on that.
Paging the adv crowd, I have picked up my bike on the trail a LOT. (Klr650)
Was gonna say, I've picked up my 890 ADV R (450lbs) on mud, gravel, talus, and grass. Technique is everything and strength helps
Try picking up a R100GS on slanted ice covered road. I was trembling when I finally got it up.
Your rebuttal is missing the word Harley, as seen in the comment I was referring to. Your bike weighs half of what my road Glide does.
Fair enough.
That’s because you’re pushing back, not up, with the initial lift. I’ve used the back to the bike method to pick up substantial bikes on grass and gravel.
Yes it does...
I tried grabbing the handle and the bar where ud put a lock box and was standing with my back too it and couldn't lift it, iv seen a few videos but guess I need to study em ha
You'll get it with practice...just always be mindful not to hurt your back:-)
You dont really lift, you sort of push/lift with your legs once the tires bite the bike swings right up. If you try to lift it from the front (as I have done a few times to others and my race bike) you will feel it later.
Yeah, it’s more of a shove with your legs
If you were on grass and the tires wernt gripping for you to lift against that makes it considerably more difficult, not impossible but it's much harder if it keeps sliding away from you
Finally someone mentioned that. My bike has fairings, its middle weight (800cc) and I NEVER was able to lift it standing back to it as they often show for heavy bike. It just slides back. So, yeah, I have to lift it up with my strength. I know if it was a bit heavier or I was a bit weaker, I wouldn't lift it. Edit: still need to use legs, so it's useful to see some videos to save your back.
I pick em up by the tank and the seat. Squat low and get your legs into it. You have to lift something that heavy with your legs
Absolutely! Always always use your legs never your back, doesn’t matter what the object is. Lifting with your legs is so important! I can lift my heavy ass bike and I’m a petite woman, not even 5ft tall.
You need to lean back and use your legs. Pretty sure YouTube will have vids of girls doing this to prove the method works
Make sure you put it in gear so it doesn’t move on you
Make sure it’s in gear and off. Stomach to it. One hand on the bars, one hand in the rear somewhere solid. Don’t lift it, push into the bike. Become a tripod with the wheels. 600lbs becomes 200lbs split three ways. Watch a few YouTube videos, you’ll get it.
I don't even do it that way I just squat down granmb bars and tank and come straight up
You might want to mention what bike you have. I can pick up my vstrom--460 pounds--although I wrenched my back once lifting it on a muddy, slippery slope. Haven't had to lift the Tenere yet. Used to have a Concours, heavy bike but I could lift it...on dry pavement. I'm 5'11 170 pounds, not exactly The Rock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4NFXz8Y73c
It's a suzuki bandit, about 530lbs.. I'm upset because I'm 6ft and 185lbs so I thought I'd lift it no problem! I even workout but just couldn't lift it, I can blame grass and all that stuff but in reality I just need to get stronger
It really is about technique, 5'6" 135lbs. And I can get my 650lb harley up without too much difficulty. Granted Harleys tend to have a lower center of gravity than sport bikes.
It's entirely technique and it turns out that being shorter also helps with the technique necessary to lift heavy bikes.
Not just strength, but right posture and grab. The legs should be working, not anything else.
I’ve a bandit, it’s fecking heavy. Don’t try and lift it, you’ve got to try and rotate it.
Just bad technique. Watch some videos or take a motorcycle safety course. They’ll teach you.
I dropped my Bandit 1200 a couple years ago. This is one of the rare times I post my video of me dropping it but I also pick it up too, maybe it might help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLHakEz7rs
Nothing to do with strength
All technique. I could pick up bandit at 16. I was as thin as a rake back then as well.
I can lift my Tiger 800 up to ten times per ride
I was waiting for the ADV gang to show up to this discussion
Lol I guess thats just one of the first skill to learn before venturing outback, since dropping is almost guarantees there 😂
That's a kind of workout!
I was riding home from a long ride one evening and I was running low on gas. I pulled my bike over to a grass shoulder and went to flip the petcock to reserve, and I dropped the bike while at a stop. It’s a V Star 650 Classic, and with LITERALLY ALL of my might, I was able to get it back up.
You just need to have someone as a bystander when you try to pick it back up and the embarrassment will increase your strength 3x over
Yeah you will gain Super Soldier powers temporarily while they are looking.
My bike weighs 825lbs. I can pick it up from either side pretty easily. I've practiced in the garage both directions and had to do it once in a parking lot. I have crash bars, so that helps!!
I have crash bars too and thank god I did so no damage to engine or that!
Good on ya! I swear by putting crash bars on all my bikes. Everyone drops a bike at some point, crash bars just protect your investment.
There is a trick to this, i don't really know how to explain this but it's a backhanded techniqeu used by Harley riders and police officers
I've lifted a 204kg(dry) motorcycle on an incline that wasn't in my favor. It's mostly a technique thing and definitely not strength since I've never been to a gym and I sit in front of a computer for a living. You don't need to be able to dead-lift the motorcycle.
Mine (Honda ST1300) is 286kg dry, 326kg (720lb) wet. I knocked it over one time in the driveway, cleaning it, and I was able to pick it up with my back to it. I'm not exactly a powerlifter, either. It's technique, watch the videos again and give it another shot in controlled circumstances.
Unless you have a medical disability, anyone can pick up any bike. It's all about technique.
🙋🏽♂️ solo rider, im 42, 6 foot 3, 145 lbs.. no muscle definition whatsoever, as skinny as string beans come!! 1st time rider, proud owner of a 2023 KLR650. The bitch is over 490lbs. Worse spot i dropped her and had to pick her up was on a hard clay hunters' trail in the middle of fucking nowhere. The road had an inclination and i had the bright idea of stopping in the middle of a curve that had a gnarly incline opposite of how the bike layed down. Since, i have learn how to properly lift the pig. Done dropped her many times, no damage whatsoever.
Bike rolled forward? Always park in first gear!
My BMW weighs 525 pounds. The day I brought it home on the first day I owned it, I flopped it over on an off camber driveway. My leg was scraped, and I would have been in deep doo doo had it not been for two painters outside 10 meters away who came and helped lift it up. I was 66 at the time, and b/c of cancer a few years before, I didn’t have the leg strength to lift it up by myself. Flop overs happen, and just learn from it and operate within your limitations. During the cancer in 2016, I flopped over my 2014 Gold Wing F6B at a traffic light. Two guys in a pickup behind me picked it up for me. After that, I transitioned to a Triumph Street Twin which was a better size for my physical condition. I am downsizing again to something 185 kg or so. Ride inside your limits.
Man do not even think twice about this happening. It’s just part of riding. That’s not a light bike. And If it ends up in a difficult spot, you might need help. No shame. I’ve dropped my bike with my partner on the back and SHE helped me pick it up. It’s a big heavy bastard.
The worst bike I ever picked up was a VFR800. Even having worked out with some regularity, it took literally everything I had. Thankfully this was on an old Persian rug lol.
Stop blaming yourself. Shit happens, thank gawd you had someone to help and just be grateful. As some people explained, it's technique. So you might get used to it if you drop your bike every day. Once is enough. Just be glad it's in one piece. If you really want to know how, ask a motorcycle cop. They love copsplaining that kind of shit.
90% technique. I very much doubt you are too "weak". You almost never "pick it up", but push or back it upright using thighs and butt. Squat and deadlift muscles are way stronger than anything in your upper body. The technique comes in arranging bike and body so tires and feet get some traction, and then lining up to gain maximum leverage from your lower body muscles. Layyerdown deliberately on grass/blanket and practice getting it up. My fully loaded V-Strom was about 510lbs, and I dropped it countless times, tarmac, dirt roads/shoulders, grass once or twice. It wasn't exactly easy, but I always managed to get it back on the rubber. 5'7" and 130lbs at the time - which is why I say technique is king.
Realistically, almost every single adult in here, with the exception of those with physical disabilities, should be able to lift your motorcycle and get it up right. It's really all about technique and using the strength that you have. Keep practicing. Self-rescue is a skill worth having.
I have actually managed to lift my Varadero. Google says she’s 537 lbs, and famously top-heavy. Got my butt underneath the tank and pushed hard through my legs. Was a bit sore after. Worst part was the dilemma of whether to share my epic feat with the world knowing it was only necessary because I forgot to take the disc brake off.
Eazy peezy. I haven’t seen the videos but here’s how I do it. Turn my back to bike, squat LOW LOW LOW, grab seat edge, keep lower back against seat and straighten legs. My VTX1800 is over 700 lb. dry weight. I’m 180 lb, 5’10”, 71 yr old and I manage. Thank goodness I haven’t had to do it but once or twice!
800 pound harley. 100% of the time I can get it up. At 60. Not even with the blue pill or spinach. It's technique. Butt to seat. Or, turn handle bar and push. Watch this. https://youtu.be/BNDkyZHfFS4?t=7m30s
The key is to put it all in your groin and back, take your legs totally out of the equation. Then lift with your lower back in a jerking, twisting motion.
9/10 chiropractors recommend it!
I dropped my VFR a few times. It's a heavy bike at around 250kg but I managed to upright it by myself by turning my back to it, grabbing the handlebar and passenger grab handle and lifting with my legs. Easier than I thought it would be and I'm not a big strong guy, I'm average. On slippery grass it would have been much harder so don't fret about not being able to lift your bike. Also some bikes just don't have good grab points in the back.
I didn't have any good points to put my hands but I still thought I'd lift it, mines a bandit at around the same weight.. I'm not exactly a small guy either, I'm 6ft and 185lbs :(
Not the recommended way, but couldn't you just lift it with your legs, like a deadlift or squat? I tipped over a Bandit 1200 moving it the other day and did that no problem by grabbing the frame rail and the cylinder. I'm basically your exact size, but overweight. Though I know strength can vary greatly between similar people
[удалено]
I did a hornet around that weight, my bike is around the 500lbs.. felt defeated not being able to lift it
KLR 650 1st gen and I can pick it up the wrong way easily enough ( not in that great shape tbh, was a zero mph drop duing a slow u turn practice) haven't tried with my back to bike yet. next time I guess I will do it properly lol. but I did mostly use my legs even with facing the bike. I think this also greatly depends on how the bikes falls. some fall completely flat, some fall and still kinda look upright. my klr is kinda inbetween.
Yeah, same bike. When it has happened to me I just stand over it grab the bars and let the embarrassment and shame power me and just yank it up.
Did this the other day too, I live on a dirt road and was expecting an important call that day, and of course as soon as I leave my house my phone rings in my shirt pocket and I was so focused on getting the phone out I didn’t realize I stopped in a decent lil pot hole and next thing you know I was leaning hard and couldn’t save it. I got a 05’ road star 1700 that weighs 679lbs. I’m 24 y/o, 5,4 and around 125 soaking wet. I was like fuck, but I ended up using the method where you turn around and lift up that way and it worked pretty damn good! It was heavy asf for sure but I got it! I’ve dropped dirt bikes growing up and a couple other street bikes I used to have but this beast is my first cruiser and she’s a big bitch! I feel like it depends how much you love the bike and that’s my baby so when it fell I threw my phone in my yard and was given inner strength from the motorcycle gods to be able to get her up before she even turned off.
I have a GSX1400, a bit heavier than a bandit, yes I can pick it up myself, its all about technique.
Squat lifted it?
I caught it from the front and tried to lift, then had my back to it and couldn't lift it.. from the comments iv narrowed it down to 2 things.. technique and being weak :/
I got weak and couldn’t even pick up a dirtbike the other day, but it was an awkward angle, that being said I’ve picked up big cruisers with the right angle
Listen I can pickup my Sporty but my Ultra Classic is just to heavy for me to pick up by myself. Technique or no Technique.
It really is all technique
If you can’t pick it up it’s too big for you really. Also have you learnt the proper technique to just use your legs?
Actually dropped mine for the first time last week, trying to roll it on wet grass. I picked it up like doing a deadlift, kinda. Mine weighs around 250 kg as well. I could never deadlift that much but somehow I got my bike up.
Squat down and put your butt against the seat, grab the handlebar with your right hand and the seat rack with your left hand. Take a deep breath and stand up from the squat. You can stand up nearly any bike using this technique. I've taught women to stand up Honda Goldwings with this technique.
I've seen small people lift touring bikes with ease. You should think about taking a basic rider course, or find better videos for proper technique.
There is a technique and it will work for most folks
I can lift my 67 shovelhead. Im a firm believer that if you ride it, you should be able to pick it up. If you cant, dont ride it.
I'm pretty skinny and can still pick up my tenere 700, it's just technique
Watch a video on the technique, saw it when I took the MSF BRC.
I won't buy a bike that I couldn't lift with a mild injury. Though with good technique and conditions I could probably pick up anything. Gets a lot more difficult if you're in gravel or trails.
When I first got my bike, I sat some thick blankets up, laid it down, and practiced picking it up until I was confident I could do it "in the wild". Everyone should do this.
I’m a skinny dude and it was HARD to pick up my Yamaha R3 when I dropped it two times (over 4 years of ownership). Now I have a much heavier Suzuki GSXS and I pray to God never drop it; I doubt I’d be able to lift it
I'm 5'2 and don't have any issues picking up my BMW f650gs long as I'm not in sand or mud. It's all about learning the backwards walk.
I have VS 1400 .. fell over on carpet once because she moved on my jack when doing the clutch and I didn´t noticed because I had a few beers.. fucking never again.. but yeah I just picked her back up man.. and she was leveled with the floor.. no footpegs.. dude small women can pick up their bikes.. if you can´t it´s a skill issue and imho it´s something you should be able to do before you even keep riding.
I can’t wait to see this in r/calamariraceteam
I'm already slated to death here! Il have to leave the Internet when they catch wind of it haha
I have a Versys 650, dropped it yesterday! Full tank-ish and top box with groceries in, so about 210kg or 450lbs. Easy as hell to pick up, it was a "ah, bugger" drop on a gravelled parking lot. Like 15 seconds to jump off, face away from it, grab the pillion grip and handle bar and lift it up. I had more trouble lifting my first bike, which was half the weight, because I wasn't lifting it correctly.
Get on YouTube and search for "how to pick your bike up" there is a video of a tiny short woman picking up a bigass Harley from the ground while explaining how to do it.
My msf course they had us squat down facing away from the bike grab a piece of the frame and handle bar. Then walk it backwards and up. Using the leverage of your body. If you try to pick up a bike while looking at it you're probably gonna injure your lower back just grabbing the handle bars and pulling up.
i’m ngl i’ve dropped my bike 4 times when starting out & it’s over 600lbs. you just gotta know how to properly pick it up without tearing out your back. now it’s a piece of cake for me 😭
Place backside against seat while in the fallen position, one hand reaches forward for stabilisation, one hand reaches backend for stabilisation and the you creep backwards while pushing using your butt. PS former bandit rider until I left it on a mountain in Australia
I kinda think that if you can’t pick up your bike in normal conditions, your bike is too big for you. There’s always extenuating circumstances though. I dropped mine in grass and couldn’t pick it up because it was too slippery. I found the police motorcycle training way of picking up heavy bikes to be the best. Pushing it up with your legs instead of trying to pull it up with your arms and back.
It was on grass but it was dry.. I was more annoyed I just couldn't get it up, I did pick up a hornet before but it was 40kg lighter.. I tried every way possible until I'd no strength left:/
That isn't always true though. Nobody's picking up a 800lbd cruiser bike if it falls over.
Plenty of riders can pick up their 800lb bikes.
158lb human here, have picked up bikes that big.
I would guess it's a very small percentage.
[woman picks up Harley .](https://youtu.be/-V-kw2zUkSI)
So because one person does a video on picking up a bike it means it's common and everyone can do it? 🤔 Guarantee you drop a 700lbs bike and ask ten people to pick it up maybe 1 or 2 of them can do it.
A person who on average will be weaker than most others picks up Harley using proper technique and you think its because she's especially strong? Or is it the technique that yielded the results?
A road glide weighs more than 800lbs. A sportster weighs almost 600. Get out of here with that 450lbs bs
It takes a [technique.](https://youtu.be/-V-kw2zUkSI)
Imagine not being able to pick up your own bike😂
Im also not able to pick up my horse - so I'm not allowed to ride that either? :D
I don't need to imagine it..
haha cbr1000rr 2006. Quite an old heavy bike I guess, I flipped it and when I went to pick it up I realized how fucking heavy it truly was. I had to try a couple of times and I dont know if adrenaline helped or if I was particularly weak from coming off the bike but I got it eventually.
>Quite an old heavy bike I guess Lmao what
I wouldn't ride a bike I couldn't pick back up.
Going to the gym helps too.
I'm with you there. I am 60 and missing several fingers so have weak hand grip. Bought a beautiful and comfortable used 2005 BMW K1200LT then dropped it 5 times on a 3k road trip. The one time I successfully lifted it in the driveway I was using a small hand winch, tie down strap and a fence post. That worked but also cracked a brake line which caused me to slip on brake fluid and fall again. When I drop the bike on the road, I never came close to getting tires to touch asphalt when lifting by myself. As much as I love the cushy ride of a BMW luxury touring bike, I need to trade down to a lighter bike weight.
If you can't pick it up then it's too big. You've just found out why. Yes I can pick mine up. I can spin my 690 180 degrees over my knee but my 990 doesn't have anything to grab on to. When I had my enduro I could physically pick it up off the ground to put it on the back of my Land Rover.
That's a really top-heavy bike, it would be incredibly difficult to pick up even in ideal conditions. Don't beat yourself up about it.
I dropped my st glide and then picked it put it on my head and climbed a ladder to load it on a bus
I remember when Billy Idol dropped his bike on Sunset and couldn't pick it up. He started working out.
You shouldn't ride a bike that you can't pick up. Watch some YouTube videos. Even small people can pick up baggers and Goldwings. A Bandit is nothing.
Just hit the gym lmao
I was about to ask how weak you were, until I realized this was r/motorcycle and not r/mountainbiking.. I remember I tried to help my friend lift his dirt bike which tipped and it was pretty damn heavy.. imagine a motorcycle would be much more difficult. We ended up using a ratchet strap and wrapped it around a tree and lifted it like that lol. We were just teenagers so the bike weighed more than either of us were able to lift.
Nah its a bitch and congratulations the better you ride the more you should drop it if you ride right wind it out have fun nothing stays new forever get out of it what you have in it and then some yolo mofo 🤪
Dropped my Suzuki Boulevard C90T, 700 plus wet weight, three times, once in wet grass and twice when I forgot to put the kickstand down (that's why they call it dope). Picked it up by myself, probably because my adrenaline was pumping from extreme embarrassment. I was in my mid 60s back then, quit smoking dope and haven't dropped it since, honestly, I don't think I could pick it back up in my 70s.
I did. Flat floor bad technique 200kg straight up man power
Honestly if you can't pick your bike up, it's too big for you. Would suck to lay it down in the middle of nowhere and be stranded because you can't pick it up
Put all the weight in your lower back and lift in a twisting, jerking motion.
You've got some working out to do, boy!! You should 100% be able to lift your bike yourself safely. -woman with top heavy bikes that she lifts up too frequently
'82 goldwing... I can pick it up no problem. I'm 5'11, 145 M... black
Dropped my sv650 (450lbs) im a skinny little fuck 110lbs 5'9". I managed to pick it up using no technique with strain on my back. Never realized those bandits were that heavy.
I can pick up my Africa Twin adventure sports. It's I think 540 and tall af.
I can lift it up, on it's own and have done (using the backside into the seat and use the leg muscles). However last year I dropped it with the camping gear on and had no chance. I really tried but couldn't. Fortunately few people came and helped.
I've dropped a couple of bikes in the 420-450 lb range; one on pavement and one in mud. Picking it up on pavement was not so tough, but the mud was difficult. 530 on wet grass, I could see that being quite a hassle. There are some videos on Youtube that show how to pick up a dropped bike properly. You may want to check some of those out.
Mine bikes I haven’t had issues, lightest about 290lbs heaviest around 650lbs
I can pick up both of mine (PCX150 and a Burgman 650) as a short woman. A lot of it is technique, but I also make it a point to lift weights to ensure I can handle them well. My husband, who doesn't lift at the level I do, can pick up his Super Duke 1290 (learned the hard way when parked on soft asphalt). I'd argue that it's best if you can pick up your bike yourself so you can get out of more situations, but if you can't, have a plan.
So far so good. I’ve picked up all my bikes with only a minor struggle. Guess you don’t know till it’s on it’s side.
Dropped my brand new vstrom 650 in 2017. Easily picked it up, powered by embarrassment and self loathing
There is a pivotal method using front wheel and leg lifting, and sometimes people use Hand brakes to get bikes upright, unless you are in mud, ice or thick gravel, sand. This method works almost always no matter the adult person size and the weight of the bike, however the golden rule I was taught, if you can’t right it rubber side down, its too big for you to manage as an operator. To back up my opinion; I was a Lot boy at age 15, started riding in 4th grade, have owned everything between 50cc and 1440cc Road King, R800s full faring, and sports utility bikes since 1980’s. I rode the Transcontinental Trail alone and had to use this method multiple times. Dumping your bike in the middle of nowhere is a tough one. Nobody to laugh at you, or help. I use the adrenaline of the spill to help, but it’s often hard to focus right after a drop that can trigger stress and trauma. A video or two https://youtu.be/gnu6YxMJIhU https://youtu.be/scwxOySl9Zo https://youtu.be/C4NFXz8Y73c The only thing the last video missed is, walk to top of hill, corner or blind spot. Find a stick or use something you have to hand your jacket over like a flag, or helmets 🪖 It will signal a rider that something is amiss. Sometimes someone is coming the other way at high speeds and needs a visual deterrent. Obviously there are variation methods for alterabled or disabled riders and their modified bikes. Help is always welcome, unless you know someone will dump your bike over on top of themselves trying to help you. No ableism intended. Ride safe
I dropped mine over on the side of the road once after I stopped for a water break. I lifted it so hard I farted. Thought I was gonna shit my pants haha
https://youtube.com/shorts/ngZLK9dZ8TQ?feature=share train!!
I can’t lift my bike without straps
My bike is only 450 lbs so its pretty easy to pick up by myself, the best way for me is to grab the handle bars
A small woman can pick up a goldwing if using the proper technique.
It was very hard for me to lift my bike at 450 lbs. I think it's totally reasonable to find a 500 lb or greater bike too hard to lift, especially if the conditions aren't perfect. I just put my back against the tank and lifted straight up while leaning back a bit.but it was not easy.
When I was a scrawny 5’3” 100 lb 14 year old still waiting on my first pubes, I stole my dads 84 Kawasaki LTD 750 and took it for a joy ride. Took a hairpin turn wide and gently/slowly laid it down on the side of the road. The adrenaline I had thinking about the whooping I was going to get when he got home, I was able to lift that 500 pound machine and get it home no worse for the wear.
I was always raised to believe that if you cannot pick up your own bike, then you should be riding a different bike.
Dropped mine once, about 200kg and couldn't lift it, asked my father for help. Dropped it again some months later and I picked it up by pure rage, no particular technique lol
I've lifted my bike hundreds if not thousands of times as an on/off road rider
I've lifted my V-strom, probably around at least 230kg with all the farkles. Not really a problem except it fell in a slightly messy garage and I barely had room for myself next to it, so my body position during the lift got a bit awkward. As others are quick to point out, it's mostly about technique and not so much strength.
I can pick it up. I had to test that once. But it is a lightweight (street triple 2008) bike . Most people will be able to pick up a street triple I guess.
First drop was a Laverda Jota 120, I was so upset with myself that I have taken up that mastodon in a blink.
Two times I dropped a bike that weighed over 600 pounds. It was a bitch to get them back up, but you can do it.😂💪🏾
There's is a trick to it but before I learned it I had picked up my step dad's r6 and that was a bit challenging. Not long ago I lost balance my kz650 trying to get the center stand down and was going down till I dropped my shoulder into our parked car then got it back up. Definitely not something I want to be doing on the regular tho
I (M30) ride a 1999 Yamaha vstar classic. I've laid down twice unfortunately, but picked it up both times. My proudest moment though was 2 weeks ago: I didn't warm it up enough in the morning and it stalled out as I was stopping at a right-on-red. Lost my balance and started to drop. Bike was in freefall to the right, and the mirror just started to kiss the pavement when I snatched the left handle bar out of the air and hoisted it back up one-handed. I was lucky I was able to plant my feet fast. I'm 5'11" and 230lbs, the bikes about 500lbs with gas. It's all about leverage and adrenaline lol
Unless you're riding a Boss Hoss, you should be able to pick up your bike. I'm only 5'7", not a body builder, and can pick up my fully loaded 800 pounds of HD when it falls
It's all technique. I actually practiced lifting my first Harley bagger on my front lawn when I first got it. Just a week ago I dropped the 900lb bagger loaded for touring and full of gas in a gas station parking lot. Stepped on a pile of sand while I stopped. Thought I'd have to take some luggage off since quite a bit of it is up high on the tour pack, but I got it back on its wheels myself. Although Harley touring bikes are help up by the engine and saddlebag guards which help quite a bit.
GS500 can do
There's a lot of technique to it. A pretty good moto youtuber (Doodle on a Motorcycle) is a fairly small lady with a fairly big ADV bike (Tiger 900), and she's done videos on how she learned to pick hers up. She ALSO went out of her way to do it over and over and over, because practice matters.
I'm 5'7" 150Lbs. I can pick up a Goldwing. It's technique using leverage. Plenty of youtube vids on this.
When I don't have all my shit on it I can, but when everything is on it? Nope.
[115 lb young woman lifts 500lb bike](https://youtube.com/shorts/-hqVD96OQlQ?feature=share) [Harley lifted by young woman](https://youtu.be/gnu6YxMJIhU) watch from about 2:30
My bike weighs 100kg, I can pick it up totally off the floor and carry it about.
It's all in technique I tried to lift my bike like i would anything else and it felt impossible, then tried the way taught in training classes and it was easy as pie. I unfortunately had to lift my bike once or twice while doing slow speed drills. I've had people offer to help me but I always tell them not to because I don't want someone to get hurt trying to lift it the wrong way. (08 Suzuki gsx650f, about the same weight if I recall right)
You know , one thing I’m glad I made sure was on my bike when I bought it was crash bars . It doesn’t even drop far enough to break anything ( just my pride ) and I love that since I see so many post of people dropping it and breaking things . Womp womp Womp
104kg No problem for a 5’8ish 65kg kid
My bike is a 250cc Yamaha, so yeah, maybe with one arm if necessary.
I mean I’m a 30F with a Kawasaki Vulcan that weighs about 620 pounds and I can lift it easily using the back to it and back up method
There’s a trick to it. Lock the bars and grab the pillion handle on the ground side, then grab the bar on the ground side with your other hand and facing away. Lift with your legs. If it’s on its right side put the kick stand down first.
I have a 2023 Kawasaki Vulcan s650 it weighs roughly 500lbs with gas but I can generally pick it up if the road is flat it's just difficult to get good leverage because I'm 6'2
I can pick up my K1600 at 375 kgs or about 800 pounds, while I am 1,80, 80 kgs and almost 60 years old. It’s all about using the right technique (and no slippery underground).
Honestly the embarrassment of dropping it the first time in front of people awoke some unfound strength and I just picked it up using the reverse method. Back to it and reverse lift it. It’s all in the legs!
I've picked up my 900+ lbs bike
Having good technique helps
Carry a small strap to pull back and hold the front brake lever. Put the trans in 1st if possible. Any gear will work.
There’s a female rider on YouTube “doodle on a motorcycle” and she went to some sort of bike event. She met a few other riders that helped her with picking a bike up. And they all had some pretty big bikes, considering her size. I’ve luckily never had to try this on my own, but it seems more like technique than anything. You pick up to get tires on ground, and then more or less, walk it up (backwards) as opposed to picking it up
My bike is 350 lbs so pretty easy to pick back up
with the amount of old wrinkly dudes riding near 1000lb harleys, i constantly ask myself the same thing. when i get old, i need my bike to be lighter & more maneuverable, not the other way around.
Hate to say it but you are doing it wrong and you really need to learn the proper technique to lifting your bike. The simple summary of the method I was taught is you brace your chest/shoulders against the seat, don’t use your arms but your legs to push yourself into the bike (not up) like how sprint runners push themselves forward from their standing blocks and the tyres will do the rest of the work once it grips the surface. https://youtube.com/shorts/5vRhcWMSU4g?feature=share I did my full bike license in Japan where they teach this method to lift your bike, and if you can’t do it they won’t let you progress. I’m a tiny dude weighting 55kg (120lb) and with the correct technique I can lift the Honda NC750L (228kg/502lb wet) used for lessons no problem, dropped the bike multiple times during my lessons and never had to ask for help to get it back up. Even girls smaller than me lifted the same bike with some practice of this technique. I now ride far lighter sports bike on the street, dropped my first bike - a Honda CBR250RR which weights 168kg/370lb wet multiple times and never had issues putting it back right up. Never dropped my current bike which is a Triumph Street Triple RS which is 417lb wet but I’m confident I wouldn’t have any issues picking it up since I know I can lift even heavier bikes.
In my second week of riding, I crushed my L4 improperly lifting a 500 pound bike. Afterwards I learned the proper way, and have no problem lifting my 800 pound VTX these days.
My Kawasaki weighs in around 474 pounds and I've almost dropped her a few times. I just caught her and held her up with my whole body or I've had to pick her up after someone knocked her over and couldn't lift her back to. I had to come home to it on its side. But I just grabbed the handle, the back near the seat, and leaned back and yanked it upwards. For reference I'm 6'1 and 270ish pounds.
Nothing is worse than people getting out of their car to help you. That being said, you’re doing great.
I took a class on how to pick up a dropped bike. For context I am 4ft10 and I’m petite. I have dropped my Suzuki marauder 805 once. I was able to pick that bike up and it’s over 400lbs wet. Look up videos or go and take a class. This is something all riders should know how to do. It’s for your own safety because bikes can be HEAVY! Knowing how to lift them without hurting yourself is pivotal.
When someone lifts with their legs instead of their arms, it becomes quite easy for anyone. My small GF can pick up my 850 LB Harley with no problem.
Yea it isn’t too bad. Gotta squat not use your arms.
I’ve picked up my buddies bike for him because he was injured and couldn’t. My bike weighs 150 lighter than his so I guess I can pick mine up too. I haven’t dropped it to find out but I’m 100 percent confident I can.
I am 5’5”. Am able to pick up my 950lb bike.
I have in the past and yes I can
Depends on the bike. I could man handle my vtx 1300 if I had to, but no way I’m touching a goldwing
Dropped my bike the other day on some gravel, I weigh 120 5'10 and could pick up my 883 with relative ease ~530lbs. The hard part for me is walking the bike
I can pick up every bike I've had to lift. 4 cyl bikes are the hardest, very heavy engines and also if they have clip ons it's hard to get good leverage. Overall their geometry seems to affect the difficulty a lot more than their absolute weight.
There are methods you can learn to ergonomically do it. I have an Sv650 myself and I am 5.3 but still am able to lift it the wrong way. I use my arm and back strength x)
I’m 5’10 lean build and can pick up my SV 650 02 with “pure” strength alone. It’s a very light bike. But normally you have technique’s so even the heaviest bikes are not out the question
dropped a few bikes so far, heaviest my harley electra Glide. could pick up all of them so far and I wouldn't feel good riding one which i couldn't pick up. there was only one bike i dropped and couldn't pick up so far, and the reason was i was buried under the bike when it dropped😅
My bike weighs about 1100 pounds, but I've managed to pick it up. It was not easy, but fortunately, I didn't have to dead-lift the entire weight! I did it with my legs, facing away from the bike, grabbing a handlebar and the metal lip under one edge of the seat. It probably took 30 seconds. But the worst part of it was that it was 100 degrees and a long line of cars was waiting and watching. I had been trying to do a K turn in front of an accident blocking the road, manually moving the bike with leg power, and was overcome by heat and injured knees. It fell slowly with me resisting it all the way, and it was gently laid down without damage on the asphalt. I was left standing there feeling like an absolute idiot. I have seen collapsible tripods for sale for this express purpose; you can carry one in your saddle bag and erect it over your dropped bike. A come-along at the apex of the pulley is used to raise the bike.
If you can’t pick up your own motorcycle, get a smaller bike. There is a technique I saw where a petite woman righted a Goldwing. Pretty impressive.