Handling the weight of a motorcycle
 

Hi All,

OK I'm posting this under Women's Topics, as I have a feeling this is something many ladies - especially more petite ones such as myself! - go through with motorcycles.

What I want to know is, how do all you female riders out there handle the weight of a motorcycle? I'm not talking about actually riding the bike, but rather manouevring it - for example in and out of the garage/parking spaces - and picking it up when it falls over.

I'm assuming you're not all built like brick s***-houses (!), so what's the secret? Do you just get used to the weight of the bike eventually? Or do you all go down the gym and lift weights to bulk up your arm power?! Or are there special techniques for tackling the weight of the bike in such situations??:helpsmilie:

My beloved Suzuki Marauder tipped over today - stupidly, I was just sitting on it taking a rest after a good morning's riding and one minute it was upright, the next it was horizontal!! I didn't have the strength to pick it up and luckily two guys from the Vegemite factory opposite ran over and gave me a hand. Felt like an idiot though.... :(

So really need some tips/advice on this, especially from the ladies, please!

Jeanie :mchappy:

Not a lady, but picking up a fallen motorcycle is all about technique, of which there are 2 main ones. Before trying to pick the bike up though, 3 rules (for either method).

1st rule, kill the engine using the kill switch or ignition key.
2nd rule, if the bike is laying on it's right hand side, lower the side stand before trying to pick it up, that way ones it's up you don't have to swap sides to put the side stand down.
3rd rule, if the bike is in gear leave it in gear, if it isn't in gear and you can put it in gear then do so, this stops the bike rolling when you pick it up.

1. Using the handlebars - To pick a bike up using just the handlebars you need to turn the bars so that the front wheel is pointing straight up, so if the bike is on it's left turn the bars all the way to the right, if the bikes on it's right then turn the bars all the way to the left. Once that is done, crouch down (bending your knees and keeping your back straight) so that you can cup your hands under the end of the handle bars, almost as if you are giving someone a boost up a wall. Once in the correct position just straighten your legs to lift the bike.

2. Using the seat and your bum - This is a good technique, and even better there is a really good video showing the technique on you tube, the end is a bit lame though. I think they would have been far better ending the video by shooting it with an unladen bike and showing success rather than failure. You Tube Video

Once you know how to pick it up you should hopefully start to ride with a little more confidence, which will help you avoid dropping it in the first place. What you absolutely must do however is not forget everything you have learned about riding a bike and start riding in a 'scared of dropping it way'. My ex girlfriend used to suffer from this, what she would find herself doing would be approaching junctions with a fear of dropping the bike, so in fear of dropping the bike she would use the front brake to stop herself, so that she could have both feet out to avoid dropping the bike!!!! Unfortunately this increased the likelyhood of her dropping it, as what would happen is she would be unbalance to start with, and by only using the front brake the forks would compress a she slowed, then spring back up as she stopped unbalancing her more and more.

Hope the above helps, just try not to get disheartened with any early set backs like this.

Greetings Jeanie

Check out this site

Pink Ribbon Rides

As they say technique is everything :-)

I'm rubbish at it
 

Hey Jeannie

I dont know if this is of any help, but I am absolutely crap at picking up bikes, no matter what the size or weight, and I am crap at maneouvring a bike too. I have just come back from a year trip, and my skills have progressed utterly disproportionately to my saddle time i.e I'm still crap. I am terribly awkward man handling a bike, regardless of the techniques people keep teaching me! I have to admit that I get very nervous at the prospect of not being able to pick the bike back up, and as for maneaovering, I always have to be very pre-meditated with my parking. I am forever asking for help. I am not the most confident of riders, and knowing that I am crap moving a bike doesnt do anything for my confidence, but I reckon on the fact that there are just things you have to ask help with. After all there are some bikes that a single man couldnt pick up.

As for techniques, what I did once was to keep lying my bike down and trying to pick it up different ways. I am not very good learning from people that say "do it like this", I have to learn through pain and pulling muscles, until you find a technique that is right for you.

I am not sure that I am of any help, but I feel your pain!

Good luck!

Pick Up Lines
 

HI Jeanie
I know exactly what you mean about being helpless. That's how I was at first, even two of us struggled to pick up Thelma (BMW R80GS), but we had to learn before we set off on our first trip.
And then when I was travelling solo I found that I could pick her up on my own, even with all the luggage on (almost 300Kgs) and I'm not very big and strong (5'6").
I have done a couple of workshops about it at the HU meets in England - but as you're mentioning a vegemite factory I'm assuming that you're in Oz and so it's a bit of a long way to travel:biggrin3:
Get someone to show you the way to do it and have them stand by to help and advise - it might take a couple of sessions, but I believe you can do it.
Let me know how you get on - and not forgetting the effectiveness of adrenaline - when you have that
"oh shit I've dropped my bike" moment:eek3:
make use of the adrenaline rush, to grab the bike and pick it up.
Good luck

I can only speak on the basis of observing my wife manouvre both her TTR250 and F650 Dakar which on our trip was loaded to a weight of 245kg and she rode it like a trooper.

But I noticed that most women are more cautious than morst men. Which when manouvring a bike can appear little clumsy. I'm trying to get her to man-handle the thing more, but she keeps trying to keep it completely and precisely vertical instead of leaning it towards her a bit more so she can lean her hip into it. This way you and the bike become a tripod which is much more stable.

As for picking it up, Steved1969 first method is my preferred method. Infact, I can't lift my Dakar up with the second method. It's about 220kg and I'm about 6' and 95kg.
The first is a bit like lifting a heavy box of the ground and you can train this in the gym. Keep your back straight and lift with your legs. The difficult bit is where your legs are fully extended and you need your upper body to lift it vertical. It's only a little bit, but that's when you really notice how much stronger your legs are over your upper body. I usually lean into it and push it to vertical hoping I can stop before it passes vertical and it drops the other way.

Picking up the bike where I left off...
 

Hey guys, as ever all your posts are incredibly useful and reassuring - thank you! I need to try out some of these techniques you're talking about - which now, perversely, makes me less fearful of dropping the bike again as it will be good practice for picking it back up, hahaha! :biggrin3:

When my bike tipped over, I was already thinking ahead to being in Africa, on my own, somewhere remote, where picking it up myself will be the only option. I hated having to rely on two blokes - who actually weren't all that big themselves! - to get the bike upright again. So in this case, it's vital I learn - and practise!

Thanks also for making me realise that it's not just total newbies like me that drop bikes.. sounds like it can happen, no matter your age, sex, or riding experience!!

Jeanie :mchappy:

Funny you say that. Because that's what my wife didn't get first up either. I showed her every picture and video of awesome riders coming off I could find. It does happen to everyone and riding on the trail it's usually part of the fun bits of the day. It's a case of getting the camera out before you help out (if it's not serious off course).

Pick up a Trail Zone magazine when it comes out with a DVD for some 'carnage'. Trail Bike Adventure Magazines are pretty good also.

My small piece of advice is to plan ahead. Whether the bike is loaded up or not, take a good look where you are going to park before committing to it.
Firm ground, not too much of a slope and where you know you can drive out again. With practice this only takes a quick look and then you can park without it seeming like you are being timid about it.

You are right that the problem with weight is only when the bike is stopped or you have to move it slowly. It is all about balance then, using both feet and not turning the bars too much will keep it vertical.

At a certain point however muscle is required, it will always come down to that and if you are not well endowed in that respect then I suggest just step away if it starts to go, no point in damaging yourself.

I tried the adrenaline rush approach when my bike fell over, and as I had not practiced beforehand, I just got a tweaked back out of it. But after a bit of thought and preparation, the second method (back to the bike and push with the legs) worked for me. And I ride a 1200RT.

Everybody drops their bike at some time, thank heaven for full-face helmets, one's red face doesn't show so much.:oops2:

First of all, you WILL drop your bike. Even after 25 years of riding I still do it. Long day, not paying attention, being complacent, etc etc. ...it happens.

My personal method is to grab the handlebars with my back to the bike and using my legs while keeping my back mostly straight. My second favourite method is to wave down some motorists or pedestrians and ask for help ;-) In fact, most of the time they're surrounding me before I even get the chance to ask for help.

...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

Scrabblebiker, I like your second-favoured method of getting the bike up - just flag down a passing motorist, nice! :clap:

By the way, I like the look of your bike..is it a BMW? Looks like a very manageable, not-too-heavy machine...??
Jeanie :mchappy:

I once watched a video of a woman picking up a large BMW GS - she couldn't do it.
The advice was, if all else fails, lie down at the side of the bike - someone will think you're injured and will stop to help!! :)

But that of course, all depends on where you are in the world.... I suspect some of Tiffany's travels involve very few people around to help.

I'm 5' 2" and ride a 1000cc Honda (not an off-road bike).
My trick to picking up the bike is to not to drop it in the first place lol. Perfect your slow riding techniques, look for adverse cambers and pot holes, approach lights and junctions slowly so you don't have to stop.

As far as moving it about, I take everything slowly and carefully. I never sit on and paddle backwards (a single stone will be all it takes to topple). I prefer to put one hand on the rear seat or grab rail and the other on the handlebar - unless I need to use the front brake. Find and use the centre of gravity of your bike to your advantage - balance the bike on 2 wheels and walk around it keeping it upright - you'll be surprised how easy it will balance with very little manhandling from you. Have a friend nearby to prevent any accidents whilst you practice.
Low riders are probably a little more tricky but the more you know the limitations of your bike, the easier it will be to ride and handle :)

Good Luck & Happy Travels :)

The most important thing is to practice. With every new bike I get I invite two friends over, get a couple of beers and have them help me gently drop the bike on both sides for me to pick up. I do that a couple of times, try different things and techniques and different load levels, etc. and usually end up with something I can work with in case it happens. Because it will happen. When you least expect it ;)

This is just a thought.

Why not fit a roll over bar to the bike ? What I have in mind is a large hoop connected at the the bottom at the rear foot peg mountings and coming up and over like a giant sissy bar. This would give you lots of leverage with which to lift it. You may want to brace it near the seat each side.

One reason this is such a problem is that most modern bikes are wet sump. This raises the engine height (often gearbox also) usually above the wheel spindles making them very top heavy and difficult to lift.

Sorry, I'm just a tad behind in this thread.

Yes, it is a 2007 BMW F650GS. Compared to, say a cruiser, it's actually a bit top heavy. Dry weight is about 400lbs. But that goes up closer to 500lbs when gassed up and fully loaded for extended travel.

If your feet easily reach the ground it's fine. My inseam is 29" and my feet JUST reach the ground ...if it's flat. There is a lower seat available as well as a lowering kit. But if you have to be on your toes, you need to be a bit more careful how you stop ...choose even ground if you can. There are times when my feet end up not entirely flat and that's mostly how I've dropped it, once with my girlfriend riding pillion ...we're still together :-)