has anyone dropped their sportster? I have, what is the best way YOU have personally picked it up? not what you have heard about but actually on hands experience by yourself...thanks for any responses. :eek:

I dropped the bike when tried to take off with the fork lock on. I did this in front of 4 females I was showing off in front of and trying to impress. :o

I was so embarrassed and full of adrenaline, I picked the bike up without even thinking about it. I think I just grabbed the handlebars and pulled it up.

I'm about 6' and 185#. 42 years old. Decent shape and average strength.

I was backing out of a parking spot. There was a fairly deep low spot where a manhole cover was located. I didn't see it and my right foot dropped down about 6 inches in it while backing the bike up. Well, I lost my balance and dropped the bike on it's right side.

Luckely no damage except a scratched up brake lever and one very very small scratch on one of my pipes. My body, partially under the bike, must have broken the bikes fall a little.

I just picked it up by the handlebars and seat. It was not easy, but I got it up.

They will tell you that you need to backup to the bike and use your back ... I just diddn't think of that at the time.

Ron,

With my driveway layout, I have to make a tight slow corner through my lawn to drive out. I just made it into the grass when things went wrong, and I did a slow laydown of my bike (nothing damaged, just the turn signal out of adjustment).

I looked down, cussed, then grabbed a handlebar and pulled the thing up. I was amazed because I thought it would be a lot more difficult- I weight 135# and 5'8" tall.

Similar experience to others - just reached down and jerked it up - pissed off and lots of adrenaline.

Its only 500 or so pounds....not that big a deal...

Watch for demo's at bike rally and events. They sometimes have seminars on how to pick up a dropped bike.
I once wiped out, broke my left shoulder and still picked up the bike and rode it off to the side of the road. Then I went to the hospital. Adrenaline does wonders.

I was on my way to a rally in Norway and pulled up into the parking lot of a shell gas station, dismounted my bike and started to walk away. I forgot the kickstand and it fell over on me and knocked me down. I almost dominoed a bunch of bikes. Anyway. since I was under it I found the best way was to ask my buddy to get that burning hot engine off my leg. It worked. Otherwise, the best way is to get really mad and get the adrenaline going and snatch it off the ground. I have been down twice in 10 years and both times I had the bike up so fast the people who saw were not sure I wiped out. Amazing what that little bit of adrenaline can do. Rottenralph

Adrenaline took over and i picked up my bike with no problem. I once watched my dad pick up his old wide glide by himself. :eek:

Dropped it once. Small scratch on tail pipe, small scratch on the brake handle and a cracked mirror. Had pulled up to a stop sign, put my boot down and slide on some grease. Bike and I went down in slow motion. First leg split I've ever done. Picked her up by the handle bars and frame under the seat. At 6ft. 4in., 230lbs, it wasn't difficult.:o

Put your back to the bike, grab a handgrip with one hand and somewhere near the back fender with the other. Squat down and lift with your legs. Bike comes up easy.

Heres a link that shows how to pick up a dropped bike
http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

I was amazed that she did it in a skirt, yet kept herself prim and proper;)

If you pick it up facing the bike, rather than the back-to-the-bike technique, you need to hold the front brake on while you pick it up.

I had put mine in the grass so I could get my car out. I don't know what I was thinking, I put the side stand down, turned the handlebars and just started easing the stand to the ground. Once the stand hit the grass, I let go, DUH... it fell right over, ground was too soft!
And when I tried to bring her back up, the wheels just slid and I went along for the ride :frownthre .
Funny, looking back, my biggest concern was my neighbors seeing the bike on the ground. I hadn't even ridden her yet, I was still recovering from a broken foot.
Once I realized none of the neighbors noticed, I figured I might be better off "pushing" the scooter up from the opposite side.
I bent my knees, stooping down, grabbed the handlebar with my left hand, and the shock with my right and slowly stood up as I leaned toward the cycle, pushing a little.
It wasn't that physically difficult, my nerves were the problem. Once I had it back on the driveway and there was no damage, I felt fine. In hindsight, I was most worried about how I would explain "dropping" her before I ever rode her. Hmmm, I did that with a g/f once :censor

I watched the coach at the MSF course pick-up a Honda Rebel a gal had dumped, even though it was a light cycle, he did it as most have suggested.

Regards,

The picking up of the bike is no problem, like everyone said the adrenaline will give ya the extra boost. The problem is there is now way to do it and still look cool :frownthre

I was amazed that she did it in a skirt, yet kept herself prim and proper;)
I always stay prim and proper when I pick up the bike with my kilt on :bagpipe
I've been waiting for a chance to use that smiley!!!

Je Suis Prest (http://www.thefrasers.com/clanfraser/history.htm)
Gary

hey , if ya scroll down real fast it looks like a moving picture

My old 750K honda fell over in my yard once. Now that was a heavy f**in bike to pick up by yourself. Of course I was only 19 or 20 at the time. I'm only 37 now but it's been a while.

Ok Gary, now the question........what do ya wear under a kilt? :eek:

Ok Gary, now the question........what do ya wear under a kilt? :eek:
Ask your mom :toungelau

Gary

If the kilt's above your knee, you are a boy.
If its at your knee, you are a man.
If its way below your knee.. you are a damn liar! :shhhh

http://pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

Guess I should have read ALL the posts...this was already mentioned.
I've ridden BT's for 25+yrs..so my Ironhead is a piece a cake :smoke

Dropped my bike a couple of times and different things broke .... :frownone
To lift it up I hold on to the handlebar and on the rear fender just where the sissybar is located. :rolleyes:

Turn the handlebars as you lift them, not used on this harley, but have used on an old Honda Magna which weighs a bit more...and this was when I was a 16 year old scrawny kid...a 100lb girl can pick up a 700lb bike if she knows the right way to leverage the bars as she lifts.

When I drop my bike I call badassbikeliftingasswhopingbilly.
HE DA MAN.

I was on my way to a rally in Norway and pulled up into the parking lot of a shell gas station, dismounted my bike and started to walk away. I forgot the kickstand and it fell over on me and knocked me down. I almost dominoed a bunch of bikes. Rottenralph


I had that very thing happen to me years ago.

The worst part is, it's absolutely impossible to look cool afterwards.

:o

heres a good one , back in the early 80's bellbottoms were still in and I was whering thems while dirtbiking , well the cuff of my pants got caught in the chain and locked up the wheel ,and I started leaning to the side that I couldn't get my foot down off the peg cause my pants pind it there

well there I lay , leg pinned under the bike and stuck to the bike , no way to get it out
I wound up flipping myself over the bike to get my right leg on the ground and picking it up one legged , standing backwards to the bike
as I lifted the bike my left leg came up with the bike , once the bike was standing up I had no way to put the kickstand down , so I had to push the bike over on its side again to cut my pants leg out of the chain

never again was I a bellbottom biker boy

Now that would have been a million dollar picture Flathead! :rolllaugh :lmaorof

it woulda made a great video too :rockband

That does bring up a point, on my 1200c there is a bolt that sticks out on the clutch pedal with the nut on top and I have snagged my pants on it when stopping at a light. I wonder if there is a cap to put on that nut?

I never drop a bike!
Ecxept in 1981, where a club bro have a wedding party :drinkup . I start that night to cruisin around our club area with my FLH chopper, turn left....an drop the bike. I was so f....drunk i cant lift up the bike. Then came 2 girls from our other chapter and lift it up.......man......what a shame for a biker.. :frownthre

Never say never there DaPainta :laugh My best one was pulling up for gas getting off the bike and not putting down the kick stand :frownthre Not enough o's in smooth for me :o

I've never dropped a harley or my trumpit

hell I didn't even go down when the buick hit me on the trump

but a few jappers have gone down under me , no big loss

Never say never there DaPainta :laugh My best one was pulling up for gas getting off the bike and not putting down the kick stand :frownthre Not enough o's in smooth for me :o

ouch! :shhhh But ya know...shit happens.. :laugh

Ain't that the truth! :wonderlan

but a few jappers have gone down under me , no big loss


keep it up mate it will give the real bikes more room to ride
:bump

keep it up mate it will give the real bikes more room to ride
:bump
Do you mean one of these