How to Lift a Fallen Motorcycle
CAUTION
Picking up a motorcycle can be dangerous and
cause serious injury if done
incorrectly or under poor footing. A simple back
injury could wreck your
life! Always, always, always try to get help
first—and remember, you don't
want anybody else to get hurt, either. You need
to think clearly, use
common sense, and be in good physical condition.
Keep your body and back
straight, and lift only with your legs. Maintain
control of the motorcycle
and never twist your body while lifting. Check
the motorcycle for damage
prior to riding it again.
The majority of picking up a motorcycle is
mental: Work smarter, not
harder. Motorcycles are heavy machines. Think
about how you want to do it
first—if you were going to lift a 300-pound
refrigerator, would you just
run up and grab it and start muscling it around,
or would you plan your
attack? What would you do if you were going to
lift an 800-pound
refrigerator?
The ideal situation for lifting a motorcycle
would be:
1. Have the lifting technique demonstrated by a
qualified professional.
2. Practice with a qualified professional.
3. Have the qualified professional evaluate and
coach your lifting
technique.
Step 1:
Assess Yourself
Take a few minutes to calm down. Seeing your bike
lying on its side can be
a traumatic experience, but it happens to
everyone at one time or another.
Your bike's not going anywhere without you. Spend
a few minutes asking
yourself questions and talking yourself through
it: are you hurt? Are you
able to pick up your motorcycle in a normal
situation? Do you want to pick
up your motorcycle? Is it safe to pick up your
motorcycle? Etc., etc. You
have the rest of your life to pick up your bike;
take a few minutes to
relax and assess the situation. It's best if you
get help. And remember:
if someone helps you, don't forget to warn them
not to touch the hot
exhaust pipe, not to lift by the turn signals,
etc. Also make sure they
lift correctly. You don't want someone else
getting hurt.
Step 2:
Assess the Environment
If you are in danger from other traffic, get away
from your motorcycle and
seek a place of safety. Let law enforcement
respond and take control of
the scene before picking up your motorcycle. Take
a look at the ground: do
you have a solid surface to lift from? Is there
gravel? Is the pavement
wet? Are you right next to a ditch? You don't
want to slip and get pinned
under your bike.
Step 3: Assess the Motorcycle
Turn it off using the engine cut-off switch or
the ignition switch. Turn
off the fuel using the fuel supply valve. Spilled
fuel is common, so use
caution (though usually you need sparks, flame,
or an ignition source to
have a fire or explosion.) If the motorcycle is
lying on its right side,
put the sidestand down and put the motorcycle in
gear. If the motorcycle
is on its left side, you can't put the side stand
down and can't put the
motorcycle in gear. Make a mental note of these
facts. You don't want to
pick up your motorcycle and then immediately drop
it onto its other side!
Techniques to Lift the Motorcycle—Preferred and
Regular Methods Technique I: Facing Away from the Motorcycle - For
Large Motorcycles
Preferred Method for any Size
1. Turn the handlebars to full-lock position with
front of tire pointed
downward.
2. Find the "balance point" of the two
tires and the engine, engine guard,
or footpeg. The motorcycle will be fairly easy to
lift until it reaches
this point because it's resting on its side. Once
you start lifting from
there, you are responsible for the most of the
weight of the bike.
3. "Sit" down with your butt/lower back
against the motorcycle seat. Be
very careful to keep your back straight and your
head up. Put your feet
solidly on the ground about 12 inches apart, with
your knees bent
slightly.
4. With one hand, grasp the handgrip (underhand,
preferably), keeping your
wrist straight.
5. With your other hand, grip the motorcycle
framework (or any solid part
of the motorcycle), being careful to avoid the
hot exhaust pipe, turn
signals, etc.
6. Lift with your legs by taking small steps
backwards, pressing against
the seat with your butt and keeping your back
straight. On slippery or
gravelly surfaces this technique probably won't
work. On inclined surfaces
this can be very dangerous.
7. Be careful not to lift the motorcycle up and
then flip it onto its
other side! If possible, put the sidestand down
and the bike in gear.
8. Set the motorcycle on its sidestand and park
it safely. Technique II:
Facing the Motorcycle - For Small and Medium-Sized
Motorcycles Regular Method
1. Turn the handlebars to the full-lock position
with the front of the
tire pointed skyward.
2. Find the balance point of the two tires and
the engine, engine guard,
or footpeg. The motorcycle will be fairly easy to
lift until it reaches
this point because it's resting on its side. Once
you start lifting from
there, you are responsible for the most of the
weight of the bike.
3. Stand very close to the handlebars. Plant your
feet about
shoulder-width apart with the lower handgrip in
between them. Use both
hands to lift. Keeping your back straight and
your head up, lift
carefully, keeping the handgrip close to your
body. Use your leg muscles
for power, and not your back muscles.
4. Be careful you don't lift the motorcycle up
and then flip it onto its
other side.
5. Set the motorcycle on its sidestand and park
it safely.