Hopefully nobody will have to do this but I think it is great information just in case it is ever needed. When mine went down, I had several people help with immediate quickness. But what if one were alone?



I found this article last night and thought I would share as it is very thorough compared to some I have read. I am to computer illiterate to have a link to this site so I copied and pasted.



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?


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.

 

Nice job and a good reminder. However, you need to very careful about letting others especially those not familiar with motorcycles help lift a bike! I've had the opportunity to pick mine up and it was easier than I imagined but it could be a problem if you have bad knees, wrists, etc. Well meaning helpers will rip your touring pack off in heartbeat and it's my experience that it's the first thing they go for so if you allow other s to help make sure everybody knows what they're grabbing onto before the lift! By the way are you OK?

 

When I laid mine down it was a few years ago. It can happen at any time.

The reason I posted this was because my wife is in the last day of her MSF course. She laid the bike down on the riding range in a sharp slow turn during drills. When she went to pick the bike up, the instructor said to leave it down and they (the instructors), for liability reasons, pick the bike up. I asked her to have the instructors show the technique for picking up a dropped bike.
Be saqfe folks!

 

Check out the Ride Like A Pro video; he goes over it at the start. Really good information; thanks for posting it.

 

Crash bars help alot when having to pick up a bagger. At least the bike isn't down flat on the ground.

 

Good for the day you hope will never come... but know it will.

 

Hey, I had to pick up my Ultra like that a few times!!

 

Thanks for posting the info. I read on here last winter how to properly lift a bike. This past summer, unfortunately, I had to put it to use. You just never know

 

Thanks, good article........

 

Just don't do what a buddy and I did with his Heritage. We were at a rally and had 1 or 20 beers each. The bikes were parked. It started raining so he decided to move his under the canopy with mine. He somehow dropped it on the right side getting it off the stand, I run over and help him pick it up and we flip it over onto the left side. We flip over the bike as well. Nothing hurt on the bike just muddy. Friends still give us crap over it.