First little *oooops*

[HalfAKiwi]

To celebrate having my learner's licence for all of one week I decided to take the bike to work yesterday. It doesn't really get me there any quicker, as it's only a 5minute walk - and by the time the bike's warmed up, I'm dressed and ride there I could have walked three times, but that's not the point

So on my way home I stopped at a T intersection where I have to give way. I live in Matamata, so there isn't any traffic to speak of, and it was way before the 5:00pm - 5:10pm rush hour.

So I slow down, look, break, change down, saw a car coming, stopped, put my right foot down - and then I'm not quite sure what happened, but I slowly lost balance towards the right. I wrestled to keep smurfette upright but when she was like 10cm off the ground I couldn't hold her any longer and let go. I got up quickly and because everything happened in slow-motion and I was so close to the ground already anyway, I wasn't hurt or anything.

The biggest problem I had was getting the beast up again!

From watching Long Way Round/Down a gazillion times I learnt that I can't pull her up but instead have to push her up. So there I was, basically in the middle of the intersection (I was so far into it that I could see the traffic approaching from both sides) trying to lift that bike up - with a full tank of fuel. I'm only little at 5'3 or so so needless to say I struggled.

In the meantime two cars came down the road I wanted to turn into but no one stopped. A few minutes later a car came up behind me, swerved around me and drove on I mean, obviously I was unhurt but if you see a motorcycle lying on its side in the middle of the road it should tell you that something isn't quite right?

Just as I managed to lift her up again, a guy came over from I don't know where to ask if I'm alright. I said, yeah thanks, I just lost balance, I'm ok, but I'm having a hard time lifting my bike. He goes, yeah I know, I saw you. Thanks mate!

Lesson learnt: If you are on your own and you fall over, make sure you can pick your bike up by yourself!

My mechanic-fiance and I are going to hold a bike-pick-up-training-session tonight in the garage, lay the bike on an old duvet on its side and find a way for me to pick it up alone.

Thanks for listening

[Maha]

...if you find that you cant pick your bike up..just lay down beside it. Someone will stop to see if you are ok, thats when you jump to your feet and say ''yeah, but while ya here, can you help me pick this bloody thing up''?

A must watch video.

[george formby]

You are not alone, my GF is learning at the mo, just the basics in a safe environment. Clutch, throttle & balance etc. She has had 2 offs, first on a downhill, off camber gravel corner. That is the front brake + corner + over confidence = on the butt lesson. She managed to pick the bike up with shear adrenalin I think. Second time was a slow mo like yours, riding up a slight incline she hooked neutral rather than second & very gently lay the bike down but could not budge it. We may follow your example, might use the TDM.... I do like a bit of sweat on a woman....


Sucks that nobody had the nounce to give you a hand..


Cheers Maha, I just fowarded that to my GF.

[Stirts]

I live in Matamata, so there isn't any traffic to speak of, and it was way before the 5:00pm - 5:10pm rush hour.

Just for that 10 minutes

My mechanic-fiance and I are going to hold a bike-pick-up-training-session tonight in the garage, lay the bike on an old duvet on its side and find a way for me to pick it up alone.

Just get angry, I did when I dropped the Speed Triple for the first time. I got so angry I managed to pick up all 189kgs-ish of it in one fowl swoop before assistance even arrived.

...if you find that you cant pick your bike up..just lay down beside it. Someone will stop to see if you are ok, thats when you jump to your feet and say ''yeah, but while ya here, can you help me pick this bloody thing up''?

Or do what Maha does and show your boobies.

[Newbi]

It's yet another indication of the messed up society we now live in. I'm sure I would struggle to lift my bike too. But 1 thing I do know for sure is, if I had seen that I sure as hell would get out and help.

[baffa]

These things happen. Perhaps have both feet down at an intersection for a little while.

And I know this sounds blatently obvious, but if you need to lift a bike again, grab it, and push it up using the strength of your legs, rather than your back and arms. This has worked for me both times my gf has dropped my bike =/

[HalfAKiwi]

LOL that video is funny. I think I swore just as just much as him in my helmet

I honestly though about lying down next to my bike for a second. I think/hope that would have made people stop.
Or maybe next time I should at least take my helmet off, swoosh my hair around and wait for strong men to appear and lift my bike

Having both feet on the ground sounds like a good idea!

[DR650gary]

You are not alone, my GF is learning at the mo, just the basics in a safe environment. Clutch, throttle & balance etc. She has had 2 offs, first on a downhill, off camber gravel corner. That is the front brake + corner + over confidence = on the butt lesson. She managed to pick the bike up with shear adrenalin I think. Second time was a slow mo like yours, riding up a slight incline she hooked neutral rather than second & very gently lay the bike down but could not budge it. We may follow your example, might use the TDM.... I do like a bit of sweat on a woman....


Sucks that nobody had the nounce to give you a hand..


Cheers Maha, I just fowarded that to my GF.

I hope she's not scratching that DT

Cheers

[Tigadee]

Or maybe next time I should at least take my helmet off, swoosh my hair around and wait for strong men to appear and lift my bike

Yupe, that'll work... less stress and sweat that way. Ha! Ha!

Glad you and the Smurfette are OK. Must have been a real heart-pumping experience, huh?

Sure was for my first time when I turned too slow and dropped my bike in the middle of a busy road while turning into my driveway. Luckily I'd waited till there was no traffic before turning, but you'd never have seen my lardy ass move so fast to get up and pick up the bike! Thank God the Scorpio's so light...

[baptist]

...if you find that you cant pick your bike up..just lay down beside it. Someone will stop to see if you are ok, thats when you jump to your feet and say ''yeah, but while ya here, can you help me pick this bloody thing up''?

A must watch video.

Great Video, I loved that!!!!

I dropped my bike just a couple of months ago, stationary, in a line of traffic, right foot on the brake (a slight incline) and left foot down... right onto some slippery crap I could not see... foot slides, I scramble, foot slides more.... bike gently lays down for a rest!!! It happens I guess, just a little inattention. I was so bloody angry I grabbed it by the handle bar and hoofed it upright, embarassment is a great motivator

It really stinks that no one was willing to stop for a couple of minutes to help you pick it up... that is just so some people!!!! Glad you are OK.

[george formby]

I hope she's not scratching that DT

Cheers

I will, er, fill you in later. We are both luvvin the bike!

[HalfAKiwi]

LOL yeah the adrenaline was definitely pumping! Thank god this was a quiet street and not the main street through town, in front of all the shops and cafes!

[huff3r]

If I were you I'd look up some more video tips on youtube too. I was always taught to grab the right handlebar and squeeze the front brake, using that as the point to lift the bike from (stops it running away from you!). The actual technique to use I don't really remember, it's been so long since I've dropped it! Or even ridden it

[hayd3n]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ6_2VqSHBw
see!! its easy

[Vinz0r]

I was told that if you are small and don't have the strength to lift the bike easily, a good way is to try and pick it up from the other side, using your own weight to counterbalance the bike. Have never tried this myself, but it may be worth a go.