Dropping GSA

[Deeley]

Hi all, notice still loads of great stuff going on here

My questions is this:

Picking up my first BMW on Saturday (GSA1200) and it's my first real large bugger. I've read, and now and accept that it will happen, and that's im going to drop it, hopefully on once, but ah, let's be honest, it's going to be a fair few times.

Should I wait for the inevitable, and then find out if I can pick it up, and wonder as to what tech to use And then find out a need a helping hand or do I practise

Practice is: Find a nice soft spot in my garage, plenty of spongy stuff down, and then lay the bugger down. Find a method (on my own) as to how to, and not to pick it up!!

Please, is there a way of doing this other than "get out the weights" and become Arnie overnight

Sensible and constructive advice only, if that's possible

 

[THE ROVER]

there a link on here somewhere which shows the best way of picking it up without the need for being like Arnie.
I think it shows the easiest way is if you put your back against it, one hand on the bars and another on the frame, then pretend your Arnie and heave

 

[PhilM]

Here's the link
supplied by Senior Member and all round good egg, Ogmios

http://www.msgroup.org/TIP075.html

 

[APE]

The guys at the BMW off road course in Wales recommend a different approach. You face the bike and grab the lower handbar grip with both hands and lift using your legs (keeping your back straight). I weight less than 150lbs and was able to lift a 1150GS with a full tank of petrol so it seems to work !

 

[Gecko]

The technique taught on the BMW enduro courses involves stand facing the bike and placing your feet near the bike either side of the handlebar grip. Make sure the bike is in gear. Squat down and cup both hands under the handlebar grip . Keep a straight back and using your legs and thigh muscles lift - as it starts to go up you move your feet closer into the bike.
By making sure it is in gear the bike won't roll away from you as it goes up. If you are doing this from the bike lieing on it's left hand side then use your foot to deploy the side stand as it goes up. If the bike is lieing on it's right then deploy the side stand before starting to lift. This will ensure that the bike won't go all the way over and fall onto the other side once you get it up.
I don't know if this explanation is clear but it works well in practice (I know !!) and unless you are very slightly built (weedy ) then you should be able to have it back up in a flash.

 

[Lou Can]

The technique taught on the BMW enduro courses involves stand facing the bike and placing your feet near the bike either side of the handlebar grip. Make sure the bike is in gear. Squat down and cup both hands under the handlebar grip . Keep a straight back and using your legs and thigh muscles lift - as it starts to go up you move your feet closer into the bike.

Remember to make sure the handelbars are turned away from you or you could be there a while until someone arrives with a truss

LC

 

[PhilM]

The guys at the BMW off road course in Wales recommend a different approach. You face the bike and grab the lower handbar grip with both hands and lift using your legs (keeping your back straight). I weight less than 150lbs and was able to lift a 1150GS with a full tank of petrol so it seems to work !

Yes, I remember being taught that as well (not at BM) and it was demonstrated on LWR.

Remember to make sure the handelbars are turned away from you or you could be there a while until someone arrives with a truss

Standard equipment on BMW Recovery vehicles

 

[banzai]

i have found adrenalin and pure embarrassment to be the biggest help in getting it upright again, just remember to invest in some pile ointment.

 

[LiquidLAN]

Dont worry I've dropped mine twice - well once the first time I'd taken my helmet, gloves, etc off and was 10 feet away when it went over, it wasn't me honest!!! The second time was me lost my footing while manouvering in Assen

On both occasions I had the BMW tins on. Minimal damage to the bike on each occasion, small scratch on each side of the crash bars (about the same place on each) and minor scratches in the plastic corners of the tins.

I had a ZZR1100 before this, trust me the 12GSA is a doddle to pick up and a damn sight easier than the ZZR was!

 

[Timolgra]

Ask Dahoum, he's the expert

 

[Taff]

I think that which method you use depends on which way the handlebars are pointing. If the front wheel is pointing skywards, then use the method approved by the off road course. If the front wheel is pointing into the ground then use the method recommended by the Police ie back to the bike and push it up by reversing into it.

I dropped my GS Adventure in Ireland 2 years ago - no damage as the thing only dropped about 6 inches and rested on the Touratech panniers. I tried the handlbar method (ie the off road course method) but there was a hell of a lot of creaking from the handlebars (which would probably have been even worse if I had fitted bar-risers), but as it was on a slope I couldn't get enough leverage. Sadly before I could try out the Police recommended method, the 2 other riders I was with were pulling it up.

Just remember what Fanum keep saying - its not damage - its character.

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

i have found adrenalin and pure embarrassment to be the biggest help in getting it upright again

The same for me, dropped it twice now, once each side! Had it up in a flash both times, minimal damage.

 

[Bigtwin]

The technique taught on the BMW enduro courses involves stand facing the bike and placing your feet near the bike either side of the handlebar grip. Make sure the bike is in gear. Squat down and cup both hands under the handlebar grip . Keep a straight back and using your legs and thigh muscles lift - as it starts to go up you move your feet closer into the bike.
By making sure it is in gear the bike won't roll away from you as it goes up. If you are doing this from the bike lieing on it's left hand side then use your foot to deploy the side stand as it goes up. If the bike is lieing on it's right then deploy the side stand before starting to lift. This will ensure that the bike won't go all the way over and fall onto the other side once you get it up.
I don't know if this explanation is clear but it works well in practice (I know !!) and unless you are very slightly built (weedy ) then you should be able to have it back up in a flash.

I'm a big bugger and can force lift my GSA with full fuel on levelish ground - just. But doing it by the above method is far easier!

 

[Wizard]

Dropped various GS's more times than Faria Allam's dropped her knickers, and use a variety of methods. These include the WoBMW method, the Police method, and the "Oi, mate, gis a hand" method. I find the latter most useful

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Picking it up again!

'i have found adrenalin and pure embarrassment to be the biggest help in getting it upright again, just remember to invest in some pile ointment. ' I agree with these sentiments ! Do you remember when skiing how you were taurgt to get up ? A complicated process, facing this way, that way, knees together, sticks just so etc; When you were in a class with an Austrian instructor only one thing mattered -GET UP BEFORE HE SAW YOU. The difficult part was brushoing the snow off yourself before he noticed.

 

[roddy]

this works very well here not that I've tried it 3 times since getting my GSA

 

[Deeley]

Thanks Guys



Thanks to all, and as usual, you lot never stop amazing me with your quick responses and abuntant of knowledge.

Everything taken on board, and will practice, well, hopefully not too much

Love you guys, well, maybe not love, but excellant team, you know what I mean

 

[Brian ROSEN]

The next step

Now that we can pick it up, without damaging ourselves - what about the manufacturers producing a bike that can at least fall over without damage?
(Oh and some of those lovely ladies might be a little difficult to pick up !)

 

[piebaps]

Don't forget to swear continuously throughout the lifting process