I’m looking for fresh ideas or suggestions on how to pick up a dropped GL1800. I’m 5’7” with short legs (28” inseam), slightly built and weigh only 145 lbs, but I’m fit and exercise regularly, focusing a lot on my legs and lower back. I've found many YouTube videos on this subject showing men and women of all different sizes raising up a fallen Goldwing, so I’m not convinced that my lack of success so far has much to do with any lack of strength on my part. All the videos show the same technique: put your butt up against the seat and raise the bike through the use of your legs in a backward walking motion. I also learned of two other techniques from the Ride Like A Pro book. One was described as being a method particularly well-suited for a person with short legs. It simply involves grabbing the handlebar, putting your hip against the seat and raising the bike through the use of your legs in a sideways walking motion. The other technique described in the Ride Like A Pro book was one they recommended only as a last resort: grab the handlebar and then rock the bike back and forth on its side with increasing intensity until it gains enough rolling momentum that it can be pushed upright. I’ve never tried this last method (and don’t ever intend to) because of the chance of damaging the bike in the process, but I’ve tried the other techniques quite a few times without success. I’m particularly frustrated because, despite the fact that I haven’t been able to pick the bike up without help so far, I’ve mastered the ability to get the bike up on the centerstand, and can even lay the bike over gently (and with complete control) by using the YouTube method in reverse (i.e., using my legs in a forward, instead of backward, walking motion). I’ve also discovered that once I’ve raised the bike just a few inches with someone else’s help, I can pick it up the rest of the way on my own using the YouTube method. It seems, then, that what I need to find is a more effective technique for raising the bike by the first few inches.
I’ve even wondered if a jack or some sort of lever might be helpful. I’d very much appreciate any advice or suggestions.
I’ve even wondered if a jack or some sort of lever might be helpful. I’d very much appreciate any advice or suggestions.
