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I very much appreciate your work on these bikes! But it also looks like I'll have to really work to get my left knee to bend further than it wants to now, thanks to a knee replacement (I'm 73). And for all you younger folks out there, you don't stop doing things because you get old--you get old because you stop doing stuff!
@@oldtimer3824 I've toned it down a lot, but yes; forest roads mostly. I make sure I don't get into situations where I might dump the KLR, and never ride alone, so there's always help.
@@alexmacdonald258 I’m 73 and none of my riding friends will go off road. I (foolishly) go alone places where if I had a serious accident they wouldn’t find my body until the snow melted. I’d tell someone where I was going but I don’t know myself.
@@CPSJSMSUUMUGA I carry a Garmin Inreach Explorer+, so if there's a problem, I can get help, along with LifeFlight insurance for a remote airlift. And as a former Senior Patroller (National Ski Patrol), I still have the advanced first aid training-was an EMT with my Patrol-that if somebody else needs it, I can take care of most everything. Too bad I'm not in the UK, where you're not far from a pub!
I would try to support the bike more with my rear besides pulling up, rather push from the entire body. That said I was in a situation with off-camber bike fall, where even the best technique did not work, and had to turn the bike around. Also if the ground is unstable, lifting becomes even harder.
I’ve only had to pick up my T7 once, after a pretty heavy fall, bent bars, obliterated mirror, banged my knee up pretty well. In that Situation adrenaline definitely played a part, I had the bike back up in no time and it almost felt effortless! Maby you could add a pack of dogs chasing you in your test to get that adrenaline pumping! 😛
You’re doing it the hard way. That technique doesn’t work well on lose or muddy ground. The bike will just slide away from you. Try turning the handlebars first so that the headlight faces up. Then grab the furthest handle bar grip with both hands and using your legs and lift straight up. You are facing the bike while you do this. Works on just about any bike. This way you’re using as much mechanical advantage as possible by moving your lift point as far as possible from the fulcrum point.
In muddy mud , I put something behing the wheel to stop slipping the wheel and I use the knee method. I did that 3x on a ride with the Tenere700, boy I was exausted, i sold the bike after lol !!
+1. I don't know why people keep teaching that method. It's only for big cruisers. I've tried it a few times on my adv bikes, and on loose ground, fahgettaboudit!
I totally agree, It's all about physics and the type of bike. Using the 'recommended' back-to-the-seat method is the wrong method to use on a Yamaha Tenere 700. It works on a BMW GS because it lies about 70° from the perpendicular when dropped due to its flat boxer engine, but a Yamaha Tenere 700 lies a lot closer to the ground and has a relatively high centre of gravity. The next time I drop my Yamaha Tenere 700 I'll be using the handle bar method. 👍
I learned this the hard way. Picking up dirt bikes or dual sport the technique is not that important. But at 5’8”, 180lbs, picking up my 600 plus pound Yamaha Super Tenere XTZ1200 on mud and lose rocks forced me to pay attention to physics.
He made the comment at the start about doing the method that we're taught in the training course. Real world, yes could be a difficult way to do it but for purpose of comparisons best to do the same method each time.
This is one of the best channels for adventure content. It's great seeing such important topics covered and seeing you experiment with new ideas. There awesome! Keep on the good work👍. I'm really excited for the new charts, what an brilliant idea. Greatings from Switzerland 🇨🇭
Thanks for doing this. Glad you didn't hurt yourself. I must confess that at 66 years of age I carry a Moto Jack and it has bailed me out at least 3 times. I realize it would be cheaper to abandon my GS on the side of the road than to crush a disc trying to pick it up.
I confirm. 5 falls at a standstill with the T7. once a certain inclination is reached, it is impossible to retain . and therefore very complicated to raise. (T7 rally edition)
Nice vid thanks for all your quality content. It is a great asset for the community. For those newer to ADV riding a few things to consider when picking up a bike. 1st) if you need to pick up a heavy/loaded....slow down and THINK THROUGH your situation. Rushing to pick up a bike when the adrenalin and potentially embarrassment level is high is a great way to hurt yourself or make the situation worse. 2nd) Just a few degrees of hill lean can dramatically change the difficulty level of picking up a bike. The fact that the bikes in this video were just slightly up hill made a difference in the lift forces required. Don't believe me, try it yourself. 3rd) Sometimes it is really worth the energy investment to get your bike spun around with the tires downhill before you try to pick it up. You may need to dig before drag, but you can do that in pieces before you commit to a lift. Get over the scratches...it is an ADV bike after all. 4th) Secure that front brake and use 1st gear to keep it from rolling. I've watched guys go from bad to worse as a bike rolled away from them after they picked it up. All is good when you are practicing in your yard and fresh. Things change dramatically when you are 6 hours into a rugged ride and the bike is on a side hill. Try a little strip of Velcro secured around your handle bar (I've had the same piece on my 990 for 10 years) 5th) Try lifting straps (made up using your towing/drag strap....you do have a towing/drag strap in your kit right? Search TH-cam for using these (bikes, fridges, etc...all the same physics) 6th) Explore other lifting tools/techniques. There are a # of light weight lifting and self rescue kits (DIY and commercial) out there. 7th) Learn the best technique that works for your bike, ideally when it is loaded. This is when you are most likely to drop the bike now that your CG is different. Unloading might not always be an option. Lastly and for those that really want to improve their big ADV riding skills, get comfortable with the idea of dropping your bike and figure out a way to get 100% confident that you can lift by yourself. If you constantly fear that you are going to drop your bike and get stranded, your riding skills WILL suffer. This is one of the 1st things I go through with my students, even requiring them to drop their bikes on purpose. Dropping a bike is part of adventure riding and the sooner you manage that fear, the better adventures you will have. BTW - for the GS riders out there, here is how BMW does it: th-cam.com/video/YXFXHvYwexA/w-d-xo.html (I do the same on my KTM 990)
Holy cow, man! Watching you lift those first two, I was feeling twinges in my own back! Thanks for sacrificing your body to do this video and share the info. I’ve always known that it’s the top-heavy bikes that are the most challenging but you rock, Big Rock!
Great info. Recently dropped a dual sport at a down hill slope. I had dropped this bike many times pushing myself but this was the first time I had ever had difficulty getting it upright. The soles of my boots where smooth worn out motocross boots. I couldn’t get traction. I learned a few things that day. You get taught some lessons on your fitness and endurance level when adventures get really adventurous. It was still a great day on a motorcycle I was just a little more worn out than usual. Great video
Thanks! Not your regular comparison topic and indeed usefull to know as it is an important issue on bigger, longer trips. It's picking up the bike that drains your energy after a while. More important then most people would think for long off road trips.
In my experience with GSA even with panniers indeed it is not too bad. With the right technic you do not feel helpless at all. But I'd like to point the fuel level which really really changes the difficulty. 30 litres of fuel on top makes a huge difference. I wonder if the fuel levels taken account in the experiment ? Thanks a lot, great video. As GSA owner I am scared from T7 :-)
On my first day, the first time I sat on my KLR650 I dropped it. At that point I hadn’t dropped a bike in years. Full tank of gas and it was taller than I realized. It took me and two neighbours three tries to get it up. So I got a set of crash bars and got on the net to see how 150 lb guys do it( I’m a solid 220) I did exactly what you did. Placed a blanket on the ground ( but I always drop on the right for some reason) and practiced. I eventually settled on the method you use. I have to agree its the safest and least stressful method and it’s not that difficult once you learn to walk it ip with your legs. I also have to agree that picking it up when riding is much easier.(adrenaline definitely helps) thanks for including the rankings it’s very helpful as I’m looking at a couple other bikes- I was going to go for the T700 and not the Beemer 1200 or Africa Twin because I thought they might be too heavy. Oops wrong apparently- that great info! A ranking of suspension and suspension adjustability would be nice too. Maybe from too Soft to too hard and no adjustment to maximum adjustment or something like that. Travel says a lot about a bikes suspension but how soft or hard the rides is something that should be rated. Keep the great videos coming. I look forward to these type of videos from someone I trust.
I wonder if the gs would be so much harder to pick up when it was laying down, more worse case, say 10 degree downhill. I dont think its only about that it does not drop down so far, but more that much of its weight is far down. I like your testing very much, because for me it would be a nogo if i would not be able to lift up the bike several times at the end of the day. That was currently holding me off from the big bikes and even considering t7, which is completely wrong as i understand now. I am interested in ktm 890 adv r.
have a good look at your back when you lift the KLR.. you're totally bent cause there is no other way to reach the bike with your ass in the way 😉 plus you end up with the bike behind yourself which is crap except you're practicing on a level parking space .. that's 2 reasons why i never do it like that. Face the bike, arms straight, legs bent.. and whoop..
Another great video. I sold my 2020 GSA for this very reason and went with a 890. I am a pretty strong guy, but with my GSA in adventure mode (with full bags and rear duffle) I could not get my GSA up by myself. I also think the GSA is super top heavy and the balance point is way smaller than most bikes (agin very top heavy), once it starts to go over your not stopping it. Combine that with the 4 screws I have in my lower back, I just couldn’t take the GSA anymore. Wish you would of had a 790/890 in this test. BTW some of us don’t want you to hurt yourself ;-)
I agree on the 12GS. I've owned and picked up a DR650, Honda CB500X, Honda CRF250 Rally, BMW 650, Triumph Tiger 900 RP, and a non adventure BMW 1200GS. Easiest was the 250, second easiest was the 12GS. Another nice thing about the GS is that it is very easy to pivot around on the cylinder so you can face it the easiest way on a hill for pickup.
Hello great job picking up bikes Ian, I am 5'9" 30" inseam so I drop bikes, at first this was the scariest think about ADV riding but as my skills improved and I got more confident on my Beemer and later Africa Twin not that big of a deal. And later as I figured things out about the sport/hobby I love realized I was much happier on small bikes in the trail so I saved up and purchased multiple bikes.
Thank you for doing something very relevant to the adventure world. Picking up bikes is such an important consideration while purchasing an adventure bike.
Fantastic idea/subject!!! Thank you! One point: Technique should be based on bike and where, how you can grab it. Please change because you lifted all but the GS with your lower back. US older folk shouldn't/can't do that. Face the bike, use foot/knee to get it leveled up a little. Rest with it sitting on that knee higher and make sure it's in gear, access other hand holds and PUSH into the bike to lever a little higher. Use your chest to help. Once you can get both knees or one knee under and another a little back, don't lift up as much as you lever the bike away from you. Then just walk it up with legs and your chest/shoulders lying on the seat. I typically drop bike down hill, can you tell 😁
If I could offer a constructive suggestion to my last comment, Buy a pair of scales And lay the bikes down own so that the touchdown points are on the scales. Usually the handlebar end and and perhaps a footpeg, crash bar or tail rack. That would give a solid number how much weight is resting on the ground. Then it would also be helpful to actually weigh the bike on the scales, Since it's hard to find defined real world actual weight of these bikes. Lastly if you wanted to be the Pioneer of a truly accurate method, Use 2 hanging scales from your garage ceiling attached to Pulliies, come along's or hoists, Then hook or tie the ropes from the end of the scales to the pick up points on the motorcycle , And lift the bike just enough that it's not touching the ground , And record the weight. I hope you will consider this, Even without detailed and more quantifiable data, You can see from the comments that your video has already changed The minds and choices that some people were about to make. The most surprising thing was the T 700 being 30 pounds lighter than the klr and yet and yet was the worst one to pick up, Even though It was the lightest bike of the whole group except for the Beta O'Rourk.
As an aside, my R1200GS fell over to the right on an off camber stop(I was looking at the scenery and didn’t realize my R leg wasn’t near long enough). It was all the way over to the brush guard on the handlebar, I managed to lift it back up but I forgot to deploy the side stand to tip her over to the left side. It is hard to deploy once you pick the bike up. If you’re tipping the bike back over towards the side stand, put it down before you start lifting… the guy on the bike parked behind me had a great show as I struggled (and he never offered to help…😖)
Useful information Ian, thank you for hefting all of these machines. Anyone considering a new ADV bike and planning to ride it off pavement would do well to practice a few lifts on their lawn before that first drop on the trail. Looking forward to your new website!
Great video, not surprised by your results. I just sold my T7 Rally Edition as I realized I was not able to lift it. Maybe I could do it with a lot adrenaline pumping but with the risk of doing something bad to my back. I have lifted a lot bikes. The R1200GS (I owned one) was quite easy. But too heavy to get out of mud if alone. Light is always better when doing off road or adventures into the wilderness. Cheers !
Great idea for a video! Glad your back is in one piece. As a 150lbs intermediate rider I went from a Gen 1 Klr650 to a 2021 crf300l, so that I can pick it up with confidence when trail riding. I would love a T7, but if I were to drop it, I would be screwed.
I had a 2017 KLR and had to pick it up a couple of times. Wasn't fun. Sold the KLR; bought a 2020 Africa Twin. Had to pick it up a couple of times. Less fun. Sold the AT; bought a CRF300L Rally. Haven't had to pick it up yet, but I know it will be relatively easy.
I had to muscle-up my 2022 KLR650 two days ago. I didn't use good technique and just muscled it up. It wasn't hard, but I think nerves in my neck and back were tweaked and were really hating me yesterday. Body was fine today, though, thank God. Always use technique, guys!
Thanks. Fun video that gives some indication. I would still rather pick up the T7 in mud than a 600lb behemoth GS. When the bike falls flat on concrete the GS seems easier to lift for sure. The KLR score should not be the same as the GS imo.
Kudos to you. I've found found plenty of info on your channel that wasn't available anywhere else, or needed to be compiled from multiple sources. I really like the concept of having a pick-up test and a rating. But but what you have thus far is one dimensional and subjective - as you acknowledged in the first part of the video. I wonder if you have considered doing multiple tests, to attempt more real world cases. - In addition to, or instead of, the concrete test, find an off road place that is sandy and has no sharp rocks. - An additional test where the bike has fallen on the down hill slope. - Rig up some apparatus that can attach at the grip points that you used, to weigh the force needed to pick it up (best done in conjunction with your driveway test). Regardless, thanks for the effort and good info you have provided! We'll always want more.
Thanks Ian. Interesting topic, for me at least having experienced a heavy bike the hard way (F800GSA without advantage of boxer) !! I would suggest to use a simple number rating - maybe from 0 to 20. Just more intuitive to follow as letter rating is less so for most. Cheers from Quebec.
Knees, glutes.... lounges help to make the knee stronger, because you recruit more of the glute muscles... ask your physical therapist... they know better than me :-D
This was a GREAT video and confirmed what a lot of use T7 riders suspected: the T7 is kind of a pain in the butt to pick up! Now, PLEASE do a video on the best technique for picking up the T7 - I tried the technique you used in this video, and I just cannot get a good grip on my bike and I end up just picking it up by the bars - which is a like doing a set of dead lifts!
The most difficult part of off-roading with the r1200gs was... not off-road, not tripping 4 times, ... having to put the bike back upright on a steep road 4 times. I deeply agree with your score. Thank you for working hard to prepare the video today.
It would be interesting if you could set up a small table 300mm high with weight scales and rest the bars of each bike on them to compare the weight of laying over
Ian, A very useful and practical metric as the bikes weight can be misleading in everyday use. For example, it's easy to see the GSA as huge behemoth because of the physical width and height, as opposed to the 'slim-line' Adventure bikes. But as we know with the GSA most of the upper weight, bar the weight of a full fuel tank, is plastic! But lets face it, in reality for us mere mortals any bike over 200kg can never saved once its going over! My reflection on the test is that lifting the bikes back to back, you understandably tire, so you'd inevitably struggle with the heavier bikes and that may lead to a more subjective review. To provide a more objective review maybe, as you found in practice, it might be helpful to use the '+' or '-' to differentiate the ability to lift - how low you'll need to crouch, grab rails etc. In my view these attributes provides for the better lift technique of an 'explosive' effort through the quads rather than your lower back! This might be demonstrated through a repeat lift test, say x3 lifts for each bike. Maybe Ryan (FortNine), if he sees this vlog can add his take with some science and calculate the actual lift effort. Now that would be objective! Congrats on the 50k subscribers - keep up the excellent content.
Finally! Someone doing the pickup test!!!! My vstrom 650 takes a lot of muscle to pick up, even with a Givi rack equipped with sturdy Pelican side cases (it doesn’t fall over all the way either like the GS). It would be interesting to hear from moto engineers if picking up is part of their design criteria
Thank you for letting us see all that bikes picked up from the ground.. as for the technique i use a different one.. i use the handlebar as a lever to pick up the bike ..Thank you so much from italy
EXCELLENT IDEA! This is a topic that has never been put in a review. A Goldwing is surprising easy to pick up for the same reason as a GS. I am surprised about the T7 but falling over more and weight up high can make a big difference. Keep up the good work!
One of my bikes is a KTM 1190 Adventure. If it falls without the panniers on, and a full tank - 6 top-heavy gallons, probably about 550 total - it’s close to impossible to pick-up (alone).
super thanks!I just change my T7 for a GS1200. Fell down 3x on mud with the t7 and I practice a lot of pickup the T7. Boy this T7 is not easy to pick it up !! Glad i change for GS1200 with the angle, it will help me a lot ! Great test !! Thanks again !
Very clever content. Not a video I’d have thought of - so it was fun to watch. I have a KLR650, Honda AT1000 and KTM1290. By far, the KTM is the most challenging to right size in my stable (and ironically, the one that spends more time horizontal than the others). The AT almost feels like a feather compared to the Austrian tank.
Some things to add to this good video: soft luggage on the side of the bike will both cushion the fall and reduce the angle the bike needs to be lifted. Having a rockstrap along with you will give you the ability to make a handle for bikes with no grab handles at the back. Also the idea of lifting with your legs is much easier if you just walk the bike back. Squat against the seat, grab the grip and the handle and walk backwards. Finally, for truly heavy and top- heavy bikes (KTM 1290, Tiger 1200), there are aids like blow up cushions to help reduce the lifting angle.
Nice demonstration, I would like to add a different option that might be easier for others ( it works better for me on my 1200GSA or my F800GS ), rather than walking it backwards, stand facing the bike, turn the handlebar closer to the ground away from the ground and while holding it at full lock begin walking towards the bike while lifting, super easy. also the benefit of doing this way is if you are lifting from a position where you were not able to have the bike in gear ( rare but possible ) you are within easy reach of the front brake. I did not invented this technique, but rather learn it from some Pro Adventure Schools. ✌️
Really enjoyed the video! I suppose the next question that I would like your opinion on is “how likely you are to drop the bike in a particular terrain?”
You content kicks ass lately. This is relevant and actionable info for owners and potential buyers. It may have been worthwhile to mention the height of the bikes as well since the ability to man-handle them is usually tied directly to height and weight. Fun story, picked up my 2020 Africa Twin by myself with 2 broken ribs...on an undesirable incline. About 2 months later I had to do it again with 2 broken fingers. It wasn't easy and both pick-ups caused their own injuries due to my poor technique.
The only time I've dropped my 2018 Africa Twin was shortly after I got it. I was doing some practice low speed u-turns in the street in front of my house and I went up the sidewalk curb obliquely, and as I was coming back down the curb, the bars pivoted to full lock and it high-sided. I realized right away that I hadn't been carrying enough speed. Anyway, the rear wheel was pointing towards the curb incline which made it impossible for me alone to pick up. Embarrassed, I got a neighbor friend to help me pick it up. The is the first and only bike I've ever owned and I have been riding for about 9 months. I love it!
When shopping for my first adv bike / dual sport I knew I wanted to ride it like I had ridden dirt bikes in the past. Because of this the weight i would be picking up and the parts that would break on the fall were very important in my selection and ultimately lead me to my XR650l. -Which, after burying it in clay up past the axles on day 2 of ownership on a washed out county road, the weight was no worse than my CRF250x while having to wrestle it free.
While the technic you used is good and the one taught by everyone I find lifting my Goldwing and Honda Valkyrie, because of my bad knees, easier to do using primarily the handles. Keeping your back straight, grab the high hand grip as if you were still riding the bike and push it away from you like your trying to roll the bike over. As you do this the low hand grip will come off the ground. Grab the low hand grip while still facing forward. You will be in a similar position to pushing the bike down the road only you will be pushing sideways still "rolling" the bike away from you and use your hip to continue "rolling" the bike to the upright position. The only draw back to this method is you have to have a good footing or your feet will slide out from under you. Your feet will slowly start to slip if you don't have good shoe/boot traction so you shouldn't fall. If you do lack the traction then your method is really your only option unless you have help. Ride safe!
Thanks for the video. Biking is so subjective. But muchly appreciate your videos! Some upgrades/suggestions: Adequate rest recouperation time between lifts, hours not minutes. Muscle fatigue is hard to take into account and is subtle until you really feel it. Ive seen my friends GSA’s fall completely over more times than just onto the engine guards and a GSA with a full fuel tank is exactly that, a tank. Honda AT adventure has nice hand holds and is 528lbs wet. Not sure why every reviewer seems to use a dct? Always drop your bike when the tank is nearly empty, lol. Finally don’t ride alone if possible!
Yes, like the GS, my Road King lays at about 45 degrees, due to the engine guards, resting on its side. As a result, this 70 year old man can pick it up with moderate effort. I tried both facing and backing into the bike with good results.
I think the lean angle and the centre of gravity should be taken into account when deciding on which lift method to use. For instance, the BMW GS is closer to the perpendicular at about 70°, compared to the Yamaha Tenere 700 which lies a lot closer to the ground. So due to physics of the situation, turning the front wheel skywards and using the handle bar method would be the best method to lift a Yamaha Tenere 700, not the 'recommended' back-to-the-seat method. So maybe when compiling your matrix these factors should be taken into account, i.e. lean angle, and recommend lift method. Keep up the good work, a great video, and a very useful one. 👍
What would be more interesting is to find the tip point of each motorcycle, how many degrees from vertical that the weight takes over before you have to drop it. It is part of the reason I prefer my DR 650 over my T7, the DR can lean a lot further before I feel I can’t hold it up, like when you put a foot down when stationary and the ground is uneven, which in reality is when most bikes are dropped. The T7 doesn’t need to lean far before you start feeling the weight so it is more important to watch where you stop or try to put a foot down, any adverse camber really tests out the old leg muscles, even getting the bike off the side stand can be difficult at times. I work on the theory if the bike is easier to hold up you don’t need to pick it up.
Just a suggestion..... Are you planning to do a video on the REALTIES of manufacturer listed seat heights? What I've found is that they can, and often are, misleading in the real world as in the real world it isn't just inseam that counts. Here's two examples (both examples wearing Daytona M-Star GTX boots); I'm 5' 5 1/2" tall, I weigh 161 pounds and have an inseam of 30 inches. On a Triumph Tiger GT Pro with the seat on the highest setting I can get the balls of both feet on the ground and with the seat on the lowest setting I can almost flatfoot the bike. On a Tiger Rally Pro I can get on the balls of both feet on the lowest seat setting and tiptoe on the highest seat setting. On paper it should be tip toes on the highest and (just) on the balls of my feet on the lowest with the GT Pro and on the Rally Pro it should be tip toe on the lowest and not a chance in hell of getting both feet on the ground on the highest. I have have found the same thing with other brands. A couple of factors that manufacturers don't take into account are weight and footwear. My message to short people like me is simple. Don't write off getting the bike you want because you think the seat height in the specs is too tall until you have been to a dealer and sat on it wearing your motorcycle gear, including a helmet and boots.
I can confirm the T7 is a pretty hard bike to lift. I have no problem lifting it on asphalt without much effort, but I’ve had to lift it in deep sand, in mud and in ruts and it pretty much took all my strength to do so with a lot of dragging it into a good position. It’s just so top heavy that initial lift can be pretty difficult. For reference I’m 6’1 and I’m pretty strong and in shape. Definitely not a good bike if you’re not in shape or weak and want to do a lot of solo riding. Of course they do have devices to help u lift a bike pretty effortlessly.
Ian's content on motorcycles is absolutely top notch. Fortnine has higher cinematic quality with an edgy and engaging narrative, but when you need the hard data and the facts, Big Rock Moto is where it's at.
Also a good video demonstrating the need to get and stay strong. It makes everything easier and will provide a longer, safer, and and happier riding career.
I'm really hoping you can test a Moto Guzzi V85tt soon. I wonder if the heads sticking out the side would make it relatively easy to pick up, like the GS. As a mostly road-going bike for me, there's a lot to like, on paper anyway. Shaft drive, tubeless tires for this year's model, and valve adjustment without shims. Cruise control and TFT dash are just icing on the cake, it seems.
Thanks! Don't let the "experts" get you down. Yes, engineers could figure out a less subjective way to conduct this test... but they haven't (or at least that channel isn't one I'm subscribed to, lol). At age 59 I moved from a KLR to a KTM 690 Enduro R. With the fuel so much lower, it made a difference for me, in picking up (not that I've ever dropped a bike! cough. cough). I'll be interested in your 690/701 evaluation. BTW, not a KTM Super Fan, I just like what's left of my back! lol
Thanks, I just need to remember which technique is best for my AT. The last time I dropped it, I was in kind of an embarrassment / panic mode and just couldn’t think how to best pick it up. Luckily, a passing cager assisted me.
Great content. Brilliant! There's no spec on a manufacturer's site for ease of picking up. I've been riding for 40+ years and judge all my bikes by ease of pickup using weight as a proxy, but it seems center of mass is way more important. When the bike drops once, it usually happens that it will drop more in the near term for any number of reasons...change of focus, exhaustion, terrain. I'd rather have discomfort (on a long ride) on my 120kg 501 than have to pick up a Tenere 3 times on a tough hill. When I can't pick up my bike any longer is when I'll hang up my helmet.
Nice work Ian. Don't know why I waited so long to subscribe. I can't wait for that comparison matrix 👍. Glad to see my KLR did better than I thought it would. I haven't dropped mine yet 🤞
Great video! Amazing how that GS can be picked up so easily, definitely my choice for a touring bike! Surprised how tuff the Tenere was to get up but hey ...its still a great bike.
What a great idea . Love watching your shows . I am 69 yrs old a nd a month ago my Goldwing turned over past the crash bars in a culvert . I picked it up . It is all about method . I am 5-9 and 175 lbs . be careful using you arms and back . Legs !
Comparing the Honda CB500X and the BMW 1250GS, which bike is heaver to hold with your legs on uneven ground if you're 5'5" rider like me? This video is very informative. Please keep on posting videos. Thank you.
The Yamaha gave you the most strain and saw it via the blood vein popping out on the forehead. Good grading system. I’ve got an 86 goldwing and has to pick up a couple times as the kick stand sank in the soft grass. The technic you used is the best I’ve found
Great video and really helpful advice. But I must say your pickup technique was hard to watch. Please work on it before doing more tests. Keep up the good work! Really love your channel 👌♥️
The 18 point scoring system from A+ to F- is unusual. Will you be publishing the criteria that allows us to assess our own bikes or, for example, differentiate between a C and a C- score?
So having dropped my KLR yesterday the saddlebag did just fine but there's a tiny clip on the mounting hardware that the bag slides into that broke. Bag popped right off. $30 mistake. Lol
Thanks for the video. I like the idea of the spec matrix on the website, very helpful. Do you think you could include a measurement of seat width or width between the legs? It’s not a common measurement but I find it almost as useful as seat height. The Beta & T700 are very narrow between the legs whereas I find the 790 Adv R is quite wide between the legs.
I was going to sell the T7 for this exact reason, but thankfully there is such a thing as the Moto Winch. Another thing to carry, but better on the dirt than any of these other bikes.
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Correcting your correction:
No, 480 lbs is not 318 kg. It is 218 kg! 😉
Yes I saw that also.
…but it FEELS like it after the the fifth pickup… 😂
I very much appreciate your work on these bikes! But it also looks like I'll have to really work to get my left knee to bend further than it wants to now, thanks to a knee replacement (I'm 73). And for all you younger folks out there, you don't stop doing things because you get old--you get old because you stop doing stuff!
AMDo you still ride off-road?
@@oldtimer3824 I've toned it down a lot, but yes; forest roads mostly. I make sure I don't get into situations where I might dump the KLR, and never ride alone, so there's always help.
Best advice you could give anyone
@@alexmacdonald258 I’m 73 and none of my riding friends will go off road. I (foolishly) go alone places where if I had a serious accident they wouldn’t find my body until the snow melted. I’d tell someone where I was going but I don’t know myself.
@@CPSJSMSUUMUGA I carry a Garmin Inreach Explorer+, so if there's a problem, I can get help, along with LifeFlight insurance for a remote airlift. And as a former Senior Patroller (National Ski Patrol), I still have the advanced first aid training-was an EMT with my Patrol-that if somebody else needs it, I can take care of most everything. Too bad I'm not in the UK, where you're not far from a pub!
"I'm going to be doing the method....lift with your legs not your back"
Proceeds to lift entirely with his back.
I would try to support the bike more with my rear besides pulling up, rather push from the entire body. That said I was in a situation with off-camber bike fall, where even the best technique did not work, and had to turn the bike around. Also if the ground is unstable, lifting becomes even harder.
@@David_Journey Came here to post that
I hurt my back just from watching him do it…ouch
EVERY. DAMN. TIME.
If you do not have a bad back, owning an adventure bike is how you get one.
This is absolutely what we need!!!
No bikes are good if you can't pick it up when needed.
Thank you!!!
I’ve only had to pick up my T7 once, after a pretty heavy fall, bent bars, obliterated mirror, banged my knee up pretty well. In that Situation adrenaline definitely played a part, I had the bike back up in no time and it almost felt effortless!
Maby you could add a pack of dogs chasing you in your test to get that adrenaline pumping! 😛
or a pack of hungry wolves?
Maybe 4-5 hungry zombies… that’d get the adrenaline going….. just an idea.. 🤪
@@BigRockMoto THAT is the spirit!
@Big Rock Moto aka. TH-cam comments 😂
You’re doing it the hard way. That technique doesn’t work well on lose or muddy ground. The bike will just slide away from you. Try turning the handlebars first so that the headlight faces up. Then grab the furthest handle bar grip with both hands and using your legs and lift straight up. You are facing the bike while you do this. Works on just about any bike. This way you’re using as much mechanical advantage as possible by moving your lift point as far as possible from the fulcrum point.
In muddy mud , I put something behing the wheel to stop slipping the wheel and I use the knee method. I did that 3x on a ride with the Tenere700, boy I was exausted, i sold the bike after lol !!
+1. I don't know why people keep teaching that method. It's only for big cruisers. I've tried it a few times on my adv bikes, and on loose ground, fahgettaboudit!
I totally agree, It's all about physics and the type of bike. Using the 'recommended' back-to-the-seat method is the wrong method to use on a Yamaha Tenere 700. It works on a BMW GS because it lies about 70° from the perpendicular when dropped due to its flat boxer engine, but a Yamaha Tenere 700 lies a lot closer to the ground and has a relatively high centre of gravity. The next time I drop my Yamaha Tenere 700 I'll be using the handle bar method. 👍
I learned this the hard way. Picking up dirt bikes or dual sport the technique is not that important. But at 5’8”, 180lbs, picking up my 600 plus pound Yamaha Super Tenere XTZ1200 on mud and lose rocks forced me to pay attention to physics.
He made the comment at the start about doing the method that we're taught in the training course. Real world, yes could be a difficult way to do it but for purpose of comparisons best to do the same method each time.
This is one of the best channels for adventure content. It's great seeing such important topics covered and seeing you experiment with new ideas. There awesome! Keep on the good work👍.
I'm really excited for the new charts, what an brilliant idea.
Greatings from Switzerland 🇨🇭
Wow, thank you!
Thanks for doing this. Glad you didn't hurt yourself. I must confess that at 66 years of age I carry a Moto Jack and it has bailed me out at least 3 times. I realize it would be cheaper to abandon my GS on the side of the road than to crush a disc trying to pick it up.
I confirm. 5 falls at a standstill with the T7. once a certain inclination is reached, it is impossible to retain . and therefore very complicated to raise.
(T7 rally edition)
Nice vid thanks for all your quality content. It is a great asset for the community. For those newer to ADV riding a few things to consider when picking up a bike.
1st) if you need to pick up a heavy/loaded....slow down and THINK THROUGH your situation. Rushing to pick up a bike when the adrenalin and potentially embarrassment level is high is a great way to hurt yourself or make the situation worse.
2nd) Just a few degrees of hill lean can dramatically change the difficulty level of picking up a bike. The fact that the bikes in this video were just slightly up hill made a difference in the lift forces required. Don't believe me, try it yourself.
3rd) Sometimes it is really worth the energy investment to get your bike spun around with the tires downhill before you try to pick it up. You may need to dig before drag, but you can do that in pieces before you commit to a lift. Get over the scratches...it is an ADV bike after all.
4th) Secure that front brake and use 1st gear to keep it from rolling. I've watched guys go from bad to worse as a bike rolled away from them after they picked it up. All is good when you are practicing in your yard and fresh. Things change dramatically when you are 6 hours into a rugged ride and the bike is on a side hill. Try a little strip of Velcro secured around your handle bar (I've had the same piece on my 990 for 10 years)
5th) Try lifting straps (made up using your towing/drag strap....you do have a towing/drag strap in your kit right? Search TH-cam for using these (bikes, fridges, etc...all the same physics)
6th) Explore other lifting tools/techniques. There are a # of light weight lifting and self rescue kits (DIY and commercial) out there.
7th) Learn the best technique that works for your bike, ideally when it is loaded. This is when you are most likely to drop the bike now that your CG is different. Unloading might not always be an option.
Lastly and for those that really want to improve their big ADV riding skills, get comfortable with the idea of dropping your bike and figure out a way to get 100% confident that you can lift by yourself. If you constantly fear that you are going to drop your bike and get stranded, your riding skills WILL suffer. This is one of the 1st things I go through with my students, even requiring them to drop their bikes on purpose. Dropping a bike is part of adventure riding and the sooner you manage that fear, the better adventures you will have.
BTW - for the GS riders out there, here is how BMW does it: th-cam.com/video/YXFXHvYwexA/w-d-xo.html (I do the same on my KTM 990)
thanks, this is great!
Holy cow, man! Watching you lift those first two, I was feeling twinges in my own back!
Thanks for sacrificing your body to do this video and share the info. I’ve always known that it’s the top-heavy bikes that are the most challenging but you rock, Big Rock!
Great info. Recently dropped a dual sport at a down hill slope. I had dropped this bike many times pushing myself but this was the first time I had ever had difficulty getting it upright. The soles of my boots where smooth worn out motocross boots. I couldn’t get traction. I learned a few things that day. You get taught some lessons on your fitness and endurance level when adventures get really adventurous. It was still a great day on a motorcycle I was just a little more worn out than usual. Great video
Thanks! Not your regular comparison topic and indeed usefull to know as it is an important issue on bigger, longer trips. It's picking up the bike that drains your energy after a while. More important then most people would think for long off road trips.
Which did you think would be hardest to lift? Are you surprised by the rankings? Share your stories below.
In my experience with GSA even with panniers indeed it is not too bad. With the right technic you do not feel helpless at all. But I'd like to point the fuel level which really really changes the difficulty. 30 litres of fuel on top makes a huge difference. I wonder if the fuel levels taken account in the experiment ? Thanks a lot, great video. As GSA owner I am scared from T7 :-)
On my first day, the first time I sat on my KLR650 I dropped it. At that point I hadn’t dropped a bike in years. Full tank of gas and it was taller than I realized. It took me and two neighbours three tries to get it up. So I got a set of crash bars and got on the net to see how 150 lb guys do it( I’m a solid 220) I did exactly what you did. Placed a blanket on the ground ( but I always drop on the right for some reason) and practiced. I eventually settled on the method you use. I have to agree its the safest and least stressful method and it’s not that difficult once you learn to walk it ip with your legs. I also have to agree that picking it up when riding is much easier.(adrenaline definitely helps) thanks for including the rankings it’s very helpful as I’m looking at a couple other bikes- I was going to go for the T700 and not the Beemer 1200 or Africa Twin because I thought they might be too heavy. Oops wrong apparently- that great info! A ranking of suspension and suspension adjustability would be nice too. Maybe from too Soft to too hard and no adjustment to maximum adjustment or something like that. Travel says a lot about a bikes suspension but how soft or hard the rides is something that should be rated.
Keep the great videos coming. I look forward to these type of videos from someone I trust.
I wonder if the gs would be so much harder to pick up when it was laying down, more worse case, say 10 degree downhill.
I dont think its only about that it does not drop down so far, but more that much of its weight is far down.
I like your testing very much, because for me it would be a nogo if i would not be able to lift up the bike several times at the end of the day. That was currently holding me off from the big bikes and even considering t7, which is completely wrong as i understand now.
I am interested in ktm 890 adv r.
have a good look at your back when you lift the KLR.. you're totally bent cause there is no other way to reach the bike with your ass in the way 😉 plus you end up with the bike behind yourself which is crap except you're practicing on a level parking space .. that's 2 reasons why i never do it like that. Face the bike, arms straight, legs bent.. and whoop..
I wonder how the Harley Pan America would compare, And the husk 701
Another great video. I sold my 2020 GSA for this very reason and went with a 890. I am a pretty strong guy, but with my GSA in adventure mode (with full bags and rear duffle) I could not get my GSA up by myself. I also think the GSA is super top heavy and the balance point is way smaller than most bikes (agin very top heavy), once it starts to go over your not stopping it. Combine that with the 4 screws I have in my lower back, I just couldn’t take the GSA anymore. Wish you would of had a 790/890 in this test. BTW some of us don’t want you to hurt yourself ;-)
I agree on the 12GS. I've owned and picked up a DR650, Honda CB500X, Honda CRF250 Rally, BMW 650, Triumph Tiger 900 RP, and a non adventure BMW 1200GS. Easiest was the 250, second easiest was the 12GS. Another nice thing about the GS is that it is very easy to pivot around on the cylinder so you can face it the easiest way on a hill for pickup.
not between trees like I've had to do, no pivoting allowed
Hello great job picking up bikes Ian, I am 5'9" 30" inseam so I drop bikes, at first this was the scariest think about ADV riding but as my skills improved and I got more confident on my Beemer and later Africa Twin not that big of a deal. And later as I figured things out about the sport/hobby I love realized I was much happier on small bikes in the trail so I saved up and purchased multiple bikes.
I agree with the Tenere. It is stupid heavy. The main reason I sold mine for an 890R
Thank you for doing something very relevant to the adventure world. Picking up bikes is such an important consideration while purchasing an adventure bike.
Well said!
Yep. Because you will be picking it up sooner or later if you do actual adventuring.
Fantastic idea/subject!!! Thank you! One point: Technique should be based on bike and where, how you can grab it. Please change because you lifted all but the GS with your lower back. US older folk shouldn't/can't do that. Face the bike, use foot/knee to get it leveled up a little. Rest with it sitting on that knee higher and make sure it's in gear, access other hand holds and PUSH into the bike to lever a little higher. Use your chest to help. Once you can get both knees or one knee under and another a little back, don't lift up as much as you lever the bike away from you. Then just walk it up with legs and your chest/shoulders lying on the seat. I typically drop bike down hill, can you tell 😁
If I could offer a constructive suggestion to my last comment, Buy a pair of scales And lay the bikes down own so that the touchdown points are on the scales. Usually the handlebar end and and perhaps a footpeg, crash bar or tail rack. That would give a solid number how much weight is resting on the ground.
Then it would also be helpful to actually weigh the bike on the scales, Since it's hard to find defined real world actual weight of these bikes.
Lastly if you wanted to be the Pioneer of a truly accurate method, Use 2 hanging scales from your garage ceiling attached to Pulliies, come along's or hoists, Then hook or tie the ropes from the end of the scales to the pick up points on the motorcycle , And lift the bike just enough that it's not touching the ground , And record the weight.
I hope you will consider this, Even without detailed and more quantifiable data, You can see from the comments that your video has already changed The minds and choices that some people were about to make.
The most surprising thing was the T 700 being 30 pounds lighter than the klr and yet and yet was the worst one to pick up, Even though It was the lightest bike of the whole group except for the Beta O'Rourk.
As an aside, my R1200GS fell over to the right on an off camber stop(I was looking at the scenery and didn’t realize my R leg wasn’t near long enough). It was all the way over to the brush guard on the handlebar, I managed to lift it back up but I forgot to deploy the side stand to tip her over to the left side. It is hard to deploy once you pick the bike up. If you’re tipping the bike back over towards the side stand, put it down before you start lifting… the guy on the bike parked behind me had a great show as I struggled (and he never offered to help…😖)
Useful information Ian, thank you for hefting all of these machines. Anyone considering a new ADV bike and planning to ride it off pavement would do well to practice a few lifts on their lawn before that first drop on the trail. Looking forward to your new website!
Great video, not surprised by your results. I just sold my T7 Rally Edition as I realized I was not able to lift it. Maybe I could do it with a lot adrenaline pumping but with the risk of doing something bad to my back. I have lifted a lot bikes. The R1200GS (I owned one) was quite easy. But too heavy to get out of mud if alone. Light is always better when doing off road or adventures into the wilderness. Cheers !
Great idea for a video! Glad your back is in one piece. As a 150lbs intermediate rider I went from a Gen 1 Klr650 to a 2021 crf300l, so that I can pick it up with confidence when trail riding. I would love a T7, but if I were to drop it, I would be screwed.
I had a 2017 KLR and had to pick it up a couple of times. Wasn't fun. Sold the KLR; bought a 2020 Africa Twin. Had to pick it up a couple of times. Less fun. Sold the AT; bought a CRF300L Rally. Haven't had to pick it up yet, but I know it will be relatively easy.
This is easily one of the best 'testable' real world things we want to see.
Great job, Ian.
I had to muscle-up my 2022 KLR650 two days ago. I didn't use good technique and just muscled it up. It wasn't hard, but I think nerves in my neck and back were tweaked and were really hating me yesterday. Body was fine today, though, thank God.
Always use technique, guys!
Thanks. Fun video that gives some indication. I would still rather pick up the T7 in mud than a 600lb behemoth GS. When the bike falls flat on concrete the GS seems easier to lift for sure. The KLR score should not be the same as the GS imo.
Kudos to you. I've found found plenty of info on your channel that wasn't available anywhere else, or needed to be compiled from multiple sources.
I really like the concept of having a pick-up test and a rating. But but what you have thus far is one dimensional and subjective - as you acknowledged in the first part of the video.
I wonder if you have considered doing multiple tests, to attempt more real world cases.
- In addition to, or instead of, the concrete test, find an off road place that is sandy and has no sharp rocks.
- An additional test where the bike has fallen on the down hill slope.
- Rig up some apparatus that can attach at the grip points that you used, to weigh the force needed to pick it up (best done in conjunction with your driveway test).
Regardless, thanks for the effort and good info you have provided! We'll always want more.
Thanks Ian. Interesting topic, for me at least having experienced a heavy bike the hard way (F800GSA without advantage of boxer) !! I would suggest to use a simple number rating - maybe from 0 to 20. Just more intuitive to follow as letter rating is less so for most. Cheers from Quebec.
This was exactly what I was always wondering which bike is difficult to pick.
Thanks a lot
Very helpful. Please don’t hurt yourself; take more time between lifts; using your knees more, too!
Knees, glutes.... lounges help to make the knee stronger, because you recruit more of the glute muscles... ask your physical therapist... they know better than me :-D
This was a GREAT video and confirmed what a lot of use T7 riders suspected: the T7 is kind of a pain in the butt to pick up! Now, PLEASE do a video on the best technique for picking up the T7 - I tried the technique you used in this video, and I just cannot get a good grip on my bike and I end up just picking it up by the bars - which is a like doing a set of dead lifts!
th-cam.com/video/Ph9RPumQWFc/w-d-xo.html
The most difficult part of off-roading with the r1200gs was... not off-road, not tripping 4 times, ... having to put the bike back upright on a steep road 4 times. I deeply agree with your score. Thank you for working hard to prepare the video today.
It would be interesting if you could set up a small table 300mm high with weight scales and rest the bars of each bike on them to compare the weight of laying over
Would like to see a Honda 300rally/CRF in there for comparison.
Not much difference from the beta 500
@@videosbruno Who makes the Beta 500?
@@karlfonner7589 who’s buried in Grant’s tomb?
@@TheGhostfaceKLR lol! Which president was it that was stopped by the police for riding his horse too fast down Pennsylvania Avenue?
You have read my mind again, I can’t wait to see the results! Thanks again and keep up the excellent content!
Great Video - Shows the build and design of the bikes and importance of Weight distribution....thanks!
Ian, A very useful and practical metric as the bikes weight can be misleading in everyday use.
For example, it's easy to see the GSA as huge behemoth because of the physical width and height, as opposed to the 'slim-line' Adventure bikes. But as we know with the GSA most of the upper weight, bar the weight of a full fuel tank, is plastic!
But lets face it, in reality for us mere mortals any bike over 200kg can never saved once its going over!
My reflection on the test is that lifting the bikes back to back, you understandably tire, so you'd inevitably struggle with the heavier bikes and that may lead to a more subjective review.
To provide a more objective review maybe, as you found in practice, it might be helpful to use the '+' or '-' to differentiate the ability to lift - how low you'll need to crouch, grab rails etc. In my view these attributes provides for the better lift technique of an 'explosive' effort through the quads rather than your lower back!
This might be demonstrated through a repeat lift test, say x3 lifts for each bike.
Maybe Ryan (FortNine), if he sees this vlog can add his take with some science and calculate the actual lift effort. Now that would be objective!
Congrats on the 50k subscribers - keep up the excellent content.
Another very informative video Ian. It would be good to see how the KTM 890 R would rate in your test.
Finally! Someone doing the pickup test!!!! My vstrom 650 takes a lot of muscle to pick up, even with a Givi rack equipped with sturdy Pelican side cases (it doesn’t fall over all the way either like the GS). It would be interesting to hear from moto engineers if picking up is part of their design criteria
Thank you for letting us see all that bikes picked up from the ground.. as for the technique i use a different one.. i use the handlebar as a lever to pick up the bike ..Thank you so much from italy
Once again, excellent job👏🙏!!
EXCELLENT IDEA! This is a topic that has never been put in a review. A Goldwing is surprising easy to pick up for the same reason as a GS. I am surprised about the T7 but falling over more and weight up high can make a big difference. Keep up the good work!
I did this last year with a little more accuracy. T7 was not so bad. th-cam.com/video/Ze8rsxrITTA/w-d-xo.html
One of my bikes is a KTM 1190 Adventure. If it falls without the panniers on, and a full tank - 6 top-heavy gallons, probably about 550 total - it’s close to impossible to pick-up (alone).
Wow surprising results,I have never dropped my T7 but the proof is in the pudding! Hope your Back is well rested for the Next Adventure!
super thanks!I just change my T7 for a GS1200. Fell down 3x on mud with the t7 and I practice a lot of pickup the T7. Boy this T7 is not easy to pick it up !! Glad i change for GS1200 with the angle, it will help me a lot ! Great test !! Thanks again !
From memory, could you guess how you would have rated the KTM 790/890? Thanks.
Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for checking this
Very clever content. Not a video I’d have thought of - so it was fun to watch. I have a KLR650, Honda AT1000 and KTM1290. By far, the KTM is the most challenging to right size in my stable (and ironically, the one that spends more time horizontal than the others). The AT almost feels like a feather compared to the Austrian tank.
Some things to add to this good video: soft luggage on the side of the bike will both cushion the fall and reduce the angle the bike needs to be lifted. Having a rockstrap along with you will give you the ability to make a handle for bikes with no grab handles at the back. Also the idea of lifting with your legs is much easier if you just walk the bike back. Squat against the seat, grab the grip and the handle and walk backwards. Finally, for truly heavy and top- heavy bikes (KTM 1290, Tiger 1200), there are aids like blow up cushions to help reduce the lifting angle.
thanks for sharing
13:04 your a damn genius wow, this is exactly what we've been waiting for. Hell yeah love it
Much gratitude to you Ian
Nice demonstration, I would like to add a different option that might be easier for others ( it works better for me on my 1200GSA or my F800GS ), rather than walking it backwards, stand facing the bike, turn the handlebar closer to the ground away from the ground and while holding it at full lock begin walking towards the bike while lifting, super easy. also the benefit of doing this way is if you are lifting from a position where you were not able to have the bike in gear ( rare but possible ) you are within easy reach of the front brake. I did not invented this technique, but rather learn it from some Pro Adventure Schools. ✌️
thanks!
Criminally under-watched video for how much effort you put into this.
Really enjoyed the video!
I suppose the next question that I would like your opinion on is “how likely you are to drop the bike in a particular terrain?”
Awesome job for the algorithm. Thanks!!
You content kicks ass lately. This is relevant and actionable info for owners and potential buyers. It may have been worthwhile to mention the height of the bikes as well since the ability to man-handle them is usually tied directly to height and weight.
Fun story, picked up my 2020 Africa Twin by myself with 2 broken ribs...on an undesirable incline. About 2 months later I had to do it again with 2 broken fingers. It wasn't easy and both pick-ups caused their own injuries due to my poor technique.
Awesome comparison to watch, something everyone who takes these bikes off-road should plan on doing is picking it up at least once!
The only time I've dropped my 2018 Africa Twin was shortly after I got it. I was doing some practice low speed u-turns in the street in front of my house and I went up the sidewalk curb obliquely, and as I was coming back down the curb, the bars pivoted to full lock and it high-sided. I realized right away that I hadn't been carrying enough speed. Anyway, the rear wheel was pointing towards the curb incline which made it impossible for me alone to pick up. Embarrassed, I got a neighbor friend to help me pick it up. The is the first and only bike I've ever owned and I have been riding for about 9 months. I love it!
When shopping for my first adv bike / dual sport I knew I wanted to ride it like I had ridden dirt bikes in the past. Because of this the weight i would be picking up and the parts that would break on the fall were very important in my selection and ultimately lead me to my XR650l. -Which, after burying it in clay up past the axles on day 2 of ownership on a washed out county road, the weight was no worse than my CRF250x while having to wrestle it free.
While the technic you used is good and the one taught by everyone I find lifting my Goldwing and Honda Valkyrie, because of my bad knees, easier to do using primarily the handles.
Keeping your back straight, grab the high hand grip as if you were still riding the bike and push it away from you like your trying to roll the bike over. As you do this the low hand grip will come off the ground. Grab the low hand grip while still facing forward. You will be in a similar position to pushing the bike down the road only you will be pushing sideways still "rolling" the bike away from you and use your hip to continue "rolling" the bike to the upright position. The only draw back to this method is you have to have a good footing or your feet will slide out from under you. Your feet will slowly start to slip if you don't have good shoe/boot traction so you shouldn't fall.
If you do lack the traction then your method is really your only option unless you have help.
Ride safe!
Thanks for the video. Biking is so subjective. But muchly appreciate your videos!
Some upgrades/suggestions:
Adequate rest recouperation time between lifts, hours not minutes. Muscle fatigue is hard to take into account and is subtle until you really feel it.
Ive seen my friends GSA’s fall completely over more times than just onto the engine guards and a GSA with a full fuel tank is exactly that, a tank.
Honda AT adventure has nice hand holds and is 528lbs wet. Not sure why every reviewer seems to use a dct?
Always drop your bike when the tank is nearly empty, lol.
Finally don’t ride alone if possible!
Yes, like the GS, my Road King lays at about 45 degrees, due to the engine guards, resting on its side. As a result, this 70 year old man can pick it up with moderate effort. I tried both facing and backing into the bike with good results.
It was interesting to see this comparison even as you said it may be a little bit subjective when compared to a real situation.
The pickup test is excellent information. Always appreciate this insightful information.
I think the lean angle and the centre of gravity should be taken into account when deciding on which lift method to use. For instance, the BMW GS is closer to the perpendicular at about 70°, compared to the Yamaha Tenere 700 which lies a lot closer to the ground. So due to physics of the situation, turning the front wheel skywards and using the handle bar method would be the best method to lift a Yamaha Tenere 700, not the 'recommended' back-to-the-seat method. So maybe when compiling your matrix these factors should be taken into account, i.e. lean angle, and recommend lift method. Keep up the good work, a great video, and a very useful one. 👍
What would be more interesting is to find the tip point of each motorcycle, how many degrees from vertical that the weight takes over before you have to drop it.
It is part of the reason I prefer my DR 650 over my T7, the DR can lean a lot further before I feel I can’t hold it up, like when you put a foot down when stationary and the ground is uneven, which in reality is when most bikes are dropped.
The T7 doesn’t need to lean far before you start feeling the weight so it is more important to watch where you stop or try to put a foot down, any adverse camber really tests out the old leg muscles, even getting the bike off the side stand can be difficult at times.
I work on the theory if the bike is easier to hold up you don’t need to pick it up.
Just a suggestion..... Are you planning to do a video on the REALTIES of manufacturer listed seat heights? What I've found is that they can, and often are, misleading in the real world as in the real world it isn't just inseam that counts. Here's two examples (both examples wearing Daytona M-Star GTX boots); I'm 5' 5 1/2" tall, I weigh 161 pounds and have an inseam of 30 inches. On a Triumph Tiger GT Pro with the seat on the highest setting I can get the balls of both feet on the ground and with the seat on the lowest setting I can almost flatfoot the bike. On a Tiger Rally Pro I can get on the balls of both feet on the lowest seat setting and tiptoe on the highest seat setting. On paper it should be tip toes on the highest and (just) on the balls of my feet on the lowest with the GT Pro and on the Rally Pro it should be tip toe on the lowest and not a chance in hell of getting both feet on the ground on the highest. I have have found the same thing with other brands. A couple of factors that manufacturers don't take into account are weight and footwear. My message to short people like me is simple. Don't write off getting the bike you want because you think the seat height in the specs is too tall until you have been to a dealer and sat on it wearing your motorcycle gear, including a helmet and boots.
I am 6' and have a tad bit shorter inseam than you . Dang cigarettes I smoked as a kid stunted my growth .
I can confirm the T7 is a pretty hard bike to lift. I have no problem lifting it on asphalt without much effort, but I’ve had to lift it in deep sand, in mud and in ruts and it pretty much took all my strength to do so with a lot of dragging it into a good position. It’s just so top heavy that initial lift can be pretty difficult. For reference I’m 6’1 and I’m pretty strong and in shape. Definitely not a good bike if you’re not in shape or weak and want to do a lot of solo riding. Of course they do have devices to help u lift a bike pretty effortlessly.
This video has made up my mind that whichever adventure bike I buy it will have a set of crash bars...
Thank You.
Ian's content on motorcycles is absolutely top notch.
Fortnine has higher cinematic quality with an edgy and engaging narrative, but when you need the hard data and the facts, Big Rock Moto is where it's at.
I’m glad I subscribed. Nobody else has touched this subject
Just wanted to say, even tho I don't agree with all of you conclusions, you content is always very interesting. Keep going and thank you!
Also a good video demonstrating the need to get and stay strong. It makes everything easier and will provide a longer, safer, and and happier riding career.
yep
Good job. This is a great way to rate the effort to pick up an adventure bike. This is an important consideration. Thanks for sharing this.
Glad you like it!
Great video. Real world, important information you can’t find anywhere else. Ian, would it kill ya to smile when you’re done lifting bikes?
I'm really hoping you can test a Moto Guzzi V85tt soon. I wonder if the heads sticking out the side would make it relatively easy to pick up, like the GS. As a mostly road-going bike for me, there's a lot to like, on paper anyway. Shaft drive, tubeless tires for this year's model, and valve adjustment without shims. Cruise control and TFT dash are just icing on the cake, it seems.
Fingers crossed!
FIY the BMW Connected indicate a lean angle of 61 when I drop mine…
Mine indicated 80 degrees 🤩
Thanks! Don't let the "experts" get you down. Yes, engineers could figure out a less subjective way to conduct this test... but they haven't (or at least that channel isn't one I'm subscribed to, lol). At age 59 I moved from a KLR to a KTM 690 Enduro R. With the fuel so much lower, it made a difference for me, in picking up (not that I've ever dropped a bike! cough. cough). I'll be interested in your 690/701 evaluation. BTW, not a KTM Super Fan, I just like what's left of my back! lol
Thanks, I just need to remember which technique is best for my AT. The last time I dropped it, I was in kind of an embarrassment / panic mode and just couldn’t think how to best pick it up. Luckily, a passing cager assisted me.
Thank you for making a really good video.
It seems to have helped a lot in my motorcycle life.
Great content. Brilliant! There's no spec on a manufacturer's site for ease of picking up. I've been riding for 40+ years and judge all my bikes by ease of pickup using weight as a proxy, but it seems center of mass is way more important. When the bike drops once, it usually happens that it will drop more in the near term for any number of reasons...change of focus, exhaustion, terrain. I'd rather have discomfort (on a long ride) on my 120kg 501 than have to pick up a Tenere 3 times on a tough hill. When I can't pick up my bike any longer is when I'll hang up my helmet.
Nice work Ian. Don't know why I waited so long to subscribe. I can't wait for that comparison matrix 👍. Glad to see my KLR did better than I thought it would. I haven't dropped mine yet 🤞
That grab handle on the KLR looks pretty useful!
Great video! Amazing how that GS can be picked up so easily, definitely my choice for a touring bike! Surprised how tuff the Tenere was to get up but hey ...its still a great bike.
What a great idea . Love watching your shows . I am 69 yrs old a nd a month ago my Goldwing turned over past the crash bars in a culvert . I picked it up . It is all about method . I am 5-9 and 175 lbs . be careful using you arms and back . Legs !
Comparing the Honda CB500X and the BMW 1250GS, which bike is heaver to hold with your legs on uneven ground if you're 5'5" rider like me? This video is very informative. Please keep on posting videos. Thank you.
Thanks for the work! I just as surprised by the T7’s difficulties to pick up compared to the others.
Might have been a bit easier to get back up if he had it in gear......
The Yamaha gave you the most strain and saw it via the blood vein popping out on the forehead. Good grading system. I’ve got an 86 goldwing and has to pick up a couple times as the kick stand sank in the soft grass. The technic you used is the best I’ve found
Great video and really helpful advice. But I must say your pickup technique was hard to watch. Please work on it before doing more tests. Keep up the good work! Really love your channel 👌♥️
The 18 point scoring system from A+ to F- is unusual. Will you be publishing the criteria that allows us to assess our own bikes or, for example, differentiate between a C and a C- score?
Kudos to you, Sir! That is helfpul. Still, my Africa Twin Adventure Sports with a full tank makes me want to keep it upright. 😎
One of the most useful videos on YT, thank you from a new subscriber 👍
So having dropped my KLR yesterday the saddlebag did just fine but there's a tiny clip on the mounting hardware that the bag slides into that broke. Bag popped right off. $30 mistake. Lol
Thanks for the video. I like the idea of the spec matrix on the website, very helpful. Do you think you could include a measurement of seat width or width between the legs? It’s not a common measurement but I find it almost as useful as seat height. The Beta & T700 are very narrow between the legs whereas I find the 790 Adv R is quite wide between the legs.
I liked this one because it shows that weight isn't always a factor... my choice in adventure bikes did pivot on this subject quite literally.👍
I dropped my huffy on the trail once. I would say it was a solid "B" to pick up.
Thanks for the report, hope your back is ok after lifting that lot.
Thanks for the lift tests!
Good info!
I was going to sell the T7 for this exact reason, but thankfully there is such a thing as the Moto Winch. Another thing to carry, but better on the dirt than any of these other bikes.