How to amuse your non-riding co-workers

[sagerat]

Make your normal tight U-turn inside of two parking spaces....but this time do not have enough momentum and don’t shift your weight to the outside peg fast enough or give it more power, Captain, in enough time.

A GSA is a heavy thing to pick up, but right when you’ve about got it vertical, have somebody who’s meaning to help put their hand on your top box with a touch as gentle as an angel’s kiss and hilarity ensues as that is just enough to send the bike over onto the other side with you atop it.  

Put down sidestand, walk over to far side of bike, and do the old “butt in seat, grab handlebar, grab frame, walk backward” drill for a second time then put bike on sidestand.  Proves you can lift the bike from either side, you know.  

Be sure, as I did, that there are loads of windows looking out on this comedy of errors.  

Begin the work day.

What's really ironic is gf and I were watching "Falling Skies" on Sunday and at one point the Noah Wylie character is helping pick up a downed Yamaha and of course they're doing it all wrong:  facing the bike, lifting with arms, etc.  I then tell gf proper way to pick up a sleeping motorcycle, little knowing there'd be a field exam in less than 48 hours.  

[loadedmind]

Pics or it didn't happen.    Just kidding.  Sorry to hear about that.  Hey, if nothing else, you now have experience with lifting it.  

[Mac]

That walking backward technique doesn't work for me, my legs are too long. I have no mechanical advantage when I'm sitting on my ankles.

[mesmotized]

Bummer, at least you can laugh about it!

Funny that you noticed that in Falling Skies too.  I was more taken with the absurdity of the ape hangers on Pope's Harley...  Clearly well suited for off-road riding

[bomber]

I'm thinking that this episode might be amusing to your riding friends, as well.

[ConPilot1]

Make your normal tight U-turn inside of two parking spaces....but this time do not have enough momentum and don’t shift your weight to the outside peg fast enough or give it more power, Captain, in enough time.

A GSA is a heavy thing to pick up, but right when you’ve about got it vertical, have somebody who’s meaning to help put their hand on your top box with a touch as gentle as an angel’s kiss and hilarity ensues as that is just enough to send the bike over onto the other side with you atop it.  

Put down sidestand, walk over to far side of bike, and do the old “butt in seat, grab handlebar, grab frame, walk backward” drill for a second time then put bike on sidestand.  Proves you can lift the bike from either side, you know.  

Be sure, as I did, that there are loads of windows looking out on this comedy of errors.  

Begin the work day.

What's really ironic is gf and I were watching "Falling Skies" on Sunday and at one point the Noah Wylie character is helping pick up a downed Yamaha and of course they're doing it all wrong:  facing the bike, lifting with arms, etc.  I then tell gf proper way to pick up a sleeping motorcycle, little knowing there'd be a field exam in less than 48 hours.  

So I guess that's a complicated way of telling us you dropped your GS and people laughed at you.  

[atadaskew]

Just be glad you didn't drop an FJR

[ConPilot1]

Just be glad you didn't drop an FJR

C10'S are fun drop pick-ups too. 'Especially with a full tank.

[black hills]

That walking backward technique doesn't work for me, my legs are too long. I have no mechanical advantage when I'm sitting on my ankles.

I have the same problem, I usually use just the bars, but haven't picked up anything really heavy

[pcrdude]

Just be glad you didn't drop an FJR

We would have heard about the seismic activity on the news.

 

[Hell's Bella]

This sounds like something I would do! Actually, add some gravel and take away the spectators, and it was something I DID do.  

[Flyer]

... a field exam in less than 48 hours.  

Always be prepared for a snap quiz.
 

[sagerat]

That walking backward technique doesn't work for me, my legs are too long. I have no mechanical advantage when I'm sitting on my ankles.

I'm 6'1", so I know what you mean.    Those first few pushes are always a challenge.  Luckily the bags and crash guards on the GSA keep it from laying too flat.  Thank gawd there was only a gallon of fuel in that 9-gallon monster.

These things don't happen when I U-turn the Ural...  

[expatbrit]

I'm amazed and gratified at the lengths you go to to promote amusement and camaraderie in the workplace.

Bravo!

[stew71]

Just be glad you didn't drop an FJR

We go to great lengths to avoid dropping our FJRs. Hernia surgery is expensive.

[falconati]

If you drop an FJR, the best thing to do is just leave it and buy a new one.

[bogfro]

If you drop an FJR, the best thing to do is just leave it and buy a new one.

Actually, an FJR with those plastic "frame sliders" isn't very hard to pick up at all, if you use the butt-in-seat-walk-backwards technique.  In fact, I thought it's a good bit EASIER to pick up than a V-Strom, which I'm sure is easier to pick up than a GSA.  Yeah an FJR is heavy, but all the weight is pretty low, and the bags in combination with the plastic frame sliders, keep it from being completely on the ground in the first place.  One of the times I had to pick mine up was in the GRASS on a STEEP HILL!  Did it all by myself.  

[Sarchi]

I'm amazed and gratified at the lengths you go to to promote amusement and camaraderie in the workplace.

Bravo!

Surely you jest.  I bet he had to wear his helmet in the office the rest of that day.

[Corwin]

A couple of years ago I was doing chain maintenance on my ride.  As I was putting it onto the sidestand from my rear stand, I thought it was leaning a bit further than usual.  Unfortunately, that thought was soon confirmed as it went horizontal.  I had that bike up and almost over on the other side in like a second or two.  Forgot to put the damn sidestand down.  Luckily, my ride is only about 400 lbs wet and I never had to think about how to lift it up, just did.
So far, the only time it's been off it's wheels.
One of the advantages of having a light bike.

[5OUTTA6]

I had a similar incident with my GS.  I was filling it up in a gas station on the center stand.   I went to take it off the center stand and when the bike rolled off the stand, I moved back, but I forgot I had my side cases on.  I 'walked' into my side cases, knee collapsed and the bike went down.
Some guy walks by and says something like , did your bike fall down. I said " no I always lay it down on its side to fill it up".

I got it right up using my enormous strength powered by embarrassment, using the butt against seat and handlebar turned to lock method.