How to pick up a dropped Vaquero.

[bouson]

How to pick up a dropped Vaquero.

I did the inevitable today, hit the front brake leaving work for lunch while in a tight slow turn, and dropped the bike at a dead stop. Had to avoid a cage that came blasting through the parking lot at 40 mph. Bike and I are fine, but my back has been bothering me for a couple of days and I didn't relish picking it up. I got off the bike and looked at it for a minute, then inspiration hit. I walked around to the up side, stepped up on the floorboard and gave a little hop motion. While coming down I had hold of the handlebars and leaned back and pulled. The bike rolled right on up and as I stepped off the floorboard and continued to pull on the bars it stood up easier than anything. It's a natural motion of the bike and your body that's too easy. Had a guy coming across the lot that saw it and was in total awe. He said "I'll have to try that on my dresser! It looked too easy!"

[elvis]

Glad nothing serious, at least from the sound of it and hope your back is okay.

[toy4bob]

wow, sounds cool but dont think I will run out to try it LOL. I also have done a deadstop drop with zero damage. As fast as it went down I planted my left foot, with the bars at left stop and holding in the clutch as it was in gear, and yanked...popped right up. I didn't even think about it, just reacted.

[Jgrazjgraz]

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4MPyX0QCYw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[cnc]

Your way sounds easy, but just from the description, I would be afraid the bike would keep on coming falling the other way with me caught under it.
Glade there was no damage, except to maybe a bit of pride.

[rickyboy]

Glad things worked out for you, but sorry it had to happen. Inevitable though??
Maybe not.

[Old Bear]

I tell all the newbie bikers that just started - it isn't a matter of if, but when! Unless you have the luck of the gods, sooner or later you are going to drop one. Of course if you hardly ever ride, I suppose you're OK!

Glad to hear that you - and the bike - are undamaged. And I will certainly remember your tip on getting the baby vertical again!

[bouson]

For those who asked, my back is fine now, it was just an old age thing.

As to the bike no damage.

The bike was pointed down a slight incline 4" in about 3', which made picking it up or turning the wheel almost impossible. As for the bike coming on over when picked up, it wouldn't happen. The bike came up in a steady slow motion that took around 5 seconds and stopped as soon as I stepped off the boards, which I did just before it got all the way to vertical. Then I sit it up straight just like taking it off the kickstand.

As for trying it out. After having to pick up many bikes over the years, it seems I'm forced to try it out at least once, in the first few months. This is the 2nd time in less than 4 months the bike has dropped while stopped or at less then walking speed. If you take the bike off the stand and lean it over slowly, it should stop on the floorboards, which is where it is design to set in a drop situation. There also should be no damage to the bike as the parts touching the ground are the same ones that touch when you drag the floorboards. I therefore highly recommend trying it out in at controlled situation when you are not injured or in pain and can have someone to spot or help.