Aging, loss of strength, and large bikes (like a Harley)

[GON]

About two years ago I purchased a 1979 Yamaha 1100 for a project, at auction. Moving the non running bike between garages in the rain, I had to push the bike up a slight incline while turning, on a wet, painted surface. My shoes were worn out tennis shoes with zero tread left. Shoes slipped and I dropped the bike. I was unable to lift the bike up by myself. To get the bike upright, I had to use a strap for leverage.

The question that followed in my mind "is there an age that a large bike is to heavy to lift"? Any BITOGERs change the motorcycle they ride because of the bikes weight?

 

[NormanBuntz]

No, but I don't know any guys who've gotten stronger in their 60's or 70's. What they say about lower testosterone levels is true.

 

[loneryder]

About two years ago I purchased a 1979 Yamaha 1100 for a project, at auction. Moving the non running bike between garages in the rain, I had to push the bike up a slight incline while turning, on a wet, painted surface. My shoes were worn out tennis shoes with zero tread left. Shoes slipped and I dropped the bike. I was unable to lift the bike up by myself. To get the bike upright, I had to use a strap for leverage.

The question that followed in my mind "is there an age that a large bike is to heavy to lift"? Any BITOGERs change the motorcycle they ride because of the bikes weight?

I just sold my Harley Ultra Limited. I never could pick it up after being dropped. But I could always maneuver it around parking lots etc. I sort of lost the desire to ride after over 25yrs of riding. After knee replacement surgery I decided I wanted the space in the garage, so sold it. I sold it while I could still ride. It was a major life change to make that decision.

 

[Bonz]

Moving the bike uphill, in the rain, shoes with no tread. How about going too fast on the highway with no tread in your tires in the rain and the car hydroplanes into the median. Choices made to move the bike in the rain. Was it life or death? Take that with a grain of salt and a wink in the eye, but discretion is sometimes a better part of valor when it comes to getting something done.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

At 81 I can easily relate to what you're saying.

 

[Jdeere562]

Consider yourself lucky, that you got the bike up all by yourself.
Last time I fell down, I could not even get myself back up.

It was humiliating needing to push the Life-Alert button.

 

[02SE]

There's a technique for picking a bike back up. Here's the first video I found on Youtube, but I'm sure there are plenty more. The technique is universal. Your 1100 would be around 550 lbs. Much less than this Harley. I think you could likely have lifted it using this technique.





The old saying: "Discretion is the better part of Valor" is appropriate to the situation you described.

Scanning back through the thread, @Bonz already stated this. But it's worth repeating.

I'm glad you sound like you're okay.

 

[RoadDukie]

@02SE beat me to it.
It's all about technique. Gotta use those big butt muscles. (And getting past the immediate freak out of dropping your bike.)

The Taiwanese have a saying: You don't stop riding because you get old, you get old because you stop riding...

You might also want to evaluate your choices of when you decide to move your bike.

 

[GON]

There's a technique for picking a bike back up. Here's the first video I found on Youtube, but I'm sure there are plenty more. The technique is universal. Your 1100 would be around 550 lbs. Much less than this Harley. I think you could likely have lifted it using this technique.





The old saying: "Discretion is the better part of Valor" is appropriate to the situation you described.

Scanning back through the thread, @Bonz already stated this. But it's worth repeating.

I'm glad you sound like you're okay.

Very helpful video, thanks for posting. Having the bike in gear while standing up the bike is likely something I may not have thought of. Watched another video on the subject, the video stated if one can't get the bike in gear, an alternate is to strap the front brake handle as to lock the front tire.

The bike was in Western Washington state. It rains nearly daily nine months of the year, Didn't calculate the slight incline, wet surface, painted surface, turning requirement, and and worn out shoe bottoms. Different shoes likely would have prevented the issue, but when my shoes had zero traction, pushing the bike up a slight incline, on a wet painted surface- I got schooled.

IIRC moving the bike was required to prepare for a move from Washington to Arizona, so I was under singnificant, yet normal for me time challenges.

The bike experience is having me take a second look at bike weights when cross-walked with aging motorcycle riders--- is there increased risk as one ages??

 

[GON]

The video @02SE posted linked this video.

This video had supplemental methods for lifiting a bike, one method for a lighter bike, and another method for a significantly heavier bike with a small, modified jack.

One of the comments from the video:
"My 83 year old Father refuses to stop riding his HD Roadglide here in Colorado. He drops his bike roughly two times a week during the warmer months. His solution is to pop the top on a V-8 low sodium of course and wait for a passerby to help. He called 911 once and the Colorado State Patrol showed up, took some pictures, listened to a couple of stories and got him on his way. Be careful out there."

 

[Jetronic]

Moving the bike uphill, in the rain, shoes with no tread. How about going too fast on the highway with no tread in your tires in the rain and the car hydroplanes into the median. Choices made to move the bike in the rain. Was it life or death? Take that with a grain of salt and a wink in the eye, but discretion is sometimes a better part of valor when it comes to getting something done.

or you come back to the bike at some point and it's on it's side. the question is, can you get the bike up and drive it, not how it fell over.

 

[billt460]

There are alway these.

 

[_Will_]

About two years ago I purchased a 1979 Yamaha 1100 for a project, at auction. Moving the non running bike between garages in the rain, I had to push the bike up a slight incline while turning, on a wet, painted surface. My shoes were worn out tennis shoes with zero tread left. Shoes slipped and I dropped the bike. I was unable to lift the bike up by myself. To get the bike upright, I had to use a strap for leverage.

The question that followed in my mind "is there an age that a large bike is to heavy to lift"? Any BITOGERs change the motorcycle they ride because of the bikes weight?

Less and age and more an ability, too many variables to tag it on a single number. Do you go you go to the gym? Are you naturally bulky? How tall is the bike and how is the weight distributed?

My heaviest bike is my 13’ FJR, last year I was backing it out of the garage and popped up the kick stand to clear a rug; forgot the kick stand and when I went to walk away it plopped over on the crash cage a PO had thankfully installed. My FJR I’d estimate comes in around 750lbs based off the quoted weight and what’s installed, but carries its mass low and was fairly easy to pop up. But I’m half a gym rat, closer to 50 than 80, and 6’4”; in the end it’s relative and I wouldn’t own a bike I couldn’t lift.

I did once have to push my 94’ FZR up a decent hill in the GA heat while geared up for a ride, an electrical connection came loose; I was close enough to the house it was easier to push it up a hill for 20 minutes than find some help. That’s sucked!

 

[georgemiller]

I think as we age even if we strength train several times per week lighter equipment is just easier on us.

 

[barryh]

Coming up to 71 years old and my BMW at 450lbs is as heavy as I want a bike to be. I'd prefer it was a touch lighter. Technique for picking a bike up is one thing but just the effort of wheeling a bike out of the garage would rule out something really heavy. There's also maintenance where I don't want the effort of hauling a heavy bike on to the centre stand.

 

[PWMDMD]

Just a general comment on aging and strength. I've been a gym guy for 10 years now. No ego lifting but I work hard there, partly for the mental benefits, but mostly because I just want to remain "capable" as I age. If I could only do one exercise as I age, it'd be a basic body weight squat for high reps. When muscle atrophy gives way to strength, flexibility, and stamina declining significantly, especially in the legs, it is usually the beginning of the end with things like falls and broken hips ahead.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Yes you loose strength as we age, but I doubt many people could pick up a large bike on their own even in their prime.

Your old Yamaha probably weighs much less than a new Harley.

 

[BigCahuna]

I had bike drop a few years back that had me thinking. I was 69 at the, time when I was doing some slow speed maneuvers to get the feel back after winter, when I committed the sin. I touched the front brake, and down I went. I was only doing about 5 mph, so it was more of a fall over. I know how to get the bike up, but there were other things going thru my head. A couple years back I had my right knee replaced, and my left knee was due. All I could think about was if my new knee broke, or the left gave out and the bike fell on me. And of course, there was nobody around to ask for assistance. I did get it up by myself, but training day was over. Since then I bought a Kawasaki Voyager, which I have since sold mostly due to it's weight. It was 895 pounds, and you felt every once when trying to turn it around in my narrow driveway. My Police Road King is about 750 pounds, and feels like a bicycle compared to the Voyager. The thing about a motorcycle is, you only feel the weight of it when your either moving it around in a small, tight space, or if it's laying flat on it's side. If you've gotten into the habit of dropping it regularly, a three wheeler might be your best option.,,

 

[vwmaniaman]

My days of riding and wheeling around the !989 Goldwing 1500 ended soon after I broke my left hip on the ice. I had ridden accident free for 27 years and when the surgeon showed me the specs on my replacement hip I decided that was enough. It was hard to give it up but the hip was only rated for 250lbs. I know that wing had to be close to 1000 lbs as it was dressed. Wife and I together with travel gear top 500 extra. Sold it in 2009 and only try not to think how much I miss riding.

 

[Kira]

Not only did a pal experience aging relative to moving his AA+ beautiful H-D, his overall health was failing.

When he mentioned "leaving the bike to the Mrs. because it's worth a lot", I sorta freaked.

I reminded him that he had all the 'bike knowledgeable' friends and that the Mrs. wouldn't be able to move the bike 2 feet.
She'd be 100% vulnerable to some dealer she found in the phone book.
It was a moment of tough friendship. "You can't just feel the pain of 'hanging up the keys' and wallow in the altruism of "leaving the bike for the Mrs. to sell", I told him.
I gotta say, I had to drill down on the point.