How effing heavy?

[Bixxer Bob]

After seven years of ownership it finally happened, the old girl took a nap on me today. Tipover switch works ok 

First problem was finding a neighbour to help pick her as she was lying down a slope. Eventually collared Bertie, a retired teacher.  We got her up but he was speechless with the effort, and eventually - when he could speak - all he could say was "how effing heavy"?

He's not a biker and couldn't believe it was possible to ride something with so much weight.  He then got interested in how you manage it - parking, stop/starting, how the stands are used etc.  I think I earned some respect,  but it might just be he thinks I'm mad......

Oh, and the Touratechs worked fine as Chris often says. A scratch on the crash bar (which needs a repaint anyway) and on the rubber on the bracket that locates the pannier at the back. Now I know why all those bits are so heavily over engineered......

[John Stenhouse]

If you fancy seeing what over weight is try having a look in the trips thread for my Alaska trip and what we took with us. I weighed the fat lump at one of the Canadian self weigh stations for trucks and was amazed at the result................almost half a tonne with rider and fuel, nbo wonder when it took a nap two of us couldn't lift it 

[Sin_Tiger]

I trust you didn't suffer at all?

Give me Bertie's number and I'll spare him from wondering any longer 

[Chris Canning]

It is funny you don't realise how much work Touratech put into those crashbars until you use e'm 

[Bixxer Bob]

Very true Chris. It was a lack of speed, my off-camber gravel drive and the front washing out so yes, I was ok, just stepped off.

[topher0268]

I'm sorta short (5'7" on a good day in my big boy boots) so mine tends to take naps in parking lots with oil slicks on the ground. Just not enough inseam to get it back under control when a foot slips. It's those times I realize that it IS nice to be built like a middle earth dwarf when trying to dead lift a fully outfitted Girly .......

[Bixxer Bob]

I was lucky that Bertie was around. Without the panniers she was laid flat and oozing fuel from the overflow onto the exhaust. Watching petrol boil is a worrying experience.  I quickly moved the overflow pipe and got an extinguisher just in case.

It made me start thinking about how I'd get her up on my own though.  I've read about lifting techniques but can confirm (for me) they only work if the bike is on a pannier.  A floor lift is too low.  I'm thinking about some sort of lever that I can slide under the bike, attach to a footrest or similar, and then lift/walk her up.

Or I could just not be a twat n the first place......

[HockleyBoy]

They are a bloody nightmare to pick up. I got blown over in one of the storms earlier in the year. I was stationary in the fast lane of the a13 in torrential rain and a very strong gust of wind took me over.

If the van driver behind hadn't got out and helped me god knows how I would have got going again, certainly couldn't budge her on my own, it was a nightmare even with 2 of us against the wind.

Touratechs did their job in my case as well 

[Sin_Tiger]

I have seen a strap (old seat belt) used when you have trouble getting low enough or getting a good grip.

[Bixxer Bob]

Sounds like a idea. Think I'm going to have to play with this ...... but not with a full tank

[Sin_Tiger]

Old duvet comes in handy.

[Bixxer Bob]

Thanks Sin!

[Sin_Tiger]

If you get  for using the duvet,  it wasn't my idea 

[danieljlecoq]

I just got an 02 Girly. I'd like to put some crash bars on her but am having trouble finding any online. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

[cba191]

I may be wrong, but I think thunderbike and hepco Becker are the only ones still making them.