- Joined
- Jul 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,866
- Reaction score
- 985
- Location
- Blouberg, Cape Town
- Bike
- KTM 890 Adventure R
I have dropped many bikes in my life - often intentionally.
Reason: to see if I could pick up the bike by myself. If the bike drops out there, one should be able to pick it up alone. Yes, technique is important, but what is the ideal weight before a bike becomes too heavy to lift by yourself?
I picked up my F800GS many times. 207kg wet weight is manageable.
At 210kg wet, my KTM 890 Adv R is manageable.
On the other hand, at an advertised wet weight of 230kg (before farkles) my KTM 1090 Adv R was just too heavy to pick it up solo in my garage under controlled circumstances. It was the lightest big adventure bike at the time, but it was just too heavy to pick up solo.
I have been on many BMW club rides, and helped to pick up R1200GS and R1250GSAs, and all in-between. Last I checked the R1200GSA weighed in at 283kg wet. These bikes are always lifted by a crowd of smiling co-riders, perhaps once by an adrenaline filled strongman ashamed of the fact that he could not keep the black side down.
At 233kg wet before luggage, I see Charley Sinewan always waiting for someone to help him pick up his Desert X.
There are other reasons as well, but this might be one of the most important factors to consider when buying a big bike: can I pick it up alone (hence the move to smaller adv bikes).
I was wondering: what is the max weight of an adv bike before picking up solo becomes an issue?
Reason: to see if I could pick up the bike by myself. If the bike drops out there, one should be able to pick it up alone. Yes, technique is important, but what is the ideal weight before a bike becomes too heavy to lift by yourself?
I picked up my F800GS many times. 207kg wet weight is manageable.
At 210kg wet, my KTM 890 Adv R is manageable.
On the other hand, at an advertised wet weight of 230kg (before farkles) my KTM 1090 Adv R was just too heavy to pick it up solo in my garage under controlled circumstances. It was the lightest big adventure bike at the time, but it was just too heavy to pick up solo.
I have been on many BMW club rides, and helped to pick up R1200GS and R1250GSAs, and all in-between. Last I checked the R1200GSA weighed in at 283kg wet. These bikes are always lifted by a crowd of smiling co-riders, perhaps once by an adrenaline filled strongman ashamed of the fact that he could not keep the black side down.
At 233kg wet before luggage, I see Charley Sinewan always waiting for someone to help him pick up his Desert X.
There are other reasons as well, but this might be one of the most important factors to consider when buying a big bike: can I pick it up alone (hence the move to smaller adv bikes).
I was wondering: what is the max weight of an adv bike before picking up solo becomes an issue?
