Author Topic: Is it okay to pull a bike up by the luggage rack? (Read 3599 times)

moto · « **on:** September 19, 2005, 04:05:34 AM »

Hey all.

Just a question that somone may be knowledgeable about.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a new rider about picking up a downed bike. She had never had to pick up a downed bike so I thought I would show her an easy way. Not wanting to lay my Bandit totally on the ground I had the bike tilted about 30 degrees on the left side as I had her try to push the bike up. She couldn't do it, so I had her do this again, thinking that this time, having the bike up higher at about 45 degrees she might be able to get the bike up. Both times I was on the right side of the bike, and seeing that she was having a problem I pulled it upright by the luggage rack, just above the tail. Now that I thought about it is there a possibility that I could have damaged the bike, possibly the frame, by pulling an almost downed bike upright only by the luggage rack? Is the Bandit frame strong enough to withstand this?

Thanks for your input.

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2005, 04:12:19 AM »

With the right amount of leverage, anything is possible. The luggage racks generally bolt onto the sub frame and from experience I have found that it is not too hard to bend (the sub-frame).

moto · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2005, 04:20:07 AM »

Thanks for the reply Cruisecontrol.

grrrrr......, possible subframe damage? There doesn't seem to be any problem riding it. Is it an easy thing to figure out at a shop if the subframe is bent or is it a hassle? Or should I quit worrying about it as long as it rides okay?

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2005, 05:45:17 AM »

You can usually tell if it is bent by looking at the back of the bike, but if in doubt, pull some plastic off and take a few measurements.
Structurally all the sub-frame does is provide a place to park you butt, so if it isn't obviously bent and feels fine sitting on it, I wouldn't worry about it.

smooth operator · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2005, 07:26:20 AM »

If the bike was all the way down,it would be a hard place to pick it up from too. You would want to stand more toward the center of the bike. If your facing the bike bend at the knees and keep your head up like doing a squat. You can look for a spot on the frame and the handle bar, then pick up with your legs. Or if you can face away from the bike picking up the same way,its just harder finding a place to grab when its all the way down. But facing away your more apt to use your legs and not your back.
When I put my bike down a few weeks ago, I went to pick it up and could then tell I pulled some muscles in my back and ribs were sore. It was easier for me facing the bike getting it up to where I could put my knee under it for a better hand hold, then it came up easy from there.

moto · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2005, 04:47:25 AM »

Thanks for your help you guys.

I measured things out and the bike's okay. Was worried for a while but the sub frame is fine. I'll be thinking before I do that again. Actually I removed the luggage rack. Bike looks better without it anyway.

neoseity · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2005, 08:13:04 PM »

I think you're OK pulling up the bike from the grab rail. The grab rail is screwed into the rear subframe which is made of the same material as the rest of the frame. I believe the frame is stong enough for this. I think it will take more leverage than just picking up the bike to bend it.

In fact, in the Aug '05 issue of Motorcyclist magazine Street Savvy article shows how to hoist the bike onto the sidestand to be able to spin easy 180s to get out of tight parking spots.

"... place your left hand on the left grip and look for a good handhold for your right hand on the bike's right rear side. A passenger footpeg bracket, right-rear passenger grabrail or a frame tailsection downtube are good spots for this."

Granted, this is distributing weight on more than just the rear subframe, but I'd be a bit scared of a frame that I couldn't lift the whole bike from. I'd even go as far as to bet you could hook that sub frame up to a come-along or winch and lift the whole freekin' bike!

Hey, space saver idea, hang the bike from the garage ceiling!

chupacabra · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2005, 06:37:46 AM »

I went down once and the tow truck straped to the back two hand rails and somewhere up front, I think it was the wheel but can't remember. Anyway when he lifted the bike the hand rails twisted the subframe. Do not try to hang your bike from the cieling at this point!! Bad idea.

neoseity · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2005, 11:56:39 AM »

Quote from: "chupacabra"

I went down once and the tow truck straped to the back two hand rails and somewhere up front, I think it was the wheel but can't remember. Anyway when he lifted the bike the hand rails twisted the subframe. Do not try to hang your bike from the cieling at this point!! Bad idea.

What kind of bike was that?

I am talking about my 02 1200S.

I think that rear subframe will give to side to side pressure and twist, so suspending the bike from the rear grab rail and the front wheel on it's side is probably a bad idea (or dragging it up from a ditch).

But I bet if the bike were hooked up to just the rear grab rail and lifted straight up it'd be OK. And then it could dangle from the ceiling! Although, I wouldn't hang 500 lbs from my 2x4 garage ceiling, a david maybe...

Red01 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2005, 07:37:41 PM »

Well, there have been people who have cracked the grab rail mount structure under the bodywork from having luggage racks or trunks mounted only to the grab rail's four fasteners. For instance, the OEM luggage rack mounts that way and is limited to just a few pounds of cargo (I forget if it's 5 or 10 lbs.). Racks that mount to both of the bungee spool points are capable of at least 45 lbs.

It would be safest to pick the bike up in the rear by the frame itself - like the loop under the tail for lifting it on the centerstand - but if you've dropped it on the right side, there's really no place to grab other than the grab rail. Since this is just a once in a while thing, it'll probably hold up just fine. I wouldn't hang the bike by the grab rail though.

moto · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2005, 12:33:42 PM »

Thanks for your comments you all.

I can see that it is taking a chance doing what I did, and luckily everything's okay with the bike. I figure that it's probably worse to pull the bike up from the luggage rack as opposed to the grab rail, just becasue of the luggage rack being an extension off of the grab rail. Oh well, I'm not going to take the chance again. Thanks again for your input.