Honda VFR1200F Dropped - At sixty years old can I pick it up?

A lack of concentration led to me dropping the VFR1200F in the garage. A real nightmare with such a heavy bike. At 267kg it just seemed impossible for me at first. I had to let my brain work on the problem before making an attempt. I had some help from my three year old son. The lesson I have learnt is this - I am sixty now and really need to get fitter to slow the decline - I am now in the dangerous decade.

[@rackbites]

Love the assistance the little man provided you in picking it up. Priceless.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

He is a real character. He is also very perceptive "it's too heavy".

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

Most unfortunate, however that small child should have been well away as you tried to lift it.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

You are not wrong about that. I was clearly not thinking straight.

[@mariooliveira4685]

This situation can happen to everyone. Thank you for the video 👍

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

I hope people who watch learn from my stupidity.

[@MacWallaceArbitrationService]

Stuff happens when you are busy. If only the mat had been bigger to cushion the left pod. I'm looking to find a nice 2012+ VFR dct.Thanks for the vija.😊

[@CLLUK]

Well done for getting it sorted. It's all too easy for this to happen. Happened to me several years ago with my Yamaha XJR1300 (~ 250kg) in the garage and fell against my other bike. Decided to call my neighbour for some extra muscle! Felt completely stupid for not engaging brain prior to moving the bike. Anyway, nobody was hurt, although I was worried that the little person didn't pop round to the other side when you were lifting. Thanks for putting this out.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

My engineer father taught me that he said look, listen and take a moment to let your brain, particularly your subconscious, work it through.

[@pascalmonier4642]

There is a way of doing it and tons of ways of doing it wrong. I was 61 when I dropped my Goldwing (in the sand) and picked up by myself (I was lucky to have someone blocking my feet while pushing). thank you for showing us the correct way. One thing to do is block the front break with a glove or anything to keep the bike from rolling away when pushing it up.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Great tip about the glove, but sincerely hope I never need it.

[@gilomoto5148]

We’ve all done it. Well done for getting the big girl back up on your own.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Been hitting the gym since, this was a wake-up call.

[@paulpeters3408]

The little fella was Brilliant he was trying so Hard to Push the Bike up.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

He was my inspiration. As an older father my three kids keep me on my toes.

[@reeseburns3552]

I did the exact same thing with my CBF500 once. I was parking next to a few other bikes. I decided to move my bike forward a bit, ignoring the side-stand. I lowered be bike back down and it just kept leaning over! I managed to keep it up but I did panic a bit with the row of nice shiny bikes right behind me. fun times!

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

You were lucky. I spoke to a physio a few years ago and she said the most bikers she saw were the ones who tried to hold the bike up. The muscle strain is very different and much more dangerous trying to hold it than pick it up. For a nanosecond I thought hold it up, that is the immediate reaction, but something made me just let it go.

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Good job! One question: why did you not put it on the center stand? Much safer when you have to loosen the wheel nuts. An impact driver is not a bad idea either. I have a baby VFR (750F) and an 1150GS, using the impact driver to undo the wheel nuts is a piece of cake. I have an electric one with a cord and they are fairly inexpensive.

[@bcuzicancuellar5478]

Well done! I dropped my 2010, 2 days after I bought it for my 65th bday. No way in hell I could pick it up, but one of my friend’s boyfriend, didn’t have any problem picking it up. Glad o had the help! Ride safe…

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

You ride safe too.

[@davidlutton4560]

A situation we all dread, when manoeuvring our bike in the garage and yes, the outbursts were entirely understandable. I winced when I seen it passing the point of no return! Glad you got it sorted, with both you and the bike unscathed. Having owned a VFR1200F, it is certainly a heavy beast to move about. I fitted a centre stand, which I purchased from Fowlers for about £80.00, which proved invaluable for maintenance tasks. By the way, the advice you got from that wee man of yours was absolutely priceless! Take care.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Many thanks for your kind comments.

[@TheDervMan]

OMG you had it all going on there! Glad you got it upright again.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Many thanks.

[@keitht3055]

Nice one Mate. As you say, don't rush into trying to pick it up. I ride a BMW R1250RS which, weighs about 240kg and have purposely laid it down in my garage, just to see if i can get it back up, no problem at all 👍. By the way I'm about 11.5 stone and 70 years old 🏍😃.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Many thanks, that is very encouraging, I hope BMW put their new automatic clutch on the R or RS. That would be great to try as I am a huge fan of honda's DCT.

[@nicholasthegreat4899]

Honestly mate - THAT'S FINE ... few months ago I dropped my Viffer 2006, while I was dismateling it after a long journey ( I just can't tell you how I was feeling at that point - I worked hard to buy it) ... These are heavy bikes, it happens ! The most import is that you are safe and alright ! Mine, dragged me down and nearly fell over me but I had full gear and the bike had good protectors.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

It could have been worse.

[@birchwoodbiker]

My heart sinks for you, this is the side people arn't looking at, I'm trying to move all my bikes under 200kg, and your at least on flat ground not gravel and a hill or muddy track, hope it and you were ok😳👍👍

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

All okay, thanks for asking.

[@garethgay9133]

I've dropped my 800 VFR many times and never picked it up by myself, well done ! have a cup of tea and a biscuit

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

If I was not in the wagon it would have been a large whisky.

[@Davidg-wu5ur]

You done well mate, I’m 40 and 18 stone this bike is still lump for me. But it’s such a great bike to move on. No major damage is also a good outcome

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Thanks for watching. When I was 40 I was 5kg heavier with less fat. I have lost muscle as I have got older. Going to change my exercise routine - I am 100% cardio and need to hit the weights.

[@MistaWeeGee]

Been there many times and hat's off to you for managing to get it up, doubt I could. I'm not as confident as you wheeling bikes around, I tend to mount them (Fnaar Fnaar!!!) and paddle, well past the point of bothering about pride. Not a criticism but why didn't you try to loosen the nuts and/or remove the wheel with the bike on the centre stand? I only use the sidestand when I've have no other option. I've had bikes topple when they dug in, had a fallen rider's bike skid into mine and topple it and had them snap on me. I just don't have much faith in them. Well done and good to see minimal damage done: from another ancient Scot, who's probably too old and should know better

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Really like your username....

[@Grahamvfr]

Nice one Brian, something I hope I never have to do. I had a puncture last month and driving it onto the pick up truck with a flat rear was scary enough 😕

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Saw that one, you looked pretty sad about it.

[@Grahamvfr]

@@StayAtHomeBiker haha yes, but first on road puncture for many years thankfully👍

[@pinnacle_moto]

Oh nooooooooo. I feel the pain mate. Great content and I'll give you a sub for your bravery in sharing. :)

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Many thanks. I mainly take the videos to watch myself to make sure I have done the job correctly. In this case I wanted to share that it is not a disaster to drop a very heavy bike.

[@sdavey10]

Well done, and thank you for the video.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Thanks for watching!

[@coastalbiker]

Well done Brian, my mate was only telling me last night how heavy is vfr 1200 was.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

I hope your mate is more careful than me. Let him know that if his does go over not to panic.

[@normanmart7933]

Well done , I think my 1100gs is about to go , I'm 68 , oh and yes nows the time to rethink your exercise regime unfortunately there's no shortcut but endless benefits , so I tell myself. Enjoy.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

This was a real wake up call for me. First time I have seriously questioned myself "I am too old to to this?"

[@SilverPaladin]

VFR for sale. New back tire. Minor scratch from when previous owner dropped it in the garage moving it.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Luckily no damage from that drop - previous owner dropped it on the other side in a car park and there are a few scuffs from that. Honest.

[@bottletree33]

Dropped my vfr800 twice in the last 6 months. New rider. I needed help picking it up.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

It was my pride that made me try before seeking help. The encouragement from my little boy was a big motivator.

[@spudgunson]

I’ve dropped several of my bikes over the last 45 years, which wasn’t too big a problem when I was younger and bikes were lighter. I’m 63 now and a few weeks ago my R1200RT went over in a Starbucks car park. My initial reaction was ‘get it back up before people see you dropped it’ but then I thought, ‘what the hell, it happens, give it some thought’. Fortunately the driveway to my garage is flat so I don’t have manoeuvring issues but I’ve seen other people running the engine and slipping the clutch to move bikes around, either walking next to the bike or astride it. Have you tried that tactic?

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

I hope your beemer was not too scuffed up. Yeah it does seem a bigger issue when your pride is hurt.

[@richardbarton2709]

That side stand looks feeble - hope you are Ok.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

You are right the side stand does not seem in proportion to the bike, but it was not the stand but my lack of proper attention.

[@kojofour4328]

First and only time I dropped my ST1300 was trying to get it on the table. Don't wear slippers for this job...by the way I'm 69 and live alone so it was all up to me...great thing....fear.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Inspiration that your still riding, thanks.

[@mrdee1986]

Yes very bad luck indeed and we've all done it,however imagine that you could only lift it halfway and let it go again, and that little child was under it. Doesn't bear thinking about does it,,, very lucky this time and thoughtless at the same time

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

I did cringe when I watch the video for the first time.

[@frankspeakmore7104]

I've got the CrossTourer (non DCT still weighs 275KG). I put the bike on the centre stand, put the bike in gear, undo the silencer, undo the exhaust clamp bolt, undo the wheels nuts, wheel comes off. Also front near side brake calliper is operated by the back brake pedal. If this calliper is not kept clean the calliper binds ever so slightly to the disc, making the bike a right b*****d to push around my small garage.

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Thanks for the info! DCT so could not put it in gear and the break was not holding it. I think previous owner over tightened the wheel nuts.

[@frankspeakmore7104]

@@StayAtHomeBiker Ah was not aware of that.

[@volt8684]

Tried to adjust position of my fjr1300 full luggage(empty) a few years ago and it pulled me over in the garage. 😢I am 6’1” 120kg. Now have light vstrom650 with luggage

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

FJR is another big beast. I also have a Rebel 1100 which is positively light weight in comparison to the VFR.

[@brianperry]

l sold my VFR 800 in 2017 it was to heavy to move about. l knew l would end up dropping it sooner or later..

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

The VFR will have to go sometime, just don't want to admit it just yet.

[@stuartosborn4785]

We've all done it ! Hope the little girl didn't hear the expletives.......coz she's sure to repeat them 😂

[@stuartosborn4785]

Sorry .....little boy

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Luckily no repeating.

[@user-gn7cm6db2d]

Haven't you got a centre stand

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

I took it off the center stand as the wheel nuts were tight, as it's DCT it can't be put in gear to hold the wheel and the parking break was slipping.

[@nandansho.nandansho2366]

Wow you're pretty old for 60 Do you smoke, or workout?

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Too much sex, drugs and rock n' roll.

[@adolfgerhardhermann5952]

@@StayAtHomeBiker So, what's the carpet for?

[@garethgay9133]

yeah yeah, you huffing and puffing, when we all know that little one picked that bike up by herself

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

Ha. Ha

[@ACBros_06]

you can sell it and buy a lighter bike. You can hurt yerself. I have a similar bike and I regret buying it

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

That is what must happen, I just don't want to admit to getting old.

[@jeremyr62]

Yeah, that's the (only) way to do it. When I move the big bikes around I try to sit on them. I find it so much easier that way. You look a bit stupid paddling them around but who cares..

[@StayAtHomeBiker]

I guess I am going to have to change my technique, and bike, as I get older. Perhaps I can develop something cool rather than stupid.

[@jeremyr62]

@@StayAtHomeBiker Goldwings and K1600s have a reverse gear....