This is the proper technique as it was developed for the big, heavy american bikes.

Haven't dropped the SV yet. But I was sat in a car park, awaiting my instructor just before DAS, and decided I'd try put it on the centre stand, just in case I was asked on test. It was one thing I hadn't practiced much. :oops: ER5 on the floor & me looking like a t*t :oops:

Don't ask me why, or how it worked, but foot on the peg, holding the tank with one arm (over the top of the tank), hold the throttle with the other (it went left side down). Rock forwards, then backwards & put pressure through the peg. Heypresto, street-cred restored as I sat on the bike as it came up to me 8)

Luckily I wasn't asked to put it on the centre stand during test conditions *whistles*

We were told that when asked to put the bike on the stand you could chose just to choose the centre or side stand - (of course I opted for side stand :)) Apparently the reason for this is that many bikes dont have a centre stand (like the SV) so if taking your test on such a bike this would be the only choice . Dont know if this is still the case on the test?:?

I am always so embarrassed that everyone is laughing at me I haul it up brute force no technique and ride off asap. Then I get round the corner, stop, all my torn muscles and stretched ligaments start to ache and I have a good cry :lol:

My technique is to pick on two brawny passerbyers and get them to do the lifting for me.

I was told to listen carefully if they say stand or centre stand - obviously they wouldn't say centre stand if the bike didn't have one, and if they just say stand , then you get to choose.

WTF - did you pick it up from the right hand side - by putting your foot on the peg - like picking up a skateboard by standing on the front?

Yup, that's the one. Fallen onto it's left, I was on the right side of the bike. The ER-5's are lighter than the SV though, don't think I'd be able to do the same with the SV, and don't want to try either, unless someone is willing to drop their bike for me? :D

Dropping bikes eh - the shame of it. If I were you I'd just walk away and hope nobody recognised you. :-dd

Luckily so far the only bikes I've dropped have been off roaders, which weren't so much dropped as thrown over things... hills.. tree stumps... a cliff! :oops:

K, if it makes you feel better, I've dropped a 4x4 landrover off a cliff! With me in it (mind it was only around 15ft - still wrote it off)!