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How To Manoeuvre and Push Your Motorcycle

Last Update: 8 October 2023

How To Manoeuvre and Push Your Motorcycle
How To Manoeuvre and Push Your Motorcycle – The Art of Manoeuvring

Moving and walking your motorcycle without power is part of motorcycling management. We’ve no reverse and often in tight spaces, we have no choice but to move the bike manually – in our garage, at the fuel station, or getting out of a parking space. No matter what weight, height, or size your motorcycle is, with practice and these techniques you can push and manoeuvre your motorcycle confidently, and in full control!  And on any surface and in the tightest of spaces! – manoeuvring it by walking beside it is not only faster, but far easier than you think!

Frequently employed for motorcycle manoeuvring is the “duck walk” technique. This method allows you to stay seated and unpowered while using your feet to paddle and move the motorcycle. While it may suffice in certain scenarios, it falls short in terms of efficiency. Moreover, on the larger touring motorcycles I’ve had the opportunity to test ride, it proves impractical. Many riders gravitate toward this approach due to concerns about accidentally dropping their bike, which is an outcome no one desires. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that guiding the motorcycle by walking alongside it is not only swifter but also a safer and considerably easier alternative than one might initially assume!

Here’s How To Push Your Motorcycle

Be sure to start slow and take the time to practise.

1. GEAR: Consider removing your helmet for better visibility, depending on its type. However, keep your gloves on to maintain a secure grip.

2. FRONT BRAKE: Position yourself on the left side of the bike, as if you’re about to mount it. Hold the handlebar while using two fingers to cover the front brake. This provides quick access to the brake for controlling any potential bike movement.

3. NEUTRAL GEAR: If your motorcycle is in gear, shift it to neutral to facilitate easier movement. Avoid keeping the clutch engaged, as this can hinder your control by reducing your grip.

4. SIDE STAND: Lift the bike slightly, tilting it toward you, and retract the side stand to clear your path. Some riders mistakenly believe the side stand can help with balance, but it can actually be hazardous. If it touches the ground while you’re moving the bike, it can jolt it, leading to loss of balance and a potential drop. Additionally, it obstructs your walking path.

5. HIP AND BODY: To balance and manage the bike’s weight effectively, avoid holding its full weight with your hands. Instead, lean it against your hip or the right side of your body while maintaining a light grip on the handlebars. Push your hip into the seat or tank depending on your height, as this will help steer the bike. This technique will aid in steering, and for some bikes, your upper leg and hip can fully support the bike’s weight.

How To Push Your Motorcycle And Manoeuvre Your Motorcycle Unpowered
Lean The Weight Against your Lower Body

6. PUSHING: Here you can use your body as the forward push force powering your motorcycle. Many focus on power to the handlebars forgetting the body can be a big help here too. Use your hip, driving it into the tank or seat gives you surprisingly more momentum. Of course if you have a low chopper style motorcycle you’ll have no choice but to power forward by pushing solely on the handlebars.

7. FAMILIARISE:  Familiarise yourself with your motorcycle’s balance point(s). With your slight guidance, it can stand upright on its own. Practice this on level ground in your garage or parking area. Discover the “point of no return” by slowly tilting the bike away from your body while holding the handlebars (very gradually). Stop when you feel you can no longer maintain balance or hold it upright. This exercise helps you identify the point of no return. Understanding your bike’s weight distribution (e.g., top-heavy, front-heavy) will enable you to manoeuvre it with ease, even using just one hand. And yes, this works even for a heavy touring motorcycle weighing over 300 kg-  it will feel light when balanced correctly!

How To Push Your Motorcycle And Manoeuvre Your Motorcycle Unpowered
The Lower Body Handles the Weight

8. TURNING:    Walking your motorcycle in a straight line is straightforward, similar to riding it. However, turning it requires some adjustments. Keep in mind to look up and in the direction you want to go. To turn, lean the bike’s centre of mass against your body with minimal pressure on the handlebars. For sharp turns, like turning left, turn the handlebars to the full left lock position while stationary. Doing this enhances stability. Always stop before transitioning the handlebars from straight to full lock and back. The points  in between are where the bike is most unstable. Importantly, gently use the front brake when turning to the right or left. The front brake locks your steering and can lead to loss of control or even a bike drop if applied to abruptly.

How To Push Your Motorcycle And Manoeuvre Your Motorcycle Unpowered
Look Where You Want to Be

9. BACKING UP:  1) Maintain the bike’s lean against your body and apply slightly more pull on the handlebars. Utilise your hip and upper leg to drive force into the seat and backward. Remember to turn your head and focus on your intended path. 2) Another method is to hold the bike by the left handlebar with your left hand, and put your right hand on the rear seat, top box or passenger seat handle to push. Though remember while doing this you will have no control of the brake so be sure you’re on level ground.

*TIP: It is often safer and easier to move forward, and circle back rather than backing up.

How To Push Your Motorcycle And Manoeuvre Your Motorcycle Unpowered
Look Where You Want To Be

Once you’re done don’t forget to put the side stand down.

Miscellaneous Tips:

  • Some use their side stand as a pivot, transferring weight onto the side stand to turn the bike around. This might look cool but it’s hard on your side stand and could even bend it. Your side stand is really not meant to take that much weight. Thinking long-term, a motorcycle without a side stand is a bigger problem for a rider! This may also drive a whole into the surface you’re turning on.
  • Walking with power can be done easily and may be needed if moving the bike into a trailer of up a hill where you’ve not enough strength for the task. Turn the bike on and ride the clutch at the friction zone to get a slow steady speed. Keep your right hand ready to use the front brake if needed.
  • Practise makes perfect so don’t be lazy and let your friends move your motorcycle for you or help. If you do, you’ll never hone your skills for the task. Even when you’re in the midst of walking your motorcycle and a friend jumps in to help it can upset the balance and steering. This could cause you to panic and drop the bike. Learn to do it yourself.
  • You can also use a friend as a spotter/standing nearby for the first couple tries – just in case.

Walking your motorcycle is a straightforward, confident, and professional method for manoeuvring it. Start slowly and take your time. As you develop your skills and confidence, you’ll be able to handle motorcycles of any type, size, or weight with ease!

 


Indian Motorcycles

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5 comments

Nettaya 25 March 2022 at 21:57

Thank you very much. Lots of helpful info. As a skinny woman of over 60, I indeed got lots of offers to help „walk the bike“. I politely refused as much as I can.
And yes, a vdo on how to pick up a heavy motorbike as one requested already would be nice. There several out there but since you are so good at describing with tips n cautions, I am interested to see your version 😁

Reply
Anonymous 19 January 2020 at 04:39

Nice

Reply
cyclo 6 February 2017 at 11:40

How about power walking bike on rough terrain or in sand/mud?

Reply
ozchick 18 August 2016 at 22:20

Wildcat, there are some really good clips on youtube on picking up a bike – check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWrsyP1tJuM or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlUY8DWNzy0

Reply
Wildcat_Rebel 4 April 2016 at 21:23

I’d love to know tips on how to pick up a heavy bike, too!

Reply

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