Can anyone please tell me the easiest way to pick up a dropped bike (by yourself).  I have read that you put your back to it, knees bent, grab one handlebar, and rear seat, and lift.  I tried this and ended up getting a neighbour to help, before I hurt myself.   I know the bike is not that heavy, is there something I am missing?
btw, I am 5'5", ~115lbs

Thanks,  

Lift with your back to the bike: read http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html for some tips.

The only things I can add, are that you need to go slow when the bike is nearly upright, so that it doesn't keep going and fall over in the other direction.  And you're going to end-up with the bike up, and your back to it... what are you going to do then?  You'll probably need to put down the sidestand (but remember, you're facing backwards).  Think it through.  Sweep the ground, etc.  Wear good boots and gloves.

Yes, I have seen that video.  Bear in mind that her loaded BMW sits higher off the ground than my little 500F.   :dunno:

I think I remember that being a problem for me too:


Other stuff I did:
I went inside to surf the net and read how to pick up a bike .  It was dark anyways, and I couldn't see anything.
In the morning, I pulled a trailer up behind the bike so it couldn't roll backwards (it was in neutral and I couldn't reach the shifter).  
I parked a plastic/rubber garbage dumpster to the side of the bike, and covered it with cardboard, so that if the bike started to fall over in the other direction, it wouldn't hit the ground.

But as for lifting: I think that I could reach my left hand under, and grab the "Vee" bracket that holds the passenger footpeg.  My right hand was on the left handlebar grip.  The I pulled up on the bike, and got the seat maybe four inches off the ground (that sounds like the hard part for you?).  Then I put my feet out, away from the bike, and pushed up and back with my butt on the edge of the seat.  It was kind-of like doing a leg press.  My arm muscles didn't do anything much; they just kept the weight from shifting.  I think I remember trying little pushes from different angles, with my butt higher or lower on the edge of the seat, and with my feet nearer or further from the bike, (but without putting the bike all the way down on the ground) until I found the place that seemed to rock the bike the best.  

Once I found the right spot, it didn't seem hard at all.  
If you're unable to pull the bike up a few inches using the passenger footpeg bracket, then it would probably help to have someone help pull it up a few inches, while you get into pushing position.

Thanks,     I guess I just didn't try long enough.  It seemed that to get any kind of leverage I was sitting on the ground.  Also I was a little concerned about the puddle of gas that was forming under the bike.
Thanks for the input, hopefully I won't need it ( at least in the near future) lol.

I think I grabbed the frame and walked/pushed toward the bike. I wasn't really taking notes though. I do remember grabbing the frame under the tank... or something like that. The bike was laying on its right side on a paved incline. The wheels were uphill from the top of the bike so I kind of pushed it up hill.

I must have been one strong muscled sob when I was younger...I never had any problem picking up my bikes when I dropped them. Maybe it was just the adrenalin. Of course if I were to drop the baby G nowadays I would just have to wait for help or get a lever and use that because there is no way I could do it anymore. I'll just hope I never drop one again...actually got to ride today and I loved every turn, every straight, up hill, down hill, ran it up to 10 grand a few times for the thrill (boy do I get thrilled easily)...oh how I love this little GS500, this forum and those who post words to read.

C.......

Hmm, I think I grabbed the frame under the fuel tank and by the pilloin peg the pushed with my knees.
I was facing the bike, but I don't think the method mentioned earlier would have worked for me as the bike was on loose stone chippings and the wheels had no real traction.

I guess it helps to be 6' 1" and 200 lbs.