Starting on an Incline : Practicing

[JVRR]

Sorry to cross-post but not getting any answers in the other forum. Basically my question is if I go practice starting on an incline for an hour, stalling out constantly, is that going to be worse on the engine than stalling out a few times, riding for five or ten minutes, and then doing it again? My concern with practice on a hill is stall-stall-stall-stall-stall, whereas my current little practice loop gives me several minutes of riding after having to start on a hill . But, I really need to practice this skill so hopefully its not hard on the engine so I can head to a good parking lot with a hill .

[HYPERR]

Probably harder on your clutch, starter motor and the electrical system...

That being said, why are you having so much problem starting on an incline? Do you know where your friction zone is? Have you practiced letting out the clutch gradually with no throttle to creep forward then pull the clutch in before it stalls? This will teach you where the friction zone is.

I would start on a level surface doing this to familialize yourself with the friction zone. Then practice smooth launch on a level surface. Once you master smooth launch on a level surface, then I would go to a place with a very slight incline and practice there and move up gradually from there.

If you are stalling that many times, then the incline is too steep for your current skill level. Don't run before learning how to crawl.

[bikerguy]

Very hard on your clutch and starter sounds like you need alot more time on level ground to get the feel of the bike. Find someone to help you or your going to be spending alot to repair your bike.

[Wrider]

How to start on an incline
1. Wrap throttle to redline
2. Drop clutch
3. Remember that in neutral bikes goes NOWHERE quickly

Ok seriously...
What I do is put the bike in gear and hold the clutch in.
Put foot on rear brake and let off of brake lever completely.
Start to let out clutch until you hear the engine start to die a little (friction zone).
Rev up a little bit higher than normal from a level-ground start.
Let off of rear brake, using clutch to first hold you in place, then push you along up the hill.
GENTLY engage the clutch when you're not used to doing this, and it'll move you right along.

[sapaul]

What Wrider said. I can't add more to that

solid advise right there.

[gsJack]

The GS500 can be one of the more difficult bikes for a new rider to get underway, I've seen veteran Moto Mag roadtesters comment on it so don't take it too personally that your having some difficulties; a torque monster it's not. LOL Wrider above describes the best way for a new rider to get underway on a hill so I think what you need most right now is a bit of clutch control practice finding the friction point like HYPERR describes above.

In answer to the question your actually asking in this thread, I wouldn't worry too much about the bike for now unless it takes you many months of doing it get the knack. I put 80k miles on my first GS thrashing the heck out of it with a lot of mountain miles playing with bigger bikes. After putting 80k miles on that bike and replacing it with my current 02 GS my son put another 8-10k miles on it before replacing the engine due to high oil consumption for his freeway commuting. He tore down my old engine and the clutch still had a lot of lining left after all that use and abuse. You'll have to spend many, many days stalling and restarting you engine before you equal the number of times we did it on that GS in 90k miles, it's a quite rugged bike.

The only real serious harm you can do to your air cooled engine is to lug it in too high a gear at too slow a speed or to get it badly overheated bogged down in heavy traffic on a very hot day or to run it without sufficient oil in it. Keep your revs up, your crankcase full, and enjoy.

[JVRR]

Think I got the hang of it today. Finally got a good break in the rain to get out and do some proper riding, hit the freeway for the first time too. I can tell it will keep coming with more practice but when I got to my last practice area (most significant hill) I had zero problems! I started with a little practice with the clutch on flat ground, then realized there was not any reason I could not practice on flat ground with the brake- and wow did I see that was my problem. The addition of the brake... it is one of those things that is hard to really know whats going on when you think about it (just like my dad swore he only used front brake on hills, and then today said once he started paying attention it is actually always rear brake)... anyway I think I was not able to control the clutch and brake individually, and I think that was my problem.

I also got into a sharp enough lean to run my toes on the ground, what a thrill .

[Wrider]

Very nice man! Congratulations and glad you got the hang of it! Now just keep in mind my first three posts were in jest! (Earlier today I saw a woman on a Ninja 250 rev it up to about 8K and drop the clutch to get started on a hill. Pulled the front wheel up a foot, then dropped it back down and rode off like she did it that way all the time!)

[JC Viper]

*cues Booker T. and the MGs - Green Onions* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bpS-cOBK6Q

Now. on to the next lesson. Riding in the rain.

[JVRR]

Um I live in Seattle, most of my riding has been, if not in the rain, in the 20 minute break between rains. I have officially opened my career search to include Arizona and Texas .