Total Motorcycle Community Forums

can someone help me out here.
i have the msf in a few weeks but have all the pieces i need to start practicing today (bike\gear, etc).

Starting and stopping on a hill is my challenge now. I live in the middle of a hill so for me to get to an open parking lot will require some hill work. im scared to be honest to go down or up the hill to get to my practice area.

some tips on hills are appreciated.

If im stopped on a hill, I put my left foot down while holding the rear brake with my right foot. When its safe to go, give it some gas and EASE the clutch out. Just keep it in the friction zone and the bike will start moving. Dont let the clutch out too quickly and make sure you give enough gas or else the bike might stall. Once you start going...let off the rear brake, and off you go.

if your good you do what I do (never done the left foot thing as that comes with too many issues with regards to safety) and just hold the hand brake in and then just give it more gas than usual while letting the clutch out but let go of the brake. not that hard really as I think its easier than trying it in a car. I still dont have the uphill thing down in a clutched car but can do it all day on a bike.

ofblong wrote:if your good you do what I do

What the heck?

I follow the same tactic as Ian522. I'm constantly on hills in the middle of a ton of traffic here in Boston, and I've never had a safety issue. That is the most reliable method for me.

In the end you're going to get a ton of different tactics and you'll need to figure out which works best for you. There are some that will work better/worse for you due to your coordination, height, bike type, hand size, etc.

Ian522 wrote:If im stopped on a hill, I put my left foot down while holding the rear brake with my right foot. When its safe to go, give it some gas and EASE the clutch out. Just keep it in the friction zone and the bike will start moving. Dont let the clutch out too quickly and make sure you give enough gas or else the bike might stall. Once you start going...let off the rear brake, and off you go.

+1

Textbook.

I do the same thing as Nalian, Fast Eddy B and Ian(and a few numbers )...don't know what is meant by the safety issue???

ofblong wrote:if your good you do what I do (never done the left foot thing as that comes with too many issues with regards to safety) and just hold the hand brake in and then just give it more gas than usual while letting the clutch out but let go of the brake. not that hard really as I think its easier than trying it in a car. I still dont have the uphill thing down in a clutched car but can do it all day on a bike.

Modesty is a virtue...

Doesn't it take more skill to balance a bike with one foot then to hold the brake while you twist the the throttle?

Reliability is the key. Either with the front or rear brake, which ever is the most reliable for you, is what you should be doing. Both are just as safe and work equally well, the difference being the rider, not the method.

spin wrote:some tips on hills are appreciated.

You want a tip?

Don't fall!

Picking up a bike on a hill is WAY harder than picking up a bike on flat ground.

... Don't ask how I know.

Sev wrote:
Doesn't it take more skill to balance a bike with one foot then to hold the brake while you twist the the throttle?

I find it easier to have throttle and brake seperated for starts. I know some keep the front brake on while rolling on, but I find it harder.

The other reason for rear brake is in the event of a rear-ender. My trainer in the UK called it the safey position because it would keep the rear tire on the ground in the event of a rear-ender. It's a habit that stuck.

I also remember that two feet down is called the flat- footer for another reason; depending on your lane choice it could get run over!!!