Starting out on a hill

[Gcs172]

What is the best method for starting out from a stop on a steep hill on a medium powered bike? Which brake do you hold with? Thanks for your help. Gcs172

[icariz83]

Well you won't really roll backwards if your feet are down. I usually disengage the clutch with my feet on the ground so while the clutch is letting out I'm starting to move.

If that makes any sense. In other words let the clutch out before you pick your feet up?

Is that the problem?

[DJGroove]

I put only my left foot down and hold the rear brake down. When you want to start, give it a good amount of gas and slowly release the clutch.

I wouldn't advise using both of your feet to keep you from rolling backwards, that's what brakes are for.

[ZooTech]

On a steep hill I just squeeze the front brake with my middle and ring fingers and roll on the throttle with my pinky, thumb, and forefinger when it's time to go.

[DivideOverflow]

I use rear break to hold it still, squeeze in clutch, apply throttle, and simultaneously release rear break and smoothly engage throttle.

But you really wont roll too far between the time you let go of the front break and apply throttle...

[Relsek]

What is the best method for starting out from a stop on a steep hill on a medium powered bike? Which brake do you hold with? Thanks for your help. Gcs172

What's a hill? We don't have those in Florida.

Kev

[blues2cruise]

I use rear break to hold it still, squeeze in clutch, apply throttle, and simultaneously release rear break and smoothly engage throttle.

But you really wont roll too far between the time you let go of the front break and apply throttle...

I also keep my foot on the brake and when the time comes to move, I roll the throttle and release the clutch and when I feel that it has engaged, I release my foot.

Sometimes car drivers will pull in so close behind you (like in rush hour traffic) that I don't want any roll back at all. Unlike in florida, we have lots and lots of hills around here. You get very good at hill starts quickly.

[Craig7220]

Yep, I use the same procedure as blues stated. And it will work on any hill with alittle practice.

[kentuckyfried]

Do any of you live in San Francisco?

What's the recommended procedure for riding up steep hills, like California street? I really can pull this off with just the application of the rear brake? How do you guys stabilize the bike so that it doesn't drop to either side or wheelie by accident?

Places like that scare the crap out of me when I drive my manual car. The saving grace of it though is that I can cheat by using the handbrake to hold the car's position and prevent from careening into any car behind me.

I can only imagine the stress of trying to do the same on a steep incline without having the bike roll backward or worse, flopping over with a gigantic crash to either side.

[ZooTech]

Do any of you live in San Francisco?

What's the recommended procedure for riding up steep hills, like California street? I really can pull this off with just the application of the rear brake? How do you guys stabilize the bike so that it doesn't drop to either side or wheelie by accident?

Places like that scare the "crumb" out of me when I drive my manual car. The saving grace of it though is that I can cheat by using the handbrake to hold the car's position and prevent from careening into any car behind me.

I can only imagine the stress of trying to do the same on a steep incline without having the bike roll backward or worse, flopping over with a gigantic crash to either side.

That' when using the front brake is more appropriate. Put both feet down and use your middle and ring fingers to squeeze the front brake. When it's time to go, grip the throttle with the tips of your thumb, index, and pinky fingers and give it gas while releasing the brake with your other two fingers. By the time your brake disengages your clutch should be in the friction zone so you won't roll backward.