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Had to take off on a hill today. Holy shit. (self.motorcycles)

submitted ago by madi1131'08 Honda Rebel 250r

Well, it is not as easy as it looks! I was just on a small hill and was pulling out onto a back rode, so luckily not much traffic. I ended up rolling backwards about 5 feet, finally felt some power and then I stalled. Luckily I still had my feet near the ground and was able to to catch myself. Second attempt I just opened the throttle and slowly released the clutch and I finally took off. Luckily I am on a Rebel 250, I am sure if I was on something more powerful I would have took off across the street and into the bushes.

Anyways, does anyone have tips or tricks on starting/taking off on a hill?

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[–]ArmaVan 18 points19 points ago

Use the rear brake just enough to prevent you from rolling back. Even with it slightly applied, you can get the wheel moving forward. Release it after you are moving. Practice it a few times in a flat parking lot first. You will get a feel for it very quickly.

[–]Zanorfgor2000 Suzuki SV650 4 points5 points ago

If I may add a bit of elaboration for the uncomfortable new rider. If you are not comfortable stopping and only placing one foot down, go ahead and stop with both feet down. Shift the weight onto the left leg and place the right onto the rear break, then go ahead and release the front break. Slowly let off the rear until the bike just begins to roll backwards, then apply just enough to stop it rolling. Now go ahead and apply throttle (don't be afraid to apply more than usual here) and slowly release the clutch. Like ArmaVan said above, the engine will eventually overpower the break and the bike will start to roll forward (note the clutch may be out a bit further than usual before you start rolling forward). Now go ahead and slowly release the rear break and continue working the throttle and clutch as usual.

This whole rigamarole is kind of awkward the first few times, but it gets to be second nature rather quickly. I'm going to second ArmaVan's recommendation to try this on a flat surface a few times before giving a hill a second go.

[–]PraxisLDCA - 2012 BMW K1600GTLD 1 point2 points ago

Exactly what Zanorfgor said.

Just make sure that your rpms are up high enough that you don't stall, and use the clutch to control the speed at which you move forward. Once you're rolling smoothly forward the clutch will be all the way out and the throttle resumes speed control.

The trick is to be slow and steady with the controls, Anything jerky or grabby is bad, but smooth works every time.

And yes, practice helps here . . .

[–]daven3d2007 Kawasaki Ninja 500R 2 points3 points ago

Living in Colorado, I second this.

As you get more comfortable, you can use throttle control and the friction zone of your clutch to hold your bike in place without using the brake. However, if i'm on a really steep hill, I will use the rear brake instead.

[–]HoWheelsWork2012 Ducati Diavel 2 points3 points ago

I second this. I tend to give way more throttle than I need (about 2k RPM or so) and hold it there, and use the clutch to determine how fast I go, right around the friction zone. Having power to the wheel is absolutely critical in hill situations, and the last thing you want to have happen is to be rolling backwards!

[–]joeverdrive -1 points0 points ago

I don't think the clutch was designed to be a parking brake.

[–]daven3d2007 Kawasaki Ninja 500R 1 point2 points ago

Personally, I think there is a bit of difference between using the friction zone on my clutch for 30 seconds to a minute at a light and using it as a "parking brake" while on a hill. But that is just me.

[–]madi1131'08 Honda Rebel 250r[S] 0 points1 point ago

I went to reach for the rear break, but I lost my balance and had to catch myself since I was actually turning right onto the road. Would it be better to just focus on moving straight forward, and once I get going to worry about making the turn?

[–]ArmaVan 0 points1 point ago

Oh! For sure. Don't jab the brake after you start moving like that. Apply the rear before you even begin moving. If possible, try and pre-position yourself before you stop so that you are pointing more in the direction you intend to turn as well. Helps me at least.

[–]syntheticcodon 0 points1 point ago

If you think about the physics of this technique, it makes a ton of sense.

/Vancouver rider, hill starts are an everyday thing.

[–]Perseus1091982 Suzuki GS850g 0 points1 point ago

I think it is much harder to learn in a stick car. :-) The advice here is all good. :-)

[–]dagbrownSuzuki ST250 Type E 5 points6 points ago

Man, but the state of American motorcycle licensing is sad. This is one of those basic skills, and if you couldn't do it here, you'd fail your license test.

Anyway, what you do is, when you're stopped, you put your left foot down for balance in general. Grab a handful of front brake and clutch, then put your right foot down, shift into first with your left foot, then put it right back down again. Put your right foot onto the brake to hold the bike still. Give it gas to start going, and then slowly let out the clutch until you feel it starting to catch. Then you should be good to let the brake go, and start riding.

Practise it a few times, and you should get the hang of it pretty soon. It really is a basic skill which everyone should be able to do.

[–]madi1131'08 Honda Rebel 250r[S] 4 points5 points ago

Yes, unfortunately anyone with all extremities and basic knowledge about a motorcycle could pass the Florida test. I am not confident enough to go out on a main road, so I have just been riding around my street and the back roads that connect to it.

Thanks for the tip!

[–]PostmanPeter2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 0 points1 point ago

I took the test in Florida as well, it wasn't that easy. It wasn't extremely difficult, but I would say it was far more difficult that my driving test for my regular license.

Anyway, that's what I did as well. Went out into a parking lot, and just did everything I learned in the class, and then just rode really slow through some streets, practicing with the clutch.

[–]lew01f500R 1 point2 points ago

that's good man. Take your time and you'll get it. I've only been riding for half a year but I still go to an empty parking lot and practice slow maneuvers and what not

[–]OftenStupidEXC 200 - Hornet S 2002 1 point2 points ago

What dagbrown said. Don't worry it'll come to you and before you know it you'll be using just the front brake and clutch.

[–]dagbrownSuzuki ST250 Type E 0 points1 point ago

But you don't necessarily need to make it a goal to just use the front brake and clutch to do an uphill start. That's one of those circumstances where the back brake is actually necessary--doing it with just the front brake and clutch is showing off.

Your back brake exists for a reason, and there's no shame in using it when you need to.

[–]OftenStupidEXC 200 - Hornet S 2002 0 points1 point ago

No you don't need to. It just happens. I rarely use the rear brake nowadays*. Also, I wouldn't say it's showing off -I am the first to admit that I am a shitty rider- it's basic competence and it comes naturally.

*in b4 shitstorm: I am referring to uphill starts.

[–]dagbrownSuzuki ST250 Type E 0 points1 point ago

The circumstance where I use the rear brake most often is when I'm sitting on an uphill start, and the lights, which last for an eternity here, are against me. I'll just park my right foot on the rear brake and sit there, giving my hands a rest while the bike itself is in neutral.

The brake-driven uphill start is just a natural consequence of me being stuck at the lights going up a hill.

Even so, the rear brake is like a cheat code for taking off while going uphill. In the license test, one of the elements they test you for is being able to take off half-way up a hill--and if your bike moves back by more than five centimeters (that's a couple of inches in American), you fail the test. It's mainly a test that the rider knows how to work all of the controls on his (or her) bike. If you're not aware of the rear brake and how to work it, you fail the test. I think that's pretty fair.

[–]OftenStupidEXC 200 - Hornet S 2002 0 points1 point ago

Not disagreeing nor dissing your riding skills, sorry if it came across like that!

[–]StumpyHamiltonKLR650 1 point2 points ago

Don't be afraid to slip the clutch. On a bike with a wet clutch, which is most of them, they're designed to be slipped much more than one on a car and you won't hurt it.

[–]gotfondue2010 Ducati 848 0 points1 point ago

Find a hill and practice going up with very slow and steady throttle control.

[–]Goombomb 0 points1 point ago

I can't wait to get a bike. The street where I live is at the bottom of a hill...and ends in a cul-de-sac. Zero traffic, and a rather steep gradient.

Is nice.

[–]lew01f500R 0 points1 point ago

I tried doing what MSF showed us. Using the rear brake, using the clutch in the friction zone, and throttle. I hated both versions of this method (using the front brakes). I only tried both these methods once and never again. Riding a motorcycle is similar to driving a manual transmission sports car, therefore, I used my knowledge of car driving and used, and still use, the clutch in the friction zone. Similar to a car, just feel the around for the grab and your bike wont move back.

[–]fragler2004 Ninja 250 0 points1 point ago

You generally don't want to do this in a car though. The clutch isn't wet like in our bikes and causes a lot of premature wear.

[–]lew01f500R 0 points1 point ago

I agree. I would only do it once in a while and cheat on the steep hills and use the handbrake. Hills are bitch for anything manual transmission when you are first learning though.

[–]n0exit'69 CL350/'75 CB400Four/'80 GL1100 Standard/'11 DL650 1 point2 points ago

Don't be afraid to let your clutch slip. You're not going to burn up a wet clutch as easily as you will a car's dry clutch.

[–]Jeebusify119WA- 1982 CB900C 0 points1 point ago

I got stuck behind a truck following a dump truck up a steep hill, going about 5 mph. The dump truck was in the shoulder obviously allowing the truck to pass him, the truck refused to pass. Needless to say I got a little irritated since a motorcycle is not the easiest thing to balance at 5 mph on a steep hill.

[–]chip812 0 points1 point ago

Practice....

[–]bcbrz2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250R 0 points1 point ago

I've heard of possibly opening up the choke a bit to raise your idle speed (and reducing chance of stall).

While I haven't had issue with the general suggestion (more throttle, slip the clutch), the fast-idle seems decent in theory.

[–]madi1131'08 Honda Rebel 250r[S] 0 points1 point ago

I have never heard of that one, I will have to try it out! Thanks!

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