Uphill starting....in detail for new riders

[Mazer]

http://www.womenridersnow.com/PublicFiles/DepartmentViewer.asp?ArticleID=799

Here is a good informational on starting a motorcycle on a uphill. Pics included.

[TW200_CA]

Wanted to bump this thread for myself and any other new riders that might find it helpful - I know I did!

Living in a very hilly area, my husband and I both encountered the difficulty of starting uphill when we went out to practice last weekend - looking forward to getting out this weekend and giving the techniques suggested here a try (and would appreciate any additional suggestions others on the forum have for starting on a hill).

[VStar]

Thanks for the link, getting proficient with uphill stopping and starting is one of my goals for this spring. The article was helpful and I'll try both techniques, they seem very straightforward on paper but the proof is on the road.

[TW200_CA]

I'm right there with you VStar - getting good at uphill starts is definitely one of my goals for the Spring - not sure how it would be possible ride where I live if you're not!

Good luck to you (and to me!) - let me know if you get any good insights from your practice, I think I can use all the help I can get...:):

[VStar]

Had a chance to practice the uphill starts this weekend, didn't do too badly, only stalled once, when I got too cautious, found that using the foot brake worked better for me that the hand brake. At one point I was holding the throttle on pretty heavy when Hubby said it wasn't a good idea as the bike would shoot out from underneath me. What?! No, that would be like starring in Jackass, the Sequel. There is one very steep, long hill with a light at the top, conquering that bad girl will be a huge milestone for me.

[TW200_CA]

Had a chance to practice the uphill starts this weekend, didn't do too badly, only stalled once, when I got too cautious, found that using the foot brake worked better for me that the hand brake. At one point I was holding the throttle on pretty heavy when Hubby said it wasn't a good idea as the bike would shoot out from underneath me. What?! No, that would be like starring in Jackass, the Sequel. There is one very steep, long hill with a light at the top, conquering that bad girl will be a huge milestone for me.

Hey VStar - glad it's going well for you!! I've been getting lots of practice in - taking the "long way" to and from work when I'm in town.:D: The hills around here (San Francisco) are quite something and I'm starting to get the hang of them - my biggest victory was a super steep, sharp left turn where I was hoping I wouldn't get caught at the light, and unfortunately I did...but I totally made it when the light turned green - got so excited I actually cheered to myself inside my helmet :lol:

I understand what your hubby is saying with the throttle, and my situation is a bit different because the T-dub isn't very powerful, but I actually find being generous with the throttle really helps for me - then the control comes from the clutch. As I said though, probably different on my bike than on most, but FWIW might be worth experimenting with that on a (quiet, gentle) hill :):

[Luna Tique]

Stopping and starting up on hills seems to be one of a new riders biggest fears. Especially with traffic behind you.
Then you start to tackle them proficiently:wootrock::clapping: Congratulations!
Let the cheering begin.
:yahoo:Cheering in your helmet is an acceptable practice :pompom: The beauty of it is noone can quelch your excitment since they can not see that huge smile :D: or hear your shouts:yahoo: inside your helmet.:ecstasy:although shaking your head up and down may give you away :lol:

[ImaSoftT]

:rofl:

[VStar]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, we have a lot of hills in my part of northern Ohio, we ride alot through ski areas, the metro parks have windy roads, love those curves. What I notice on the 1300 that was different on the Vstar 650 I started with is that the bike is always ready to go, just easing off the clutch slightly puts the bike in motion, don't need to give any throttle. I don't know if it's because the 1300 is fuel injected or just has more power. Anyway, HI HO HI HO, it's up the hills I go!

[TW200_CA]

Stopping and starting up on hills seems to be one of a new riders biggest fears. Especially with traffic behind you.
Then you start to tackle them proficiently:wootrock::clapping: Congratulations!
Let the cheering begin.
:yahoo:Cheering in your helmet is an acceptable practice :pompom: The beauty of it is noone can quelch your excitment since they can not see that huge smile :D: or hear your shouts:yahoo: inside your helmet.:ecstasy:although shaking your head up and down may give you away :lol:

Haha - good to know I"m not the only one (or *quite* as huge a nerd as I assumed) for cheering myself (and the bike, now named "Roxie"), on inside my helmet :D:

VStar - your 1300 for sure sounds completely different than the 'dub - I've had to get VERY friendly with the throttle, especially on the hills around here in San Francisco. Even though I don't add much weight compared to what most bikes are designed for, she just isn't a very powerful bike (though I understand she gets more torquey after break-in, which I'm busy trying to get through...).

Your roads sound beautiful - I'm sure you won't even think about the hills anymore by the end of this riding season :D::thumbsup:

[VStar]

OK, was able to ride on Saturday for the first time since the 10th, Hubby and I had no particular place to go, stopped at some friends, he looked at the bike, I looked at jewelry, my friend makes jewelry and I want her to make me a cool pair of earrings to wear while riding, in the perfect red. I know, sounds frivilous and too girly, it is. Now we're on the way home, going up a road that has a long S curve with a light at the top, it's actually one of my boogeyman hills, always avoid it, but not now. Hubby is coaching me on the way up, had me gear down, let me go ahead, up, up, around the curve, still going, up and around the next, a couple of cars ahead, they're still going, round the last curve, GREEN LIGHT!! "Thankyouthankyouthankyou", quick left turn, home we go. I lucked out this time, but next time that light will be red, I'll be stopped, 6 cars down the hill, going "ohsheetohsheetohsheet".

[ridingAK]

I lucked out this time, but next time that light will be red, I'll be stopped, 6 cars down the hill, going "ohsheetohsheetohsheet".

Just stay calm, use your foot on the brake, hands on throttle and clutch, and you'll do fine. :):

[VStar]

I know the way it's supposed to go, have been practicing it on smaller inclines and have done ok, but I had this awful vision of over-throttling, the bike shooting out from under me, doing a somersault and landing on my sprawled body, like a "Jackass Movie".

[ridingAK]

:lol:

[zee]

:rofl:

You'll do great!

[TW200_CA]

:rofl:

You'll do great!

Ditto - you'll do awesome.

We have so many hills near me, I get so sick of the stop signs on the steep hills - the 10th or 11th one in a row will have me looking sort of like this: :scared:

The thing that helps me the most though is focusing on giving it plenty of throttle and getting control with the rear brake and easing out the clutch - this is where knowing your friction zone is key. I don't do it perfectly every time by a long shot, but if you can use your rear brake to keep from sliding back, and ease out until you feel the clutch engage, you'll be on your way before you know it :D:

Here is my personal nemesis hill - the pic doesn't really capture how steep it is (there is also a stop sign now right at that first corner just beyond the white sign), but I got caught here on my way home from work the other day (taking the scenic route) with a huge long line of cars behind me :scared::eek:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=arguello+and+washington+blvd,+san+francisco,+ca&aq=&sll=37.793457,-122.45945&sspn=0.007563,0.016866&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Arguello+Blvd+%26+Washington+Blvd,+San+Franc isco,+California+94129&ll=37.793139,-122.461354&spn=0.000954,0.002108&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.793237,-122.46137&panoid=GdgAywPZs9gVjXmy1uL2tA&cbp=12,212.69,,0,11.74

[Cyclone67]

VStar, you should see if you can conquer that hill at a time you won't have to deal with traffic. Make a special trip and get it over with!

[Luna Tique]

VStar, you should see if you can conquer that hill at a time you won't have to deal with traffic. Make a special trip and get it over with!

Try early on a Sunday morning.:thumbup:
I find ( at least around here) during those morning hours it tends to have the least amount of traffic on the roads

[VStar]

That is an excellent idea, if the weather's nice on Saturday, I may try tackling that hill earlier in the morning, I can make stops all the way up.

[Luna Tique]

:popcorn1:

[VStar]

Friday, early afternoon, coming home from Amish country with saddle bags full of cheese, trappist monk jam, chic chic salsa, perfect Ohio summer day, bought new perforated gloves from Shadetree, heading north on Rte 306, hubby is in the lead, still in the left lane, not moving right to make the turn at the bottom of THE HILL!
Ok, I see where this is going, he's taking me up IT, he must think I don't notice, does he think I'll figure it out half way up and spazz out? Not me, not today, it's cool, I'm cool, gearing down, travelling up, make the left turn at the top, home again, home again, jiggety jig. hill Done! Next!

[ImaSoftT]

:clapping::clapping: Wish I could find a "Was there ever any doubt I could do it" Smiley, we so need one right here. Good job VStar.

[ridingAK]

:congrats: on a challenge met!

[terraunbound]

:yahoo:Way to take That Hill! Way to go Vstar!

And what made it - easier - this time?

[Dualsport Chic]

Hurray V-Star!!! Another challenge down!!

:wootrock:

[phoenix63]

Friday, early afternoon, coming home from Amish country with saddle bags full of cheese, trappist monk jam, chic chic salsa, perfect Ohio summer day, bought new perforated gloves from Shadetree, heading north on Rte 306, hubby is in the lead, still in the left lane, not moving right to make the turn at the bottom of THE HILL!
Ok, I see where this is going, he's taking me up IT, he must think I don't notice, does he think I'll figure it out half way up and spazz out? Not me, not today, it's cool, I'm cool, gearing down, travelling up, make the left turn at the top, home again, home again, jiggety jig. hill Done! Next!

:ecstasy: Awesome, awesome, AWESOME! Way to go! I wanna be YOU when I grow up! :wootrock:

[TW200_CA]

AWESOME V-Star!!:pompom::smiley:

[chienjouet]

http://www.womenridersnow.com/PublicFiles/DepartmentViewer.asp?ArticleID=799

Here is a good informational on starting a motorcycle on a uphill. Pics included.

What a great site you referred to! Thanks!

[Mache62]

Perfect timing for this post! This exactly my trouble spot right now!

Thank you! :thumbsup: