Hill Takeoffs

[Shadow Monarch]

Hey guys,
I live in a rather hilly area here in PA and I've been having some serious trouble with takeoffs.

I try to keep the bike at around 2500-3000 rpm when letting out the clutch. But when on a hill I ALWAYS seem to stall the bike, even when applying more gas as I feel it engage. Am I just being too conservative with the throttle? I guess I am kind of afraid of lurching the bike away from me by giving too much.

Any advice will be awesome!!

P.S. I am also taking the MSF this week but wanted to be more prepared for when I get there!

[Trailerboy531]

It's a 250, if you completely dump the clutch at 9K you will pop a wheel up. If you let it out smoothly you'll be fine. So think that having a smooth yet fairly quick release at 7 wont cause problems at all.

Work your way up to what you're comfortable with.

[alex.s]

4000 uphill... minimum. theres almost no power under that. if you are on flat ground its easier for the bike to go so you need less gas

[Alex]

How are you holding the bike steady before you take off? On steep hills I find it helpful to hold the bike with the rear brake, then let it release gradually as the bike starts moving forward. That way you don't have to transition from the front brake to throttle while also feeding in the clutch smoothly.

[loz944]

[Miles_Prower]

i lasso the car in front of me and have it pull me up the hill

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by Alex

How are you holding the bike steady before you take off? On steep hills I find it helpful to hold the bike with the rear brake, then let it release gradually as the bike starts moving forward. That way you don't have to transition from the front brake to throttle while also feeding in the clutch smoothly.

+1

[arnoldc6]

To put it in simple words.. "feel the clutch". I don't know how steep you hill slope is but you can basic feel your bike ready to go.
Not the most helpful advise but I tired.
I managed to lose all momentum on a steep parking lot driveway before.. had to actually push it up while downshifting. Worst tricep exercise I ever had.
Btw don't expect a hell of a lot from MSF class..all it does to me is give me a big insurance discount and a lieces waiver.. I basically learnt on real daily riding.

[Maielstrom]

Originally Posted by arnoldc6

To put it in simple words.. "feel the clutch". I don't know how steep you hill slope is but you can basic feel your bike ready to go.
Not the most helpful advise but I tired.
I managed to lose all momentum on a steep parking lot driveway before.. had to actually push it up while downshifting. Worst tricep exercise I ever had.
Btw don't expect a hell of a lot from MSF class..all it does to me is give me a big insurance discount and a lieces waiver.. I basically learnt on real daily riding.

Basically this and what Alex said. I find it easiest to hold the bike stationary with the foot brake, gas it, then ease on the clutch until I feel it catch and start moving forward. You'll definitely get better with it the more you ride, my spot in NY is rather hilly as well, and I stalled out a lot on a hill just practicing around my neighborhood. I got comfortable with it and haven't had any problems at all, even on an annoying hill that was stop and go traffic.
To go off what arnold said about the MSF class, it is wonderful for new riders, but there is a lot more you develop from just riding. I went into the course with only about 5 hours experience, so I had the bare basics down (essentially just getting the bike to move). When I was done, I was a much better rider and didn't have the issues I went into the course with (out of those 5 hours, 2 or 3 were spent not stalling the bike shifting from neutral to first). Afterwards, I spent about a week riding around my neighborhood so I could be entirely comfortable riding around on actual roads in traffic.
Best wishes to you on the MSF and just keep ridin!

[rawbert625]

Originally Posted by arnoldc6

To put it in simple words.. "feel the clutch". I don't know how steep you hill slope is but you can basic feel your bike ready to go.
Not the most helpful advise but I tired.
I managed to lose all momentum on a steep parking lot driveway before.. had to actually push it up while downshifting. Worst tricep exercise I ever had.
Btw don't expect a hell of a lot from MSF class..all it does to me is give me a big insurance discount and a lieces waiver.. I basically learnt on real daily riding.

Actually you learn quite a bit as long as you keep an open mind and pay attention. They even go over how to take off up-hill and many and many other useful skills.

[arnoldc6]

Originally Posted by rawbert625

Actually you learn quite a bit as long as you keep an open mind and pay attention. They even go over how to take off up-hill and many and many other useful skills.

I wish they talk about that in my class..I am not saying it's bad of course, but all we go over were the exact same thing as the MOST road test.

[ninja250r81]

in aussie we have a course called "stay upright" we have to do before getting our l's licence.

in this course if you are doing a hill start you,

hold the bike with the rear brake
fast idle around 3000 rpm
let the clutch out till it grabs like a manual car
accelerate while clutching
slowly release the rear brake
and off you go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIuFME-9xr0

[R1Chronicles]

Try this, some might dis-agree with it, it's how I have taught people fine clutch control.

On a flat surface using only your clutch get your bike moving with idle only no throttle allowed. This will teach you fine control of the clutch, requiring you to use fine clutch movements in and out so you don't stall out. this transfers well to hill starts and can reduce the need for over rev'ing.

[userjh160]

The other scary thing about being uphill is when a cager is right on your butt leaving no room to roll back, that gets the ol' nerves going especially when your a newbie I did use my back brake and it helped alot b/c I couldn't work the front brake and throttle at first with one hand - working on that too

[diablos991]

I always use my back brake to avoid rolling backwards, rev to the appropriate RPM, release back brake as I ease into the friction zone.

Wait until you get into this position when riding with a passenger. It takes a decent amount of RPMs to make a smooth takeoff with that kind of load.

[massacremasses]

I dont think I have ever had this problem. Its easier than in a car.

[Kevin2109]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

I dont think I have ever had this problem. Its easier than in a car.

Hell yeah, much easier


I use my front brake on hills and never have a problem, just release the brake and clutch at the same time as you roll on the throttle

[massacremasses]

I use my back brake. Easier for me.

[lgk]

Originally Posted by userjh160

The other scary thing about being uphill is when a cager is right on your butt leaving no room to roll back, that gets the ol' nerves going especially when your a newbie I did use my back brake and it helped alot b/c I couldn't work the front brake and throttle at first with one hand - working on that too

just roll backwards until you touch their bumper.
then just take off like normal...

nm, just do what alex said.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by massacremasses

I dont think I have ever had this problem. Its easier than in a car.

+1

But in a car, you have the parking brake as an option as well for the really steep hills. I've only done it enough in practice to have that as an option if needed. Never needed it on the road though.
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[massacremasses]

parking brake is awkward because you need your hand too. You dont need your right foot for anything other than breaking...

[choneofakind]

Yeah its a weird feeling.

so much easier on a bike.
Posted via Mobile Device

[massacremasses]

well idk if its weird. I can not move, or move very little on a hill with a manual now. But Ive been driving one since 16. So ive had about 9 years of practice.

[choneofakind]

dude, a month after getting my temps, my dad took me to an old WalMart and taught me how to drive stick. Then he said, "I'm don't feel like driving home. I drove you here" haha I've been driving stick since. 4 years and counting, after riding in a manual car and learning what doing it right (and wrong) feels like since the car was new in 1995. I'm a pro. even taught myself to heel-toe in that car
Posted via Mobile Device

[massacremasses]

idk what that is.

[lgk]

basically braking, clutch, shifting, and blipping the throttle at the same time.

[Minikin_Jo]

Originally Posted by Shadow Monarch

Hey guys,
I live in a rather hilly area here in PA and I've been having some serious trouble with takeoffs.

I try to keep the bike at around 2500-3000 rpm when letting out the clutch. But when on a hill I ALWAYS seem to stall the bike, even when applying more gas as I feel it engage. Am I just being too conservative with the throttle? I guess I am kind of afraid of lurching the bike away from me by giving too much.

Any advice will be awesome!!

P.S. I am also taking the MSF this week but wanted to be more prepared for when I get there!

I had the same problem when I first started out. I didn't realize I needed to open the throttle moreso on a hill than on flat ground until someone else on this forum told me. I keep my back brake on and do the throttle and the clutch thing until it pulls me and I can go forward. It takes getting used to.

And someone above said something about the hand brake and throttle thing at the same time....I guess if your hands are big enough that works! Mine are not! If I'm not careful when I pull in the brake I'm accidentally rolling on the throttle at the same time. :/ I learned real quick to not do that!

[NJfinest50]

My house has a ridiculously graded driveway. I use alex's technique. Sucks backing out...

[himynameisjoe]

on the rear brake and even 4000 is low for a hill lol I think I'm usually at 6 or 7k. You just need to have a smooth clutch control and being able to smoothly let off that rear brake.

I didn't have a choice but to learn this very quickly as there was several large hills with stoplights before them on my ride home from the dealer!