Since I'm still pretty inexperienced, is it bad/hurtful to my tranny to roll backward in first gear on uphills? I should be using my footbrake but instead I'm braking with the front and using the clutch and throttle to get me going when I accelerate.
Since I'm still pretty inexperienced, is it bad/hurtful to my tranny to roll backward in first gear on uphills? I should be using my footbrake but instead I'm braking with the front and using the clutch and throttle to get me going when I accelerate.
LOL My friend on his 250 hates hills. For some reason he can't use the foot brake either. It's not that bad, similar to starting a car up a monster hill using the E-brake. I havn't seen hills worthy for that in the US but in Colombia, I've gone through some pretty scary stuff on hills +manual cars+noob.
hold the rear brake, rev to like 3k rpm, feather out the clutch while slowly releasing the brake. That's how I do it, please correct me if I'm wrong!
I still practice on my driveway since I use the rear break method all the time. When I practice I often still kill the engine. lol
Some of the hilly streets in San Francisco are still intimidating to me and I don't even try the front break and feathering technique. Maybe one of these days.
Yeah, the more you practice you will get better at it and will do it without even needing to think about it. I could never get used to the rear brake method.
Yeah, the more you practice you will get better at it and will do it without even needing to think about it. I could never get used to the rear brake method.
Did I what? I got good at letting the clutch out quickly but smoothly, and never use the rear brake to hold me there. I could never get used to using that method. Since I am so tall, holding the bike there with my feet usually works well if it is a steep incline.
I hold the rear brake, get the gas to 3k RPM, let out the clutch to the friction point, then let off the rear brake and gooooo
No roll back even if I let off the brake though, I've driven manual cars for the last 70000 miles of my driving career so im pretty good with a clutch haha
I live in the flat lands of the mid-west. So my bike doesn't roll back. But I usually use the front brake, then roll the throttle and feather the clutch. Again, I suck, LMAO! god we need to build some hills...............
1) Hold clutch and front brake.
2) Press foot brake.
3) Release front brake.
4) Bring RPM up to 2k, maybe more depending on hill.
5) Feather clutch until bike starts to pull.
6) Simultaneously and slowly release brake and clutch until engine grabs and starts moving.
7) Give more throttle to keep moving and balance the equation.
8)Smile and ride away.
It takes some practice, but you'll get it. And as far as feathering the clutch at a red light, how would the engine/ tranny know the difference when you are rocking back and forth? The thing to be careful is not to sit there with the clutch only partially held to balance engine pull and tranny friction. That could be bad.
I use the front, easing off as the bike starts to pull ahead. I don't see how this is different than using the rear, other than I find it easier and more stable. I've been doing it this way for years and have never heard of using the rear brake until this thread.
I use the front, easing of as the bike starts to pull ahead. I don't see how this is different than using the rear, other than I find it easier and more stable. I've been doing it this way for years and have never heard of using the rear brake until this thread.
Same here! This is the first mention of using the rear brake on hills that I have seen. I would prefer to keep both feet on the ground while on a hill and just use the front brake with feathering the clutch. I've had no trouble with hills, and that's the method I prefer.
I've had a couple times where my hand has slipped trying to roll the throttle back and maintain the brake pressure. Having said that, those times were without gloves, but with gloves it just seems too tight.
I've gotten to the point, around here in GA, where I'll sit in neutral with my hand on the front brake, then kick down and start off before the roll even begins. We have some interesting spots here, nothing like San Fran, but hilly nonetheless. I was just trying to give him a checklist to get started and feeling comfy, then as his skill improves, he'll learn his own method better.
I've never used the e-brake to start a car uphill. I just learned early on really good clutch control in a car, so you can get from break to accelerator and feather that clutch perfect, and roll back maybe a foot or less.
Same with the bike. I've never even thought to use the foot brake. Just feather the clutch right and you won't roll back. Heck, alot of time when I am sitting at a light on a hill I just rock the bike back and forth using the clutch and accel, just to practice. Just a subconscious thing, cue I would do that in the car sometimes. Just find and release that clutch point over and over. Doing it quick on and off like that on a hill is great practice. Will help you down the road avoid panickkiing and giving too much throttle and laying it down.
