Incline question

[MJ]

My husband and I went out riding last night and had a great ride. I only killed the bike once when taking off from a stop sign. DH had no other verbal concerns about the rest of my take-offs even on the speed. (Thanks again Brent for the tip about the rotating my wrist).

My main problem arose when we arrived home. We have a long single wide driveway which flares out a little wider at the end right before the garage. Right where the drive flares out we have a large commerical dumpster sitting there (we're remodeling the house). I have to swerve to the right to miss it, still stay on the drive not the grass, keep my feet up, and then swerve back to the left once I get around it (cause I park on the left hand side of the garage and the Harley gets the right side). When you get around the dumpster the driveway inclines slightly.

I was feeling rather good last night cause I managed to do all that and get the bike stopped in plenty of time before the garage door and didn't kill the bike. I've had problems with releasing the clutch too soon and stalling the bike out or putting my feet down too soon. I should be to ride around the dumpster and get to my spot of the driveway smoothly. Harder for me than it sounds.

Once the garage door is opened the floor is painted concrete which is rather slick (in my humble opinion) plus I have to watch the Harley on the right and the tool chests on the left and straight ahead.

Now my problem - how in the world do I release the brake and ease the clutch out into the friction zone until the clutch engages without the bike roll backwards on the incline? I'm a little leary I know of giving too much gas cause of all the obstacles in the garage. Last night the bike rolled back several times before I finally got up the incline and into the garage. I did forget to let the clutch grab as I released the brake. I still don't understand though how when I'm on an incline I'm supposed to NOT roll backwards at all. :? :?

"You're get it in time" doesn't help. Any tips?

[rcoolbaugh]

I use two techniques, depending on the hill. If it's steep I keep my foot on the rear brake (and hand on the front until just before I start). I ease out on the clutch and give a bit of throttle until the clutch just starts to grab, then ease up on the rear brake as I start moving. On smaller inclines I just use the front brake and ease out the clutch (no throttle) until I just feel a bit of grab, then release the brake and roll a bit of throttle on.

You really need to find a small incline to practice on.

[ddouble]

rcool hit it. Practice the friction zone. Ease out the clutch until you just feel it start to pull. you can hold the bike on an incline with this. I wouldn't recommend holding it a long time but long enough to release the brake and roll on the throttle.

When my oldest son was learning to drive the car I bought him was a stick. He had no end of trouble starting out, failed his drivers test too :oops: . There was a small dip at the end of our drive. I showed him that the car would pull out of the dip into the drive with no throttle using the friction zone. He practiced for three days, he now won't buy anything but a stick and is very easy on his clutch.

PS: Did the same for two others and will with the fourth. If they can drive a stick they can drive anything.

Dan

[MJ]

Again - thanks everyone.

I tried the rear brake last night and it worked perfectly, HOWEVER, hubby still says I need to learn how to do the maneuver using only the clutch and the front brake. I agree but for right now until I get more comfortable with the bike and my riding skills I'm gonna use the rear brake and practice the other when he's not around.

[NuBiker]

Hi MJ,
Look for the "Ride Like A Pro" DVD on the internet. That guy advises using the rear brake and clutch for low speed manuvers.
Also, practice using Rcoolbaugh's technique on level ground. I use that technique everytime I come to a stop on the bike, including when I ride two up. (I waited until I had 10k miles under my belt b/4 riding with a passenger).
Best Regards,
NuBiker

[MJ]

I keep hearing about the "Ride Like A Pro" DVD. Guess I really need to get a copy.

[txsizzler]

Ditto.. if anything, it would be an entertaining watch, if not informative.