Very steep hill serperates me from my job.

**Simbaah777** · 02-04-2010, 03:13 AM

On the way to work is a hug hill kinda curves a little too, its pretty intimidating, Kinda worried about getting plowed by caged drivers or blowing into another lane and wonder what gear should I be in going down a really steep hill and what gear is best to go up a steep hill, Ive rode my rebel alot but still havent got up the nerve to pass the hill so as for now I go to work in the cage. And hitting the curved part at the bottom of the hill looks like if I didnt break alot I would lose control but also dont wanna get plowed going down to slow. Any tips would be appreciated.

**flitecontrol** · 02-04-2010, 10:51 AM

Is there a time of day when there is little traffic on the hill? Maybe weekends? If yes, I would practice on the hill at those times. Start off slow but in the upper ranges of whatever gear you are in. This will maximize acceleration and deceleration (motor braking). If you need to slow down, downshift to whatever gear you feel comfortable with and/or brake. In good road conditions, you should be able to take the curves as fast or faster than you could in a cage (assuming your Rebel has sufficient power to do so.).

Most riders, both new and experienced, do not fully utilize the bike's capabilities. If you get into a situation where you feel you won't be able to make a curve without drifting into oncoming traffic and it's too late to brake; trust the bike. Lean it over more and look where you want to go. The bike will take you there.

JunkyardDog · 02-04-2010, 11:48 AM

I have ridden my Rebel quite a bit in the mountains, where there are some very steep hills. It goes fro 1000 feet to 7700 feet in less than 100 miles, with lots of ups and downs and lots of curves. It used to be my favorite road to ride sportbikes on back when I was able to ride those. This road has 2 lanes going in each direction, the a mountain on one side, and a major drop off on the other, so there is no room to run off the road. As long as you stay in the right lane, you are fine. The Rebel will climb anything, just not fast. You just have to downshift it enough to keep the engine spinning in in it's powerband, just like a fully loaded 18 wheeler, which I have also driven on this road. I have outrun a number of them with the Rebel going uphill. The Rebel will not usually keep up with the speed limit on steep hills, don't expect it to. Main thing going uphill is to keep downshift enough to keep from lugging the engine. Going down, especially on steep downgrades with sharp turns, is a combination of braking skill and leaning the bike over. If you are a fairly new rider, or new to riding curves, don't be afraid to lean the bike over. It will lean over a lot more than you probably think it will. Countersteer into the curves, keeping pressure on the bars, and if you start to go to the outside of the curve, put more pressure on the bars. That will lean the bike over even farther. The Rebel is not a sportbike, but you can take curves a lot faster on it than most people think. The farther it is leaned over, the sharper it will turn. If you want to learn about how to take curves at high speed, I suggest reading Keith Code's book "A Twist of the Wrist". It explains things very well. Jerry.

**Guba** · 02-05-2010, 02:36 AM

Ride as you see fit! If you need to slow down, then do it! You don't hear about bikes being run over from behind so much as cars pulling out in front of on coming bikes. Ride within your limits. The best teacher is experience, without it you won't know what's best for you. If you think it might be too gusty, then stay centered and judge from there. The bike can be put into quite a lean without losing it's feet. If a car can do so-and-so speed on a curve, then the Reb can do better! Just build up some experience as you feel comfortable doing.

**Simbaah777** · 02-05-2010, 06:13 AM

Ive never been much of a dare devil or gambler I like to calculate every step I make, before I even started riding motorcyles I looked up all kinds of motorcycle accidents online just to get a fill of what to watch out for, I like cruising between 45 and 55 I dont really like the sport bikes, I like the old school look better and I dont like riding really fast, I like to relax and just cruise. Good point your more likely to have someone pull out in front of you that hit you from behind but I still hate people who tail gate motorcycles that should be a wanten endangerment charge for real for people who do that. Even before I ever though about riding bikes I would get mad when I saw a car tail gating somebody on a motorcycle. But yeah the best time to practice in places that normally have dense traffic is from 1am to 3am not on weekends cuz the drunks are out then. And not making fun of old people but outside of a car they are harmless but inside of a car they are dangerous especially to bikers lol

**flitecontrol** · 02-05-2010, 07:01 AM

A good tip from the internet for motorcycle tailgaters; put your left arm down and slowly "wave" them back. Works about 80% of the time for me. If they back off, be sure to thank them by giving the thumbs up signal. If they don't, slow down and let them pass or pull over. Allowing a tailgater to stay on your fanny is asking for trouble!

**Guba** · 02-06-2010, 02:37 AM

Whatever you do, don't let traffic pressure you into doing something that's unsafe for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On a bike you have more road hazards than a car/cage has. On a hot day, tar gets pretty slippy. After a heavy rain, there might be sandy spots on the road where you need to make a turn. On a light rain, your dealing with all the slip from worn tires that hasn't washed away. The cages might not see "your" road hazards, but you will. So you need to ride as you see fit. Back to my first sentence.

I hear ya on the 45-55 speed range. You don't have to go like a bat out of hell to have fun.

**rebelCAFE** · 02-06-2010, 05:28 AM

amen to that brother GUBA! personally, when i go on road trips i try to take the not so traveled roads so i can cruise at about 45 mph. its just more enjoyable that way to me, plus i catch alot more of the scenery. thats the point of a rod trip anyway, to enjoy the ride, not to see who gets there first.

**Colours** · 03-13-2010, 06:54 AM

yesterday had one guy who was not only tailgating (about one and half bike lengths behind me) in a 40 mph zone but on the phone as well.....even going around a roundabout!

JunkyardDog · 03-13-2010, 12:04 PM

Definitely don't ride beyond your limits, but it is not a good idea to ride right on the edge of your limits either, build your skill level as you ride. It will take time. As for tailgaters, whether I'm on a bike or in a cage, if someone gets too close, and there is obviously room for them to pass, I start slowing down, till they finally pass. If you are i the right lane of a road with 2 or more lanes going in the same direction, you have the right to go as slow as you need to. I have ridden my Vino 125 scooter up in the mountains, and it will get down to 20 mph on some long steep climbs. But I just stay in the right lane and keep going. The left lane is there so others can go around. Jerry.

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