Hill Starts

[MattShill]

I've only ever done one well and that was my first attepmt. Since then it's been horrible all the way. From safety position, footbrake on am I right in thinking you have to bring the revs up, take the brake off and let the clutch in simultaneously? I get a horrible grinding sound which it seems is either A) the clutch not engaging properly (due to trying to turn the wheel with the brake on?) or B) the wheel spinning as it's suddenly let loose with a load of power behind it.

What's the generally accepted method?
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Living life in the second overtaking lane!

'98 Kwak ER-5

[G]

You need to practice slipping the clutch.

Unless you're riding a drag bike, the clutch and throttle are not switches .

Don't do it for too long, as it can wear away the clutch, but shouldn't be too bad on a low powered bike.
Let the clutch out slowly, you should start to feel the bike push forards a bit against the brake.

If you keep the revs constant the engine will slowly drop revs until it dies.

To do the start you combine this with letting the brake out as you let the clutch out slowly.

On the flat you may not need to increase the revs, but on a hil you will need to increase them. Initially as the revs start to die, you can put a few more revs on to keep the engine running at the same or higher rpm.

Practice on the flat until you get a good smooth pullaway using this technique, then start to move on to steeper roads.

So - you start with low revs and clutch in with brake on. You probably want a bit more than ideal rpm, so may be 2k or 3k rpm if you have a tacho to measure them with.
The let the clutch out slowly until you start to feel the bike push against the brake, at this point let the brake out slowly as you continue to let the clutch out, turning the throttle to compensate for the revs dropping, if they do.

Don't worry, it all comse fairly naturely once you get used to it.
The same technique is also often used on fast starts - but on a small bike you're probably holding the engine near peak revs and slipping the clutch right up 'till that point! (Don't try that yet though, ).

[MattShill]

Thanks, that's great.
____________________
Living life in the second overtaking lane!

'98 Kwak ER-5

[Tom C RX50]

Dont know whether you will have this problem but I ride a 50 that has absolutely no low down power at all, in order to pull away without stalling or the bike barely movinf i find a good way is get the revs pretty high and just let the clutch out a bit, that way you can crawl if the car in front is pullin awai slow and then let it out fully to increase speed. All the best
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