Hi

I have not done any off roading before. Im hoping to head off round Europe soon but at the weekend dropped my bike for the first time and realised I would do the same again in the same situation. I was on a rutted grassy hill with a side camber.

Any tips for taking off when on a hill with a side camber?

If Im on a steep hill going down and also rising to my left I can put my feet down just enough not to topple over, but even if I lean the bike to the left, when I put my foot on the back break I will topple over. So I cannot let go of the front break but If I can not let go of the front break how do I turn the throttle to take off???

Ive got a feeling Im being a bit stupid but having a block and reservations on my riding skills for the first time.


I also cannot lean the bike at too much of an angle as Im pretty tiny and the bike is huge!!!! just looking for some tips really to get my confidence back.

Interesting. I grew up in Germany and don't recall ever having been in that situation. OK, in Germany you can't get off the road.

I see two options:

1. you stay on roads, or at least formed tracks and you will never be in that situation.

2. you want to do some 'off-road' riding. Do a training course. Take your bike with you and show it to the trainer.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

hi

I didnt plan to off road it was the camp site.

There are also a lot of roads that have hills with very steep cambers in England. I came accross one in the Derbyshire hills recently, but had some male friends with me who kindly turned my bike around and moved it down the hill so it was in a flat part, and only facing up hill with no side camber.

Hi

Have you looked at ways of lowering your bike or the seat foam to help?

Because my choke won't stick out I'm quite often in a position of holding the front brake with one finger whilst revving the bike, I think I've used the same technique off road at times.

Best of luck and have fun learning.

All fun and games mate

For front brake and throttle: Use the palm of your hand/base of your thumb to hold the throttle open and hold the brake lever in with your fingers. Open the throttle to a point where you know the bike wont stall and keep it steady at that amount of revs - the aim is to keep a steady throttle. Now you can feather out the clutch slowly until you feel the biting point (bike will pull you forwards a little) then slowly release the brake whilst letting out the clutch. It's just clutch control but using the front brake to hold the bike back until you have enough revs to let it go. Once you are moving remember that you will be going uphill, so you need to progressively give it more throttle.

Alter the technique as you feel comfortble using more fingers to control the throttle as necessary. Dont worry about revving the bike hard at first or about using too much clutch; you will get the hang of it quickly enough (but if it takes a while, give your clutch a break every now and again to let it cool down). Dont touch the rear brake - use both feet for balance and paddling along if necessary.

Check to see if your brake lever is at an optimum position for your hands and adjust angle and slack as desired (your manual will have this information in it).

Practice on flat ground, then practice some more, and then some more!

Hopes this makes sense and I will qualify this with a statement that I have not been trained in any way. This is just how I do it.

And yeah, the above advice about training schools, lowering the bike and maybe getting a smaller bike is all good stuff.

Nail it next time amigo.

Best not to stop on off camber downhill sections (or up hill either) Wet grass is tricky. I suggest knobbies at a minimum. Street tires will slip and have you off.

Smaller bike is always best.

When riding Down hill, with hill side going UP to your left, keep your weight on right side (downhill) peg. Of course you are standing up, right? This seems counter intuitive but is correct.

Starting out, Head a bit down hill to minimize camber, stand up, weight outside pet, look where you want to go. Very gently throttle input, no brakes. Now straighten up and
re-take your line.

Pretty much same technique for going up hill with off camber.

A heavy street bike with street tires is not meant for wet grass with mud under. Don't start or stop on off camber sections. Push on to flat area. Maintain enough speed so as not to topple over.

Practice practice practice!!! (get a Trails Bike)