Riding a motorcycle down a hill?

Question

I am a first time rider and I want to know how do you go down a steep hill, what speed should I be going, do I continually keep on the brakes, should I use just the front just the rear or both. On my way home after work I have to go down a hill thats about at a 45 degree angle, or steeper. It runs about a mile long, maybe 3/4 of a mile I haven't really checked. Going up the hill is fine, but im not sure how to get down. Im at work right now and im kind of freaking out about going down hill. Oh and I ride a 07 Yamaha R6s, My wife surprised me with it. Don't worry im on my lunch break. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Down that steep a grade, your front wheel will be carrying most of the weight under any type of braking. Your back tire will easily lock. Engine braking is a good idea for long rides down gentle slopes, such as 10-20 degrees. I think for 45 degrees, you'll find engine braking quite limited. There is severely limited traction on the rear tire, and the force of gravity is gonna win against anything it has to offer. If you have to stop quickly.. well, you can't stop as quickly. Just squeeze the front brake as much as you dare. Assuming good road conditions, you won't wash out the front end in this situation, even if you are a bit too grabby, because your front tire will be bearing so much weight, already. The limiting factor to your bike's stopping power in this case will be it's decreased threshhold for doing an unintentional forward flip. :) On a heavier and less sporty bike, you may also be limited by brake power/fade, but this shouldn't be a problem on an R6. That said, you can stop a sport bike amazingly fast even down a steep hill, using the front brake, only.

If you need to come to a stop on that steep a grade, don't take your hand off the bars, thinking the back brake will hold you still. On a 45 degree decline, your bike will quite happily slide down the hill with just the rear brake applied at a stop.

Test your brakes often, and inspect pads for wear regularly.

Source: Riding Viffer on a mountainous island, did maybe 30-35 degree slopes a half mile long up/down every day. No, my brakes didn't glaze.

Illustration:
level ground, 50/50 weight distribution on an r6
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/klee27x/levelground.jpg

I couldn't rotate the image.. but tilt this pic counterclockwise by about 40 degrees, and you can see what happens to the center of gravity at a 40 degree angle, or so. Remember, the only thing holding the bike to the road are the two contact patches. You can see, the rear contact patch in this case is next to useless as a braking element. It would be sorta like throwing out a 50 pound piece of tire rubber as an anchor and expecting it to slow you down, significantly, while your 500 pound bike rolls freely.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/klee27x/45GRADE.jpg

Answer 2

A bike is always happier when your on the gas a bit. That's why you feel comfortable when your going up the hill. Your weight is shifted back and you feel everything is right with the world. All the answers are good, even the Bad Seed.(except for the silly ones). But you don't want to be accellerating, you want to find a gear where you can be on the gas, but not speeding up. You can use both brakes and you should. Just be aware that when you are off the gas you will shift foreward somewhat and you are also heading downhill which will make the weight shift worse. You want to use the front brake but be gentle with it. Squeeze it gradually not all at once. There is nothing wrong with your question. As someone said it just something you will get used to and before you know it you won't even be thinking about it. Wait to you have to go around a downhill curve, thats worse. Tell me when you have those figured out. Good luck in your hilly travels.

Answer 3

u need to be in a lower gear, but still fast enough that ur not a traffic hazard either. lower gear will use the engine as a brake, but u dont need to have the rpm's up at 9k either.....unless u want to blow the engine; ur bike not mine.
unless u are about to go into a turn, use both brakes to slow down more than the engine braking will do from time to time, but ridin the brakes all the way down will overheat them, and will make the brakes basically worthless in case u really do need them hard, and that could happen. if the brake pads glaze, they're now junk, and they'll need replaced...and heat can do that.

only squids would say to accelerate down a hill. they obviously a: dont ride, or b: hasnt asphalt surfed yet. r-6's isnt for beginners. u shouldnt have bought this 1, just 1 wrong move, and this bike could kill u. if u are set on the r-6, the safest thing u could do is to park this 1 in the garage, and pick up a dirt cheap ninja-500 to learn on. the r-6 will still be there, it just wont wind up killing u in the first 6 months if u learn on a smaller bike. another advantage would be, if u drop the 'rat bike' u wont be out a big repair bill for all that plastic.....but if u drop the r-6, u gonna be lookin at some big coinage.

Answer 4

Start out slow so you can build up confidence. As mentioned, use lower gears, both brakes but don't ride them all the way down. Apply them firmly for a bit and then let up for a bit. Continiously riding the brakes lightly will build up heat worse than will short periods of hard application because continious application never gives them a chance to cool. Apply hard on straightaways and before entering a curve, no brake or light application when going around the curve. The latter is important because when you slow down in a curve, you need to bring the bike into a more upright position; you don't you dump it but when going straight it doesn't make any difference. If you have to apply the brakes firmly in a curve, lighten up on the front compared to going straight. Also, look ahead at where you're wanting to go, not at the road in front of you. Also stay in the left side of your lane for manuvering room and to keep some smuck behind you in a car from trying to pass on the curve and then crowding you off the road. Good luck and don't worry, err on the side of caution until you have more experience.

Answer 5

Speed posted if you are not happy with that slow down but watch for cars behind you. Always use back brakes most and first,use front brakes lightly just to slow your front tire down.Stay in 3rd gear if not happy go down to second. You will be riding like you have done it all your life in about a week. Just remember most people in cars do not respect the rights on the road to the person on the motorcycle.

Answer 6

riding motorcycle hill

Answer 7

Hmms.. Use Low gear, Realeas Cluth ( That is call a Engine brake also).
Use ur rear Brake more...
When arrived slowing tab brake and cluth in..

Careful riding!

Answer 8

1. Compression braking.
2. Use both brakes, less agressive on the front.

Do you drive a car? Honest question, the principles are the same. Since the equipment is different (like seperate brakes) what you do is slightly different.
End result is the same.

Answer 9

First of all, I'm not your dad, but you are going to kill yourself riding an R6 if you are a new rider. You should be freaking out. You are better off selling it and getting something more your skill level. Nothing over 500cc.

Second of all, just ride down the hill. If you want to go slower, try letting off the clutch and gas and letting the engine slow you down. If that doesn't work, use your brakes. Don't slam on your front brake or your tail can whip around. I usually use my back brake for slowing down and my front brake (with back) if I want to come to a complete stop. Most of your braking power comes from the front.

Answer 10

you want a low gear...upright body position (which will be hard on an R6 :P )
you also want to control your speed with the clutch and brakes. (i tend to use front/rear 50/50 on a steep slope)
make sure you dont drag the brakes all the way down...you dont want to overheat and 'glaze' them. this is when they lose their braking efficiancy and its damn scary. to brake light and intermitently