Uphill Start and Tight Left Turn for a New Rider
A new rider on a 400 cc standard motorcycle is stopped facing uphill at a T-intersection with a stop sign. The grade is steep enough that the bike rolls backward when the rider releases both brakes. A pickup is stopped 12 feet behind. The rider needs to turn left into a narrow two-lane road with a 25-mph limit. The rider has stalled twice trying to start, once because the clutch was released too quickly and once because the throttle was closed. The rider's habit is to hold the front brake with the right hand while adding throttle, then release the clutch. The road surface has a small patch of sand near the turn apex. The rider is 5 feet 6 inches and can flat-foot the bike. The rider asks how to make the start and turn without dropping the bike or rolling into the truck.
1. What is wrong with holding the front brake while adding throttle and releasing the clutch?
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Holding the front brake with the right hand while adding throttle and releasing the clutch confuses the controls. The right hand cannot smoothly modulate both throttle and front brake, and the front brake can stop the bike as the clutch engages, causing a stall or lurch. On an uphill grade, the bike may roll back when the brake is released before the clutch reaches the friction zone. The rider should hold the bike with the rear brake using the right foot, keep the left foot down, and use the right hand only for throttle.
2. Describe the sequence for a controlled uphill start.
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With the bike in first gear and the clutch in, set the right foot on the rear brake. Bring the throttle to a steady slightly-above-idle setting. Release the clutch slowly to the friction zone until the bike begins to pull, then release the rear brake smoothly as the clutch engages more. Keep the left foot ready, look up the road, and add a little throttle if the engine lugs. Do not release the clutch fully until the bike is moving and stable. This prevents rollback and gives a controlled start.
3. How should the rider handle the left turn with sand at the apex?
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Slow before the turn, select the outside entry line to avoid the sand, and look through the turn. Keep the clutch in the friction zone, use steady throttle, and control speed with the rear brake, not the front brake. Cross the sand with the bike as upright as possible and avoid sudden acceleration or lean changes. If the sand is too wide or the turn too tight, stop before it and reconsider. The rider should not try to finish the turn with the front brake on.