You’ve stalled on an uphill slope—what now? Don’t panic; it happens. Just hold the bike up with your left foot, and use your right foot to apply the rear brake to stop the bike from rolling backward; you can also put both feet on the ground and hold the bike with the front-brake lever. Now, it’s time to get it started again.
First, forget about finding neutral. Just pull in the clutch and start the bike in gear. Begin letting the clutch out before you release either brake. You’ll feel the front suspension begin to compress—let it. As the engine begins to load, slowly release the brake while giving the bike plenty of gas. Get your feet back on the pegs as soon as you can.
Alternatively, you can just roll the bike back down the hill and restart at the bottom or while the bike is headed down. Both are easier if you can turn the bike around, and then go downhill nose first, which isn’t usually an option on the street, but on the dirt it can be the easiest way to get the job done. Just be sure to lean into the hill while you’re turning, or you may take a wicked fall. It may even be easier to get off the bike entirely and stand between the bike and the hill.
You’ve stalled on an uphill slope—what now? Don’t panic; it happens. Just hold the bike up with your left foot, and use your right foot to apply the rear brake to stop the bike from rolling backward; you can also put both feet on the ground and hold the bike with the front-brake lever. Now, it’s time to get it started again.
First, forget about finding neutral. Just pull in the clutch and start the bike in gear. Begin letting the clutch out before you release either brake. You’ll feel the front suspension begin to compress—let it. As the engine begins to load, slowly release the brake while giving the bike plenty of gas. Get your feet back on the pegs as soon as you can.
Alternatively, you can just roll the bike back down the hill and restart at the bottom or while the bike is headed down. Both are easier if you can turn the bike around, and then go downhill nose first, which isn’t usually an option on the street, but on the dirt it can be the easiest way to get the job done. Just be sure to lean into the hill while you’re turning, or you may take a wicked fall. It may even be easier to get off the bike entirely and stand between the bike and the hill.