learning to ride in the hills...

[speedydave]

A couple months ago, I moved from Walnut Creek to the Berkeley hills. I don't currently own a bike but have been wanting one for several years. The rising cost of gas has me seriously considering picking up a bike in the next couple of months (not the only reason I want to ride, fwiw). In Walnut Creek, I lived in a pretty flat area that didn't seem like it would be a difficult environment to learn how to ride in. I learned how to drive stick in Walnut Creek, and daily driving Grizzly Peak now, I don't think my confidence level in driving stick would have gone up at nearly the pace it did if I'd learned here.

Now, living in the hills and looking at buying a bike, I'm concerned that I may have too much trouble with keeping track of everything necessary to riding while dealing with the roads. I use Grizzly Peak to get to the freeway, and I'm sure many of you know that Grizzly isn't always the safest road to be on. Getting into town requires going down one of several fairly steep hills. My driveway isn't flat either; one part that I will be parking the bike on is flat, but getting to it requires riding up the driveway/hill sideways. All of this combined makes me concerned that I'm going to drop the bike a LOT before I get the basics down. I haven't taken the MSF yet, but I do plan on doing so before proceeding with anything else. I also plan on buying the proper gear for riding. The bike I'm looking at is either an SV650 or SV650S (not only is it the bike I've loved for a long time, but also recommended by several veteran riders as a good, controllable beginner bike that I can grow with), and I can barely flat-foot both feet, which concerns me regarding learning in such a hilly area. My second and third choice bikes are a little easier for me to flat-foot, but they are both somewhat distant second and third choices (Honda 599 and Suzuki GS500E).

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Please let me know what you think!

BTW, I stop by the Wall fairly often when there are bikes out there, since I drive by it almost every day, usually more than once. I'm fairly shy when it comes to walking up to strangers and introducing myself, so please don't take any offense to that. I'm 18 years old, roughly 5'10" and drive a bright blue '03 Honda Civic Si hatchback. I'm sure some of you have probably seen me at least driving by. :)

[Hypnos]

Any one of those sound like very droppable bikes -- I say go for it ;)

After you do MSF, get your gear and buy a suitable used bike, I suggest practicing low-speed maneuvers (a la MSF) on inclines.

[rritterson]

Don't worry about it. You will drop it, just like most of us have. It'll only take a couple of weeks to get it down if you work on it and don't give up.

The very first day I had my GS500 I tried to ride it out of the parking lot under my apartment building and out onto the street. I had to go up a steep driveway. I made it half way before the bike stalled. I considered just rolling back down and then getting momentum inside the lot on the next try, but the garage closed behind me...

I tried getting off the bike and pushing it up, but I wasn't strong enough. So I got on the bike and somehow managed to use the clutch well enough to get it up over the driveway and onto the sidewalk, though I did stall it a couple of times.

before you get good control of the throttle/clutch combo and can go from a stop without thinking use the rear brake. When you feel the engine start to pull, let go of the brake and off you go. If you stall, just hit the rear brake again to keep yourself from going backward.

About the wall:

pull over on the downhill side of the wall, near the end of the railing, because we'll look at you funny if you try to park a car among the bikes. Then sit down on the rail and watch. As long as you don't end up trying to talk to one of the cock-wavers you'll be okay. And it only takes 5 minutes or less to pick them out of the crowd. Everyone will like to give you advice, but some are wiser than others.

[Sidewalk]

Do you have a friend or family member that lives in a better (safer) area where you can practice riding before trying to ride up in your area?

The bikes are not bad choices, but the SV has enough torque to multiply a minor mistake pretty quickly. And in the area you are talking about, it could multiply fast enough to turn a minor mistake into a driving off the cliff error before you could correct it.

[CeruleanSkye]

Originally posted by Sidewalk
Do you have a friend or family member that lives in a better (safer) area where you can practice riding before trying to ride up in your area?

Excellent suggestion. My bike stayed at my friend's house for a couple of days because she lived in a very low-traffic area. Gave me the chance to get used to the bike and riding without so much traffic to worry about. Then I rode it home...

As for the hills, I have a similar problem. But I am lucky enough to have found an empty parking lot with a good incline to practice on. I found it is a matter of confidence with throttle control and not stressing out or thinking about cars behind you.

If you stall, forget about them - they can wait. Just stay calm and try again.

[kentuckyfried]

I would have to agree on that assessment. The SV's got a sensitive throttle.

The best way you're going to learn is to go and practice somewhere flat first. Then, if you can, get a working beater used bike that you can use to practice those inclines.

Don't worry, I've got the same problem too. I live in the South Bay so I haven't had to worry about the hills, but I cringe at the thought of heading out to SF and attempting to do stuff like drive up California Street. Of course, you have the equivalent challenge perhaps of riding up Marin. Yeesh.

Originally posted by Sidewalk
Do you have a friend or family member that lives in a better (safer) area where you can practice riding before trying to ride up in your area?

The bikes are not bad choices, but the SV has enough torque to multiply a minor mistake pretty quickly. And in the area you are talking about, it could multiply fast enough to turn a minor mistake into a driving off the cliff error before you could correct it.

[speedydave]

Thanks for the great advice so far! I think I know of a place where I can keep the bike for the first week or so that's around a flat area where I can practice before taking it home.

What kind of insurance do you guys have? I ran some quotes online and insuring the SV, especially for a new rider, is insane compared to a GS500. Makes me reconsider the GS500 vs the SV...

[Hypnos]

Farmers is inexpensive.

Their customer service isn't the greatest, but you only have to deal with it if something happens.

People also get low rates with Progressive, State Farm and Geico; I did not.

[kentuckyfried]

Right now I have my moto insurance through AAA. Just the bare minimum to ride the bike (about $127).

I'm probably going to increase the insurance a bit after I clear a long-standing point off my record this summer;
otherwise the premium for uninsured drivers would cost me an extra $400+ or something like that.

The best insurance is still buying high-quality gear.

[PhaTeLeSS]

i reccomend progressive. when an uninsured motorist clipped my corner in the teg, it took progressive 10 days to have a check in my hand. the insurance adjuster came to my work to look at my car the morning after the accident. i was stunned. progressive has really earned their keep with me.

as for berkeley... the morning after i got my first bike i rode it from treat in wc, on the fwy, to oakland, where my buddy took me on a nice slow cruise up to grizzly, to the wall, and back. it was nervewracking, but oh so fun. i think i was going about 20-30 on all of grizzly, i was so timid, lol. i had only a permit, and i had only ridden a bike a few times before that. just go at your own pace, and you'll be fine. you already have the right attitude, which is 90% of self-preservation when riding a motorcycle.

also, do you know how to rev-match your downshifts in the car? if you don't, try to learn before you get a bike. it will make life so much easier. just go to honda-tech or honda-acura.net and do a search for rev matching and there is plenty of info.

[eli]

Hmmm . . . I moved to the hills last year and it's helped My riding 10 Fold . . . I wish I had done it 20 yrs ago . . .

I'd just add the following; watch Your speed! take your time . . . avoid heavy traffic times if you must but get as much stick time as possible.

Lead with Your chin (vision) and hold you bike with your legs (during a serious climb or down hill) so your hands can deal with the controls and steering . . .

Good Luck