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I have a Rockster with servo assist ABS. I was on a VERY steep hill in SF facing uphill at a stop light. I needed to keep the bike stationary before getting going again (you know the drill on hills) and wanted keep the bike in place with the rear brake, so I could clutch and throttle from a standstill w/out rolling backwards. When I switched from front brake lever to rear brake lever the bike started rolling backward even though I applied the rear brake before releasing the front. What the !@#$? Won't the bike stay put with only the rear brake engaged? Do they all do this, or do I have a problem?
T.

I don't have any problem holding my bike with the rear brake and I have the same brake setup (servo-ABS). I think the rear brake on this bike is the best/most responsive I've ever used on a bike. Maybe get it checked?

Could it be that the rear tyre was sliding on the pavement ? old tyres or very slippery pavement ?

Some time ago, I tried to go uphill on a rock paved street of "Plaka" on the way to the Acropolis (Athens Greece), I was riding slow because these streets are full of tourists, one of them jumped in front of me (god knows why) and I had to stop... stoping was not a problem but when I tried to go forward the bike would slide sideways, when I tried to stop the sideways sliding the bike would slide backwards !!!
Finally with some help I took the bike all the way down the street (backwards, because there was no room to turn the bike around) and went my way on a different street

toner87 wrote:I have a Rockster with servo assist ABS. I was on a VERY steep hill in SF facing uphill at a stop light. I needed to keep the bike stationary before getting going again (you know the drill on hills) and wanted keep the bike in place with the rear brake, so I could clutch and throttle from a standstill w/out rolling backwards. When I switched from front brake lever to rear brake lever the bike started rolling backward even though I applied the rear brake before releasing the front. What the !@#$? Won't the bike stay put with only the rear brake engaged? Do they all do this, or do I have a problem?
T.

Not sure why you would want to use the rear brake under these circumstances.
I'd want to keep both feet down.Can't see the problem pulling away when using the front lever. Roll the throttle open with the palm of your hand engage the clutch and when it bites release the brake.
Works for me on my Roadster with similar brakes.

Two words: Throttlerocker.

Toner,

I do the same thing going up the steep streets in downtown Seattle. And to answer your question, Gregor, the use of the rear only gives me the fine throttle control I need to load the drivetrain and make a smooth start without killing the engine on the steep grade. I've got one stretch that's 3 blocks long and the backup sometimes starts at the bottom.
I've never had a problem transitioning from front to rear brakes. Perhaps there's air in the rear system ?

Two words: Throttlerocker.

Hey...that's only one word..

DJ

My method works without stalling the engine with a careful use of clutch and engine revs, as would using a Throttle rocker or a Cramp Buster to assist. Still rather keep both feet on the ground with such a heavy bike.
I agree a repeated start on a long hill would not be much fun.

Aren't you allowed to filter past traffic queues in the USA?

I'll have to do some more experimenting, but there were also a whole bunch of pedestrians in the mix and filtering through was out of the question. Using the rear brake to hold steady on a hill is a regular practice for those of us who live in hilly cities. It's like engaging the emergency brake in a car when stopped on a steep hill. Gravity's a bitch, you know.
T.

Emergency brake?
I guess that you have an automatic gearbox and have a different car driving technique to most of us in the UK , who usually have manual gear boxes and a hand-brake. And hills!

toner87 wrote:I'll have to do some more experimenting, but there were also a whole bunch of pedestrians in the mix and filtering through was out of the question. Using the rear brake to hold steady on a hill is a regular practice for those of us who live in hilly cities. It's like engaging the emergency brake in a car when stopped on a steep hill. Gravity's a bitch, you know.
T.

Gravity sucks.

I have found with my Rockster that I require more effort on the pedal/lever. The first time I experienced this was a shocker (as I cannot comfortably keep both feet on the ground).

gregor wrote:Emergency brake?
I guess that you have an automatic gearbox and have a different car driving technique to most of us in the UK , who usually have manual gear boxes and a hand-brake. And hills!

I meant hand brake... I drive a standard (w/manual shift) VW.
T.

Same problem here; ..... can't flat-foot my machine.

Cheers

Meow

Aren't you allowed to filter past traffic queues in the USA?

The answer depends on which state you live in. In most of the Eastern US, it is not legal and, in my experience, is the thing that most aggrevates motorists. Cagers seem to feel that if they're stuck in traffic, everone else should be as well. It is common here for car drivers to serve in your way, open doors to prevent you filtering by and to throw things at you to boot. I've had all of these things done to me as I've lane split here in PA - and I've been stopped and ticketed as well. I still do it though; my feeling is it's worth the occasional cager tirade or traffic ticket to not have my bike overheat.

toner87 wrote: I meant hand brake... I drive a standard (w/manual shift) VW.
T.

I do the same, I did rider training years (long time ago now ) and was taught to always stop with L foot on the ground and R foot on the rear brake in case of a rear ending, helps to stop you getting rammed into whatever might be in front. If you have the front brake on at a standstill and get hit in the rear it's more likely you'll go down as the front skids and end up under whatever hit you.
Mini hijack there...BUT I never have any problems holding mine on the rear and the hills I live in are steep enough (no ABS on my bike). You better get it checked out.

Before moving off idle on a steep incline, I prefer to use the front brake and keep both feet on the ground for stability.

Airman wrote:Toner,

I do the same thing going up the steep streets in downtown Seattle. And to answer your question, Gregor, the use of the rear only gives me the fine throttle control I need to load the drivetrain and make a smooth start without killing the engine on the steep grade. I've got one stretch that's 3 blocks long and the backup sometimes starts at the bottom.
I've never had a problem transitioning from front to rear brakes. Perhaps there's air in the rear system ?

I use the same method as Airman, and never had a problem. The bike does not slip when I switch from front to rear brake.

First gear on the Roadster is a bit "tall" and I also want the fine throttle control to make sure I do not stall it. This is even more true if I have a passenger.

Front braking and using the throttle at the same time is just not a skill I've developed...

challey wrote:

Aren't you allowed to filter past traffic queues in the USA?

The answer depends on which state you live in. In most of the Eastern US, it is not legal and, in my experience, is the thing that most aggrevates motorists. Cagers seem to feel that if they're stuck in traffic, everone else should be as well. It is common here for car drivers to serve in your way, open doors to prevent you filtering by and to throw things at you to boot. I've had all of these things done to me as I've lane split here in PA - and I've been stopped and ticketed as well. I still do it though; my feeling is it's worth the occasional cager tirade or traffic ticket to not have my bike overheat.

From what I understand, CA is the only state in the USA that does not make it illegal to lane split. It does not implicitly state that it is legal either. It will boil down to a witnessing officer's discretion whether the maneuver was safe or not. There have been many articles in motomags regarding the benefits of lane splitting.

Dragonmojo is correct. Lane sharing is neither officially legal or illegal in California and completely up to the discretion of a LEO.

http://www.laneshare.com/content/view/24/34/