Pulling into a garage on a REALLY steep hill

[Bay Arean]

I have never had problems being 5'7'' and riding any motorcycle. I can't flat foot my 998, and on my KTM 690 and I am on my tip toes, barely flat footing as I slide my ass off the seat.

I just moved into a place in Potrero Hill, and this neighborhood is very appropriately named, as these hills are KILLER. As in, you can't stop going uphill at a stop sign completely.

I love my new spot, it's close to work, clean and nice inside. I have my own garage, but the problem is it is located right in the middle of a nasty hill with not flat spot, even the driveway is a crazy hill.

Sorry to laugh, but I have to say that I rolled the cage to my mother-in-law's for a pre-Easter dinner rather than try and get into her garage, on KANSAS St., not to mention all the stop signs leading up to 700 block... I truly commiserate and I HAVE a short-guy bike. Long-range garage door opener, mounted on handlebars!!??? Multiple angles and no flat spots reduces me to a fear-based existence.

You will become master of clutch and throttle, grasshopper. If I lived there, I'd probably sell the bike!!

 

[Entoptic]

Am I failing to see what the issue is here? You live on a hill (sf has many of those) and you have a driveway (steep like most in sf) and you have a garage (hopefully flat). What is the issue with going up the hill, turning into your driveway and then into the garage?

Actually do this, ride up into the driveway and next to the pin code box, press buttons, TADA!

PS your back brake is your friend in SF. If you need a lesson on how to wing your bike into your garage pm me. I am up for the challenge!

Hey how about a barf meet up at this guys house to show him how it's done?

 

[rodr]

Hey how about a barf meet up at this guys house to show him how it's done?

Make videos please!

 

[sanjuro]

[youtube]buFRknN1ckM[/youtube]

 

[orbframe]

Maybe I'm missing something - why not have it pointing straight up the hill, in gear, parallel to the curb? It'll rest fine on the sidestand that way.

this

 

[orbframe]

When your engine is running the oil pressure is up thus pumping oil throughout your system. There is no metal to metal contact there, however if your engine is off then there is no oil pressure to keep the oil from circulating, thus resulting in metal to metal contact.

except this is not how it works in a transmission...

also, there is no movement

 

[msethhunter]

When your engine is running the oil pressure is up thus pumping oil throughout your system. There is no metal to metal contact there, however if your engine is off then there is no oil pressure to keep the oil from circulating, thus resulting in metal to metal contact.

Alright, try this for me then. Walk out to your garage, find two piece of metal, and touch them together. Hell, clamp them together in a vise. Report back with the damage.

 

[slydrite]

When your engine is running the oil pressure is up thus pumping oil throughout your system. There is no metal to metal contact there, however if your engine is off then there is no oil pressure to keep the oil from circulating, thus resulting in metal to metal contact.

LOL, never an end to bad info that people with only a little bit of knowledge will make themselves believe.

OP, you could just shave the seats down on your bikes that will give you a bit more confidence at low speeds if you have to put your foot down.

 

[Albal0ney]

I don't know why, but it just didn't occur to me that I had to be EXACTLY parallel to the curb to get maximum grip with my feet. This hill is so steep that if I am even slightly less or more than parallel, the leg on the lower part of the hill just has nowhere to stand.

I know how to use a rear brake while letting out the clutch. On this hill, it isn't the same thing, you really have to slip the clutch balanced with very slowly letting off the rear brake to get a smooth forward movement going uphil.

Also, the keypad is too close to the door, so I can't reach the keypad without having to get off the bike. Also, my driveway is not a driveway. It is just concrete that has been formed in humps to lead up to the garage opening. There is no flat spot until you get in the garage. And there isn't that much room in there either, can't just bomb in and get on the brakes. Timing is essential.

Basically, I think I would have been fine on a normal sportbike, but riding my 690SM is super tall, never had a problem until I met this damn hill. I think I have this down though.

1) always approach garage downhill, it's easier
2) park parallel to curb
3) kickstand down, get off bike a little before garage
4) open door
5) get back on bike and coast in

 

[orbframe]

Alright, try this for me then. Walk out to your garage, find two piece of metal, and touch them together. Hell, clamp them together in a vise. Report back with the damage.

 

[slydrite]

So hang on, if you parked on the sidestand, parallel to the curb, facing downhill, your bike might roll down off the sidestand and fall over, just from gravity. This can happen even in 1st gear if the hill is steep enough.

I guess you can 'curb' the the front wheel and that might be ok.

 

[rritterson]

Am I failing to see what the issue is here? You live on a hill (sf has many of those) and you have a driveway (steep like most in sf) and you have a garage (hopefully flat). What is the issue with going up the hill, turning into your driveway and then into the garage?

Actually do this, ride up into the driveway and next to the pin code box, press buttons, TADA!

PS your back brake is your friend in SF. If you need a lesson on how to wing your bike into your garage pm me. I am up for the challenge!

Hey how about a barf meet up at this guys house to show him how it's done?

I nearly posted this exact same thing, but then I carefully looked at the google street view pictures. It appears things don't flatten out until EXACTLY at the garage door, as in the driveway outside the garage is sloped with the hill. I think this is because the setbacks from sidewalk to garage are very shallow.

 

[CAmudgeon]

So hang on, if you parked on the sidestand, parallel to the curb, facing downhill, your bike might roll down off the sidestand and fall over, just from gravity. This can happen even in 1st gear if the hill is steep enough.

I guess you can 'curb' the the front wheel and that might be ok.

Yes, parking down hill is a very bad idea - for this reason. It is very easy for the sidestand to fold up and expensive things to happen. uphill FTW.

Curbing the front wheel is almost always a fail too, as if you get the angle even slightly wrong, you'll need a reverse gear to get your bike off the curb .

 

[Albal0ney]

Really? If I park parallel to the curb, downhill in gear, and make sure the slack in the drivetrain is all the way rolled forward before i let go of the brake and put the kickstand down, would the bike still roll forward to the point of folding up the kickstand? Why would it roll forward even more if the slack is already gone and the bike is in gear?

 

[Roadstergal]

If the wheels slip just a little with the bike facing uphill, the sidestand stays in place. If the wheels slip just a little with the bike facing downhill, the sidestand can fold.

 

[JPK]

What you need is one of these...

[youtube]1C-Bxifv2Pk[/youtube]

Edit: pardon the Youtube embedding retardation. Finally got it.

 

[Entoptic]

damn! after seeing all these posts I am scurred to go down that road now!

 

[clutchslip]

I have to get off the bike to push a key pad. I don't have a garage door opener.

There is a garage door opener and you don't have a remote, or there is no garage door opener, but a security pad? If the former, why don't you get a remote? I have a little remote with my bike keys. Order on line - no biggie.

 

[luckett]

This thread is almost as lame as a Gary856 bike comparison thread.

 

[originalsturge]

My friend lives right there on 22nd. That is a REAL STEEP HILL. I always park on Kansas where it's flat when I visit HIM.

fixed besides we all know kyle doesnt have any female friends.