The method to master uphills like a pro | MiniTip Monday

[@JohannesDalen]

Slightly disappointed that the HP2 from the thumbnail wasn't featured in this video, but the usefulness and high quality made up for it 😉

[@BrakeMagazine]

It will be at some point Johannes! We have a video planned together :D

[@sgtunix]

@@BrakeMagazineWas about to say the same as Johannes! Looking forward to seeing the HP2. @Llewelyn, by the way - I happen to have done a R1200GS Rallye conversion (with Bret Tkacs advising) to 21 inch front wheel. I can whole heartedly recommend this. Used an HP2 rim hoop and a hub from an F850GS :)

[@BrakeMagazine]

No way! You noticed a big difference? I'd love to have a go! @@sgtunix

[@sgtunix]

@@BrakeMagazine It's hard to estimate in a percentage improvement, but I'd say 30% improvement off road. On road it turns a bit harder due to the centrifugal force but it's hardly noticeable - still feels planted. I ride with TKC80's front and rear. You're welcome to have a go, you'll just need to come down to Stellenbosch, South Africa 😄

[@leslieaustin151]

@@sgtunixDon’t tempt him, he’ll be down next week! Les

[@cpbremote]

Thanks for a addressing the clutch wear issue

[@Skidmate]

Really love the video Llewelyn! The best musicians practise drills slow to master them fast later. The fact that you have the time to get the details into your muscle memory makes it easier to execute at the time when you are at a steeper/speedier hill. Thanks and cheers from The Netherlands!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you like it! That's a great analogy.

[@shrutijoshi421]

What I needed to hear today. :D

[@gregdeitrick6073]

I just started using this drill and I think it is more important than you present. I've been trying to learn offroad riding on a DRZ400; heavier and taller than a typical dirt bike but not so much as an adventure bike. Tight low speed U turns, circles, and figure 8s on gravel have improved my capabilities on the trail enormously, but in pushing myself to improve while practicing I drop my bike A LOT. I hate beating up my bike so much. Most of the drops are caused by engine stall or rear wheel spin at moment when I need a touch more speed. This drill and/or variations of it seem to be an effective, low-risk method of training precise low-speed clutch and throttle control. I expect that building that into muscle memory will enormously simplify challenges of low speed maneuvering in drills or on trail when my primary focus is on other factors. I've driven manual transmission vehicles for nearly 50 years, but clutch and throttle control required on a motorcycle in technical offroad conditions is several levels up from that experience.

[@b0bChoK]

I think it is one of the best "climb mastering" video I see, nice !

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks 🙏

[@To_who_knows_where]

You summed-up things so well in the opening lines about consistency will inspire confidence. Always practice skills required for the situations you have found the most uncomfortable when riding. With time in a controlled environment you get better, so once on a trail you've never ridden an instant decision can be made with confidence to overcome the obstacle you're facing.

[@BrakeMagazine]

100%. Great comment.

[@To_who_knows_where]

@@BrakeMagazine You've created a great resource for people to understand the skills required to ride an adventure bike with confidence in off-road situations. A positive mental attitude along with putting these drills/exercise's into practice will see people achieving so much.

[@yokoschroder314]

I appreciate that you use an ADV style bike and not a light weight to demonstrate the skills.

[@RodNeufeld]

Thanks for considering using my suggestion on clutch work, you came up with a great drill that makes it possible to use your clutch as a secondary throttle. I like to think that it was my suggestion alone but I am sure there were many others that made similar suggestions on this topic. Clutch control and static balance are two of the fundamental components of being a skilled off road rider. Cheers!

[@BrakeMagazine]

It was all you Rod!

[@RodNeufeld]

@BrakeMagazine haha thanks. I ride my 690 on BC Westcoast single track, and drills like this have been transformative in my riding for sure. I look forward to other drills you come up with!

[@haydenflinner]

A great drill to mix in "always fall uphill" into once in a while. Whenever you start to get sketched out, remember you can always just get the bike turned sideways and fall to the uphill side. From there you can plan either a restart or going back to the bottom for more momentum. Can get away with this on surprisingly steep hills since the sharp stuff on the side like footpegs and handlebar anchors you in. If you go sliding..at least you aren't tumbling :D

[@BrakeMagazine]

That is a good idea man!

[@batcaveracing]

I didn't know Pat Cash rode bikes 😊. I'd try this drill but there are no hills in Norfolk.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I bet you can find at least one!

[@allenhuling598]

Life's a lot better when you're riding well!! Thanks for this....extremely appropriate for where my riding skills are currently at! Hopefully by the end of March/mid April the snow and ice will gone enough to get on some of these drills!🤔

[@BrakeMagazine]

Great to hear and hopefully it helps! :D

[@ridelifenz]

Yeah, that's a great practice drill. I ride a local steep track that forces me to ride like that, it's relentless so you have to keep calm and slip that clutch. Nice one.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Nice man! In New Zealand?

[@ridelifenz]

@BrakeMagazine yeah bro, Nelson Town. Got some mint trails around here. Thanks for the fun vids. Always something to learn aye👍

[@NomadSweden]

Inspiring that you always bring out new, clever drills. Makes it fun to "eat the veggies". Cheers

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you like them! I don't see many other specific drills on the internet tbh 😅

[@drifterdave01]

This is a great one mate. I neglected clutch control early on, it slowed my development by years. All newbie’s should watch this and try it!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Amen! I think that's a really common story.

[@NZCycletherapy]

Yeah true, that’s why ‘almost’, but a lot train with trials bike too. Totally agree with the mx comment too, have you seen Josep Garcia’s corner speed in enduros, insane!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Totally agree. And yeah. All of the top World Enduro riders are rapid at MX too. Garcia is on a different planet when he's on. It kinda hurst my brain to watch. I cannot get my head around it.

[@agus8080]

Great tips & videos! Regards from Spain.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks for watching!

[@carlbayard8729]

Great video thanks for sharing. It is on my list of things to learn in the spring. Meantime I watch your videos :)

[@theNZbv]

Would the same exercise apply for downhill (adding the brake)? I find uphill easier because gravity is your friend. But downhills, especially when they involve tight corners, are something that makes my heart race.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Absolutely. It's a great way to develop downhill skill.

[@ct026]

Just got to find the time to try this! Many thanks for the tips Lel.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Make it!

[@NickWarrenZA]

Great quality video. Great drill (and the advice on the clutches). Thanks for creating. Cheers from Johannesburg!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joelhemms2448]

Awesome content as ever! Thank you 🙏. Can I ask what tyres your using as traction looks really good on mixed surfaces?

[@BrakeMagazine]

Dunlop Trail Max Raid.

[@boomcity4942]

My biggest challenge or concern regarding hills is other vehicles speeding down the hill from the other direction. Usually it’s the four wheelers such as Raptors that are in the middle of the road or fishtailing across both lanes. My favorite hill is about a mile from my house and it opens up hundreds of miles of off road adventures, but I can’t see other vehicles until there are limited options. I have avoided three near head on collisions and now ride five miles out of the way to avoid the situations. I wish the only hill challenges were the development of my own skills.

[@BrakeMagazine]

That's wild. Not really a problem in Europe 😂

[@samhill3496]

Big stip mine, makes some great practice area. Good vid. All need practice at this. Including me. Change clutch plates in twenty minutes.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Hopefully no clutch changes are needed. When I worked at ORS we would do drills like this for the whole season and the clutches would be fine.

[@k_plax]

Nice vid on this technique. At 2:25 you say no acceleration or deceleration and 2:48 you refer to dragging the clutch the whole way- what happens where there isn't a consistent gradient or terrain? Is more throttle input allowed to maintain lutch slip or constant speed?

[@BrakeMagazine]

Absolutely it is if it’s required. I had the opposite on my hill where it was steepish at the bottom and required me to taper off the throttle to avoid accelerating.

[@marthinusvorster]

Nice insert of HP2. Dream machine. Great mega tip. I have watched and practiced your downhill lesson many times. This will be good add on. I'm very interested to know why you chose Voyager Pro over Garmin. I'm keen to place it on my G650XChallege but hesitant as it's not popular in AUS.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Awesome! I'm glad that's been helpful. The HP2 was the only photo of an uphill I had 😂 I will be including the Voyager in a video soon, to kinda explain it a bit more for non-US audience. The TLDR is, it's a very specific device and very good at that. I find it to be really good for following tracks you've made and using like an actual map. It doesn't do routing so I use a phone if I need that because they tend to be better than actual GPS devices anyway. The screen is super clear, works really well with gloves and I like that on a simpler bike like the G 650, you can add in things like the revs, temp etc. It's not perfect but it is really well done.

[@FineLine-Media]

Will definitely try this Llel! So far I've always been more the twist-the-throttle-and-hope-for-the-best type of hill climber. Let's not talk about my success rate.😅

[@BrakeMagazine]

Good luck man! It's not such sand friendly technique though...

[@KinobiPellizzari]

Can you do it with a 990 Adventure? Nice video, simple infos for complex tasks

[@BrakeMagazine]

Of course.

[@teamgas]

Good drill! How are you finding those tyres for grip off-road and how do they feel on the road? Cheers

[@BrakeMagazine]

Very good on road. Genuinely. The best wet road performance I have had on a 50-50. Very Good off-road in the dry too. Feel very similar to a lot of the other 50-50 tyres. In the wet, they're slippery, but every 50-50 tyres is. I like them a lot. They seem really consistent.

[@atedevries6645]

Could you make a video about rocky downhill sections? Always struggling with that.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I can do. There is a great drill for that. What specifically do you struggle withs?

[@atedevries6645]

@@BrakeMagazine Keeping the speed low enough, when I keep it in gear the motorcycle gains speed to fast(on rocks, flat downhill is fine). I tend to use too much front brake, keeping balance with my feet, tense up in my arms. Stopping a lot, which wears me down fast. Rocky uphill is fine, like you said in this video; as long as you have traction you're fine. Thanks for replying!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Have you watched the Downhill Basics video I made? I think that will really help with the problems you're having. :)@@atedevries6645

[@mattguzzim1744]

Always great content. Thanks.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@uncleroach]

Excelent excercise, hope I find something suitable to try it

[@BrakeMagazine]

Best of luck!

[@NZCycletherapy]

Totally man, the reason why almost every top hard enduro rider comes from a trials background is throttle and clutch control to keep traction and momentum.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I'd check on that a little bit. The South African's might get upset with you :P I agree though. If you spend a long time practicing specific skills you're gonna get really good at them. Same in MX right. Those riders can go around corners and hit jumps in an unbelievable way.

[@MotoSly]

Another great video and usefull info that is easy to understand!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hillkiran]

Can this exercise be done with the DCT (I have an Africa Twin)

[@TheRayford13]

Great information, thanks !

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lost_track_moto]

Never done that!! But great exercise for those technique practice days 💪🏽

[@BrakeMagazine]

Yooo! Get the cones OUT! :D

[@Gimme_Stitches]

@brakemagazine Can you go over your current riding gear? Different levels would be great: Adventure/Enduro/Rally esc…Helmet, Jacket, Pants, under armor, boots, socks, gloves, goggles: pros and cons to each? Thanks!

[@Gimme_Stitches]

Why Leatt specifically

[@BrakeMagazine]

I can make a video about this for sure.

[@AWAG_FK]

That was a fantastic video. Thank you.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thomasjamesperkins]

I recognise that hill. More Salisbury Plain? Have you moved from Wales to Wiltshire? Another great video by the way. Even more impressive when you realise you filmed that solo! Good work Llel

[@BrakeMagazine]

Yup. I live in Dorset but not far from the Plain. It's the best place for filming that I can find despite the no drone rules. A lot of the riding down here is surprisingly good, but you can't move the same around much cos of the hedges.

[@thomasjamesperkins]

@@BrakeMagazine the plains are amazing, we're very lucky

[@BrakeMagazine]

They really are. Pretty misunderstood place I think. @@thomasjamesperkins

[@motovloggingwithvman2188]

Great drill! You are the best!!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Wow, thanks!

[@martythompson6509]

Did you manage to sort the front end on the Suzuki?

[@BrakeMagazine]

Not really. I didn't try. Once it dropped at the front it was a bit better and then I've been happy pottering around on it. :)

[@highdownmartin]

Never had an uphill strugle. Had a strudel at the top though

[@BrakeMagazine]

You should try it 😂

[@deonnimb9505]

You guys are the business. Deon Johannesburg

[@BrakeMagazine]

Ah thanks Deon!

[@WadeMade]

What bark busters do you have installed? Thanks!!

[@BrakeMagazine]

None. They are the stock Suzuki ones.

[@WadeMade]

@@BrakeMagazine gotcha I was watching on my phone and it was hard to tell. Can you recommend some good ones?

[@BrakeMagazine]

I would say that Barkbusters themselves are your best bet for a model specific guard. Generally they've made good product. @@WadeMade

[@Revy8]

yes, I like the clutch theory.

[@lizdg3892]

Great tutorial. I’ll have to give it a go when the snow lets out. Thanks

[@rodneybutler7939]

THANKS !!!!

[@defylifeadventure]

Not sure that bit about damaging the clutch applies to the KTM 790 and 890. Can see a bunch of KTM riders needing to refer to your previous video 😉

[@BrakeMagazine]

I think the problem with the KTM is the line between use and abuse it fine 😂

[@rasthurlo6812]

Of course for real off-road riding, lowered gearing is the way to go. No clutch wear issues with a rock-crawler first gear

[@BrakeMagazine]

This technique is still useful with a low first gear. When you jump on a dirt bike with a super low first gear, you're still going to need this skill.

[@rasthurlo6812]

for sure - definitely helpful for any rider in challenging terrain @@BrakeMagazine

[@TeoZarkopafilis]

why are you not using crash bars

[@BrakeMagazine]

Because I never crash 😉 Obviously not true, I do crash but generally the crashes I have are pretty soft and most of the time I'm not riding near the limit on the this bike. :)

[@philgoogle1535]

Thanks Lell. I'm slowly becoming a better rider because of your work. How's Lucy? It'd be good to see her try this drill.

[@BrakeMagazine]

That's amazing to hear. She's great thanks. Maybe we can do that video at some point 🤔

[@patkennedy1]

Struggle - two 'G's (opening page). 😊

[@DJAguitars]

I know that exact hill 😀

[@BrakeMagazine]

Sssshhhh :D I better see you there practicing then!

[@snowgsadventures3232]

I see myself smelling some clutch practising this….😮

[@BrakeMagazine]

Do ride an 1150 GS?

[@HUSKY7-1]

Clutch Magazine?

[@BrakeMagazine]

😂 Don't worry, we've got a bRake one coming :P

[@PaydayGabeBCNV]

I'm kinda impressed with the New Suzuki. It seemed very tractable. Obviously the clutch modulation helped.

[@BrakeMagazine]

It does, but the engine is very good at low RPM in general. @@PaydayGabeBCNV

[@vnm_8945]

Isn't a problem for the clutch if you use it like that, constantly? I'm asking because I don't have a bike yet and I don't know much about them, yet. L.E.: haha, after I wrote this I immediately got to the part where you explain it. How much is a high rev, thou, from where do you think it starts, something like 4000?

[@BrakeMagazine]

A high rev is one that sounds high. It depends on the bike, but I think anything more than 4K on this V-Strom would be a bit much. Have a listen to video with good headphones so you can hear the bike :)

[@vnm_8945]

@@BrakeMagazine, yes, thank you for the reply!

[@pepedafrog6951]

when they say "middle weight" bikes I dont think they understand what middle weight really means. In theory something between an enduro bike and the heavy whales but sadly it is nowhere near close to that. Thanks for the vid. Training with ones bike is fundamental. like an old Samurai once said, we fight hard at the dojo and then we play at the battlefield.

[@kurttallon]

Your thumbnail says 'Never Strugle Again' but I'm sure you mean 'Struggle' 😉👍

[@BrakeMagazine]

I do indeed, but we left it in to show we’re not AI 😂

[@ShadowVonChadwick]

Dam right it is.

[@MeerkatADV]

Best way to go faster and more confidently is learning how to go slow confidently.

[@BrakeMagazine]

1000%. It's kinda mad, but the precision helps so much in the long run.

[@ronwhite8503]

Strugle?

[@BrakeMagazine]

You don't know the strugle

[@100CupsColombia]

Muy pequeno that is!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Gracias!

[@brent23961]

Uh, .... "strugle"? 😉

[@BrakeMagazine]

We are human 😂

[@mynickisalreadytaken]

Please do not change the Thumbnail. I hate the strugle. Hehe.

[@BrakeMagazine]

I’m rolling with. Shows I’m a human right 😂😂 Gotta stand out in the AI age!

[@Jackrabbit4520]

So every hill you need to ride up you have to walk up first and lay out some cones, that doesn’t make any sense. 😳

[@BrakeMagazine]

Every single time 😂