How To Hill Climb : Techniques Explained

[@jessegarrett7215]

Using the clutch makes a lot of sense. I was trying a steep climb out of a creek recently, the first time I stalled because I let off the throttle when the wheel came up and the second one I looped out because I didn’t let off. Feathering the clutch would have probably made the difference

[@Kickstart500]

Learning the when’s, hows and whys of clutch and throttle control comes with lots of practice and experience.. being able to explain as well as you do is a gift! Well done

[@zusanlist3623]

Megs, you are and exceptional teacher. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom!

[@hardtrance9]

Great tutorial! This is what many of us novice riders need and can’t find after watching 100’s of videos! Hope to see more of them (not so advanced haha). Cheers from Baja Mexico (Eastcape)

[@userer4579]

Well done Megs. Useful tips and short and to the point with good footage. Cheers.

[@kichaa13]

All the other how to vids on youtube don't explain throttle control or body position, you're the best in the biz. Keep on going with your content.

[@jeffswanson5097]

Nice video and great tips. I have been watching a lot of videos lately wanting to improve my trail and climbing skills and have been concentrating more on enduro and less on MX. Some things are the same but there's a lot that is different. The clutch control is huge, we were doing a bunch of climbs yesterday at Carnegie SVRA and the clutch method fo power control is getting me up hills I couldn't before but I went up one to many right before dark and got lax and slow right after getting trough a rock face and looped a 300 XCW, these bikes have so much power you really need to master the clutch. Any way I liked your to the point video.

[@paulyasso6533]

Great vid. Very helpful with talking thru the climb and explaining when and where you shifted and used your clutch.

[@ZSharkPH]

Those monsters look like a lot of fun... No better feeling than conquering a hill after a failed attempt.

[@RWWRENTAL]

thanks for explaining this. i think this was my issue on similar steep trails. my front would come up and I would let go of the throttle

[@n3f2r80]

I'm getting my first bike in a few months, can't wait to ride trails. Really helpful videos!

[@megs_braap]

Awesome! I'm excited for you. What bike are you getting?

[@n3f2r80]

Megan Griffiths Enduro it's a 2008 exc-f 250. Thank you

[@casecase282]

That’s this helped a lot ! Was wheeling way to much reaching the top of even small hills. Going to feather that clutch

[@hajosbikepark326]

Awesome, Thank you Meg! Will try this on my next adventure rides🤘👍

[@mtbalot]

thanks Megan u saved my bacon today, watched this video this before ride, used your techniques. worked like a hot dam!!!

[@shadetreesurgeon]

Holy mackerel... I'd be sketched out about failing halfway through and how to get down after that

[@sethsc77]

Nice work Megan! Thank you for sharing.

[@ricardocuetara1]

Great video Megs . Thank you!!

[@michaelmckay]

That is what I ride here in so cal! Awesome video! No need for log hop videos as you can see at 3:09 haha.

[@Cross-Country-Biker]

Thanks, I can't wait to try the tips

[@megs_braap]

Evan Howell No problem! Thanks for watching! 😊🙏

[@ljm8673]

So here's the big question, two stroke or four stroke? Which one did better? These places use to be the big 500's playground. How did the new technology 300's do?

[@brentmccaleb7076]

These particular hills are not very technical. Almost any 4 stroke 450 and up will rip them. The 300 2 stroke has more torque than her 350 but they have the same power. The torque is what keeps a 300 2 stroke pulling longer and drops less speed than the 350. Also if the 300 does bog a little it's no big deal it has way more low end and can still chug its way up. If the 350 bogs it will fall on its face pretty fast after that. Also the more technical the climbs the more the 300s shine

[@davecushing5500]

Looking forward to your next video on this.

[@carlredmond3642]

Great info !!

[@BrokenSprocket]

Do you prefer 2stroke or 4stroke?

[@WebflingerJoe]

Thanks for this, my friends have been trying to get me ready to go to the dunes in Brule AB, Canada and alot of it poses a challenge being sandy hills but this will probably help a lot.

[@justinstrand2303]

The dunes here in hinton alberta are awesome without a doubt.

[@kraigvanderwyk2443]

Way to go megs. Now your in my world. Try out the hills in Jawbone Canyon if your in the area.

[@adriantompson]

what difference did you see on the 4stroke compared to 2t on these climbs.

[@hapilee5844]

Come to Peach valley in Montrose Colorado!! You'll 💕 love it!! Thanks from another Dirty Girl rider!! Love watching your tips video!!

[@Axmet183]

Awesome tips thanks for sharing with us

[@BangJoMotoVlog]

Could you make video for "Feathering the clutch" ? Thank you

[@JoeJoeMoto]

Man those hills look like a blast to play on! You can just hold it pinned!!

[@Desert10075]

Hey guys this is really good advise.

[@freetaylor72]

So you should be standing on the pegs the whole time? And when is it a good time to sit on the seat when climbing?

[@Shogun636]

You’re a beast great riding !!!

[@gabrielmarbella9704]

Look like a lot of fun thank you very much you are my hero megan and I love your video take care 💪💪💪👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍

[@lostman65]

thanks meg, these are great!

[@posterlion]

Awesome climb around 3:00 ! :)

[@krazed0451]

Some video of you making these climbs would have been nice, the helmet cam doesn't capture body position, wheelspin/lift etc very well ;-) Nicely put together though, I appreciate how concise you keep things in this day of waffling selfie videos!

[@osamabinlagging3511]

Put it in 2nd gear pin the hell out of it and hold on for your life, thats it dont listen to anyone else 😂

[@Samuel-vq6qi]

yes sirrrr😂😂

[@Robbie-l7v]

Yeah I’m totally gonna get on my bombed up cr500 and send it in 2nd gear, I’ll be a dead man😂

[@muelmanu]

You forgot to mention that you have to keep legs on front when you put a leg down and keep your center of gravity low over the seat when standing. Tipps traight from erzbergrodeo 2019 ;)

[@jeffreid3341]

killin it Mags

[@superczesiu]

Its hard to downshift on time and not lose speed while hill climbing. Thanks for tip with clutch.

[@southjerseytrailriding4155]

Good stuff... awesome hills 👍🏻

[@gpf599]

Thanks for this video. I always can use help with steep climbs and decent. It's nice to have a female voice in my headcoaching me on.

[@megs_braap]

No problem Gwynne! I'm glad it was helpful to you. PS: I'm really looking forward to your knee healing up so we can finally do some riding :).

[@ivanmogollon6553]

what size engine do you need for hill climbing? 125cc/ 250cc / 450cc ?

[@elitrinh8436]

Helpful thanks!

[@benaplokcampandgo]

Very helpful my idol... Tnx

[@brandonheadrick8113]

Good video

[@davidrockwell9776]

Great vid again! It would be more helpful if we could see your body position and how you move on the bike during the climb.

[@megs_braap]

Okay awesome! I'll get external footage for the next one! Thanks very much for the feedback :D.

[@thealchemycatalyst]

Thank you

[@Lime_GT.]

Lean forward is one

[@erwinmotorbike]

Easier said than done but how does bogging the engine equate to wheelspin?

[@gandabikol3901]

❤❤❤awesome

[@mhilde7744]

Thanks girl! Gr8 post. 👍

[@hershko85]

Great vid :) Question: In what body position should I be for tackling obstacles on hills like these on the vid? And when to sit and when to stand? Thanks a lot

[@megs_braap]

Glad you liked it! When I'm hitting an obstacle such as a log or a rock on a hill climb like this I get my weight forward right away. If you don't do that, you could loop out pretty easily. It doesn't take much to get your front wheel to lift too much on steep hills like these. For most hills, I try to stay standing. You always have more control when you're standing. But for these really long sandy hills, I was actually sitting down for traction because the sand was SO DEEP. I'd never ridden sand that deep before. You can probably tell by the sound of my bike how loose it was haha.

[@okanagantrailriders2685]

As the great Bill Nye taught me, "Inertia is a property of matter."

[@jamesheron2034]

Yea, but owning stuff is a matter of property. Jimmy Heron just said that

[@bigwavedaveable]

Does anyone know this location?

[@D.E.X]

Do you ever ride anything looking like an ADV bike? Just wondering because I know someone with your skills at dirt, you'd be awesome ripping it on a 500 pound bike. But it might not be fun for you.

[@ConTheDon187]

Pin it to win it, and slip the clutch. Easier said than done sometimes. Depends on the hill

[@ranchocortez]

Whats easier to climb with 350 4t or 300 2t

[@timbomuffin]

Brill tips thanks 👍🇬🇧

[@irongreek7722]

its better to do a hill slightly slower in a lower gear with more RPMs than switching gear, the time it takes to switch can kill the momentum/ RPMs

[@bsmukler]

I have a beginner's question: How does one go about learning to upshift, standing up, with full-on motocross boots, especially when under the pressure of a hill climb like you did? That was an amazing video!

[@megs_braap]

Hey Ben, with more time on the bike, you will become more and more comfortable with shifting and braking while in your stand up riding position. I would recommend practicing this on flat ground through the trails until it is second nature. By then, you will likely be ready to shift up and down on hills like this.

[@bsmukler]

Thanks Megs! I’ll work on it :)

[@megs_braap]

You're very welcome!

[@jeffhanson6844]

A sad day in the life of Megs, "I had to go get my other bike"

[@DnosSFS]

What does feather the clutch mean? Never heard that term in New Zealand. Is it occasional blips of the clutch or riding the clutch (partially engaged) I'm guessing the first option?

[@goldierides9481]

I think she is doing what I've always called "slipping the clutch", pulling in so the revs climb as the clutch starts to slip then working it back and forth in that zone between fully engaged and slipping as needed to keep the front end down and the revs up.

[@tahoehiker]

Feathering means modulating gently.

[@megs_braap]

YES

[@megs_braap]

When I say "feathering the clutch", I mean you are riding the clutch partially engaged like you said. This allows you to bring up your RPMs but also bring down the front wheel without completely stopping your rear wheel from turning.

[@audunskilbrei8279]

Won't this burn the clutch very quickly? Or is the clutch beefy enough in these bikes to withstand it?

[@TheRcscalebuilder]

Standing or sitting for climbs?

[@ow-my-achilles1106]

"Stand" on the pegs. Funny thing is, when I climb "standing" on the pegs, my friends say it looks like I'm sitting. It's an illusion. My body position is low, my butt is "almost" touching the seat, but definitely NOT sitting. Standard attack position, but with the body weight slightly back to keep the front end light toughen to track well, and weighting the rear tire for grip. If the hill is very technical and ledgey, you'll have to move forward and back as needed to weight/de-weight the rear to make it over ledges. Momentum is key. The only time you hill climb -very- slowly is on unmanageable dangerous climbs that have bad consequences as a result for falling. Stay safe. I would also like to see another camera angle of the climb from a spectator view. Then the body position would show no straight leg standing, it would look like attack position all the way.

[@m1chance]

Nice video. What camera are you using? Where is it mounted?

[@megs_braap]

Thanks! I was fliming with a go pro hero 5 mounted with a SoPro Mount.

[@m1chance]

Megan Griffiths Enduro I like that thanks. Is the stabilization from the camera or editing software both?

[@megs_braap]

No problem! Just the camera paired with that sopro mount. It makes for smooth footage!

[@speviefw4471]

Video real coooool power rock no limieted power

[@jaeatyet]

is that jawbone canyon?

[@FarhanRidho]

But.. but.. gearing down means letting off the throtle right? Or not? How do you shift when climbing?

[@ow-my-achilles1106]

With little practice you can get a fraction of a second shift with momentary throttle closure. It is possible to also just drop the shift without the clutch. Clutches and transmissions are very strong.

[@funnysoup9708]

@@ow-my-achilles1106 two strokes u can bang it down without clutch or letting off.i just peg the throttle and keep my foot on the back brake. I go as fast as i can,hold on could be alittle bumpy.

[@herschelsquirts2338]

I hope Suburban Delinquent is taking notes!!

[@kellylargent2634]

I saw you on Morgan's show if you ever want to ride the badlands im in ND we can put a big ride together.

[@mauricet8417]

Make videos more often

[@jbraz8]

Awesome video Miss Griffiths!! By chance did you change out your sprockets on your tx300 to gear down, and if so could you share the specifics?? :)

[@megs_braap]

Glad you enjoyed it Jamie! I'm running stock gearing on the TX 300.

[@jbraz8]

Megan Griffiths Enduro as usual thank you so much for getting back to me I was just considering gearing down. Just one of those guys who thinks all these mods is going to make me a pro LOL

[@carlie7118]

You only done the climbs on the four stroke, they have so much more torque that's why there a lazy man's bike, you did well though just wish you compared the 4 banger to the 2 smoker !!!

[@megs_braap]

carlie7118 I was on my 2 stroke in the morning until I broke my throttle housing. Then I had to go get my 350. The hill climb at the 0:35 second mark was done on my 2 stroke.

[@jaeatyet]

Where is that?

[@muelmanu]

Just start in 2n gear and go wide open... the 350 revs over 10.000 so just let it scream ;D

[@riahslezak7276]

Manuel - lIFe HaX

[@dustyrock1]

Hahaha. Small world. We were there last month. Check out my 2nd to last video "me vs the monster" my 300 wasn't feeling the best. Doing a new top end now.

[@bryceelmore8190]

Where is this at in Ca?

[@JohnVanHolt]

Bean Canyon. West of Rosamond CA

[@MR0birdman]

It's a shame that you're not in the Erzberg :'(

[@stanlleypajdak8547]

Rip clutch

[@jwvspupsv1679]

Show us your body position as you attack the hill. I assume your in a crouch , butt up off the seat maybe 6 inches.

[@posterlion]

Did you really change your last name to Braap? It's an awesome name no matter what. :)

[@megs_braap]

posterlion Haha no I didn’t. It’s just my name online :).

[@isaacmac1395]

Have to admit when I heard a girls voice at the start I thought “oh no this tutorial won’t be from a good rider” then I shut up when I saw you destroy the hill climb! Epic skills 👍 my bad 😂

[@irmawankurniawan9295]

edan euy

[@Okay-pr9fp]

Hitting a hill climb in 4th? That’s how you end up rolling down the hill, how bout hit it in 2nd and if it has troubles go down to 1st

[@unfunny2258]

No? Just gives you more gears to fall through as you lose speed.