clutch going?

[TrevorG]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to riding so I didn't know this was even an issue. I just thought that's the way these smaller bikes work until an experienced friend of mine took bike for ride and said that it's definitely not normal.
So here's the deal: it seems as if there's a certain threshold where the rpm's will "break away" from driving the wheel. That is to say the rpm's will continue to rise but the wheel itself will lose power and slow down.

For example, most noticeably in third gear, if I accelerate moderately the bike goes like it should but if I really try to power forward, the rpm's will break free from driving the wheel and rev up. I'll need to release the throttle, let the engine speed drop back down to match the wheel speed, and then accelerate more slowly to keep that traction.

My question is, do you guys think this is a clutch issue, a transmission issue out something else?