When to use the clutch...

[Rookie Rider]

Im a new rider and i always squeeze the clutch right before i brake cause im still nervous that i will stall and then fall.

[Nightsbane]

Why would you fall from a stall? If your engine dies just brake safely and restart?

[geezer]

young pups you hve so much to learn, no you dont coast into turn! sure it works but its bad practice. coasting reduces ground clearance limiting your lean angle. but i do ride sportbikes and alot of my technique comes from that but its all the same bikes are bikes

[Nightsbane]

Once again, you are missing my explanation. I never said coast into the actual turning motion, I was referencing coasting into the approach to the turn, meaning you can slow before you ever move your bars or lean a millimeter. Then accelerate and move into the turn normally.

[geezer]

actually you can lean up to one mm before coasting gets unsafe :neener: i kid cool just ride

[FutZ]

I think I understand what you’re trying to ask. And I'm assuming were talking neighborhood 90 degree turn not bends in the road while you’re going 55. As you’re slowing down for a turn, you are braking and then coasting before you enter the turn, then roll on to the throttle before the lean and feel a bit of a jerky motion then you maintain speed through the turn and then accelerate out of it.

If that is the case then you have slowed enough that you should have down shifted or if you are in first then yes use your clutch to ease the transition and avoid stalling. Just release slowly so you don't have any loss of traction. Look where you want to go and be confident that the bike will do its part.

[Rookie Rider]

When i was practicing to start off by releasing the clutch and giving it throttle, i would miss the friction zone and the bike would stall. Same when i practiced slow turns,or slow circle turns or figure eights, i clutched wrong and the bike stalled and it fell over, thats why im nervous and squeeze the clutch right before i brake every single time.

[Dupo]

Honestly, that is a bad habit to form. you shouldn't rely soley on your brakes to stop you/slow you down. You should rely on the compression of the engine when you downshift AS WELL AS the brakes. You stop/slow down MUCH quicker and a lot smoother using the engine compression on the downshift. Get off that bad habit before you get so used to it that it stays with you for good (rookie rider that means you).

Learn how to downshift and brake properly and set yourself up for a turn. If your bike is jerky when you roll on the throttle out of the turn, then you are simply in the wrong gear and did not set yourself up for the turn correctly. You either are in too high a gear or to low a gear if it is jerking. How does that happen?...By pulling in the clutch and not using it effectively to slow down and most importantly ...listening... to the rpms of the bike corresponding to how you are entering that corner and putting your bike in the gear it should be in. It should be a smooth transition of engine brake, foot brake, downshift once or twice depending on curve, rolling in the curve (without holding the clutch), hitting the apex and rolling on the throttle. No clutch pull, no jerks, no problem.

Didn't they teach you this in the MSF? I distinctly remember them telling everyone about downshifting and stopping and how its effectiveness helps the bike slow down faster.

[Water Warrior 2]

Wanna learn to shift and use the clutch properly ? Pick up a copy of "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. It is the best way to learn from reading and practicing what you read. Most if not all decent training courses are based on his writing and praised by anyone who reads his decades of experience and lessons. Read and undo any bad habits before they become ingrained in your riding.

[cayuse]

Very good advice from Dupo and WW! :2tup: