When to use the clutch...

[Rookie Rider]

Yeah i do downshift before i brake always. But i do use my clutch as im braking. I live in queens NY so there arent any curves here, just lots of "L" turns. Have to come almost to a COMPLETE STOP JUST TO TURN HERE ITS RIDICULOUS. Thank you fellas.

[Rookie Rider]

Were do you guys get those smileys from ? the 2thumbs up etc.? lol

[geezer]

dude reply to this, see those happy little guys on the left there? lol if your that blind you should def not be riding :neener: :lol: :2tup: :fu: O_o :shocked: :tongue: :roll: :skull: :twisted:

[Dupo]

Originally Posted by Rookie Rider

Yeah i do downshift before i brake always. But i do use my clutch as im braking.

If you are pulling the clutch as you come to a stop when you are in 1st gear .. ok. If you are pulling the clutch when you brake any other time, then what i said stands. Only time you need to pull the clutch is to shift up/down and when you come to a stop in 1st. That's it.

[Suncross]

Originally Posted by Nightsbane

The single most mystifying thing about learning to ride a bike has been the clutch. I have driven a scooter for a while, and so I was leaps and bounds ahead of other riders in the MSF class in most tested areas while rolling, but when it came to shifting I was a slow learner having only driven a stick shift once or twice in my life.

I didn't get all of the info I needed in the class and so I will ask here, something I am sure I will be doing a lot the first couple weeks.

When is the proper time to use the clutch? I know gear changes use the clutch, and when coming to a stop. What I am confused about it if you should use the clutch when rolling off the throttle in a turn. I noticed on the training bike that rolling completely off the throttle and coasting and then rolling back on the throttle caused a little jerky jump at first. Is this normal/supposed to happen or am I supposed to be using the clutch? I just need to know what to do before I get to higher speeds. I want to make sure there isn't something I will do to make it jump out of my control when rolling on the throttle while driving.

Thanks for your time.

You never ever want to roll off the throttle while turning. You actually want to roll on the throttle. That's why you brake (depending on the angle of the turn) before turning. Slow, look, press and roll. That's what I learned at riders edge :fu:

All good fun though. The real practice is when you get on the road. Think of the first (and really from first to second, because that is the first shift) shift as starting out. You want to ease as you did from the start. From all the other gears shifting UP, you want to just single motion drop and shift. Do it quick. If you shift and roll back on the throttle, it should be seamless. Just one pull forward from dropping the clutch as you completed a shift.

Most bikes friction zone is different. You can't really change where it's at easily, but once you know where it is you can experiment. See what happens when you pull the clutch back, but don't completely let off the throttle (no shifting). The engine will rev. A lot. From there, just close the gap between the time you roll off the throttle, and pull back the clutch. Eventually you will get it. I put 400+ miles on my bike in about 2 weeks (since I got my motorcycle license 2 weeks ago, lol), and I still have the bike jumping a lot at times.

This is just what has worked for me. Maybe someone with more experience will tell me im wrong, or amend. We're in it to win it.

Happy riding.

**EDIT**

Originally Posted by Dupo

If you are pulling the clutch as you come to a stop when you are in 1st gear .. ok. If you are pulling the clutch when you brake any other time, then what i said stands. Only time you need to pull the clutch is to shift up/down and when you come to a stop in 1st. That's it.

When I am rolling up on a red light that is around the corner (doing about 60 mph), I look and time everything so I glide to a perfect stop. However, as soon as I see it's red, I pull the clutch in. and just ride. I hold it until I stop completely. I still downshift at the appropriate road speed. Is this ok to do? Is this a bad habbit?

[Rookie Rider]

Thanks Dupo and Suncross, i'll be practicing that for sure.......... Geezer, i dont see those happy little guys to the left anywhere, lol. Thats it im selling my bike. haha

[geezer]

hmm they should be there. is all your seeing is a bunch of red X's?

[blaine]

Originally Posted by Rookie Rider

Thanks Dupo and Suncross, i'll be practicing that for sure.......... Geezer, i dont see those happy little guys to the left anywhere, lol. Thats it im selling my bike. haha

Hit "preview" before you hit "submit"

[Dupo]

Originally Posted by suncross

When I am rolling up on a red light that is around the corner (doing about 60 mph), I look and time everything so I glide to a perfect stop. However, as soon as I see it's red, I pull the clutch in. and just ride. I hold it until I stop completely. I still downshift at the appropriate road speed. Is this ok to do? Is this a bad habbit?

Yes, bad habit:

Deceleration
Typically with motorcycles and in motor sport, the clutch is often used to facilitate the use of resistance from the engine spinning at high speeds to decelerate the vehicle more quickly, often accompanied with normal braking. This is achieved by placing the vehicle in a gear that would ordinarily be too low for the current speed and momentum of the vehicle and by partly engaging the clutch. When this happens momentum energy from the inertia of the vehicle is taken away to spin the engine as close as possible to its maximum capability. As the vehicle is decelerating the clutch can be further released to transfer more energy to keep the engine spinning as quickly as possible. Once the clutch is entirely released this cycle proceeds downwards through the gears to further assist deceleration. If the clutch is controlled improperly while this is being attempted, damage or extra wear to the engine and gears is possible, as well as the risk of wheels locking up and a subsequent loss of proper vehicle control.

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You also run the risk of being in the wrong gear or too low of a gear and locking your rear wheel.

This guy explains it pretty good. And yes, he DOES say he stops by pulling the clutch, stopping then shifting down the gears. He does it when i do it, when a light changes red quickly, traffic stops abruptly, someone turns in front of you all of a sudden ... etc... and theres no time to engine brake.

[youtube:2j77uvwp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg4izLOs6nE[/youtube:2j77uvwp]

[Dupo]

Originally Posted by Rookie Rider

Geezer, i dont see those happy little guys to the left anywhere, lol. Thats it im selling my bike. haha

Don't use the quick reply box ... click on "post reply" button on the lower left under the last post. it will take you to the 'post a reply' page and there you can do magically wonderful things :tongue: