Ok, Gang this is your chance to demonstrate your tech knowledge to a newbie.

I have never driven a bike and have a couple of questions about using a clutch:

-- I know how it works in theory, but how hard is it really to do in everyday riding?
-- How will I know if I am in the right gear and what happens if I am in the wrong gear?
-- What is "Slipping the Clutch" and "Double Clutching"?
-- I read a review of the Z400 sport quad and the author wrote about shifting without using the clutch. Is this possible? Wise?
-- What advice would you have for me?

I welcome your advice. I realize this is 101 stuff, but I have no one locally to ask, so I am coming here to the experts.

Thanks for reading my post.

Dave

 

Using a clutch is easy...once you get the hang of it, it's all about timing exactly as it is in a car...except you're using your hand instead of your foot.

You know what gear you're in by keeping track of it in your head...as you get more experienced you can guage it by RPM's and speed----low gears=slow speeds/high gears=fast speeds...high RPM's=time to upshift/low RPM's=time to downshift (understanding this will come with experience). It depends on which you you go in the wrong gear as to what happens....if you start out in too high a gear then you will most likely stall the engine, if you are moving and go into too low of a gear you will over-rev the engine(not a good thing) and possibly end up over the handlebars. If you are starting out from a stop, be careful---if you "pop" the clutch (let it out quickly) you could end up on your behind while watching the bike careen aimlessly into whatever is nearby.

I'm guessing at this one....Slipping the clutch would be letting it out just enough to catch and give you a bit of forward momentum and then pulling it back in---kind of like rocking it back and forth (as in being stuck). Double clutching is what big rig drivers do, a touch of throttle in between gearshifts ...it's purpose (I think) is to try to match engine speed with the tranny (gear meshing)...in a race car you can "blip" the throttle while downshifting to bring the engine RPM's up so when you get into the lower gear the engine speed and tranny mesh better---if you don't you are liable to cause wheel hop---the rear wheel/s catch abruptly and can cause a spin. I don't know about double clutching a 4wheeler though...

You can shift without using a clutch (speed shifting), I don't know how wise it is to do since it seems pretty hard on the tranny---it is faster though.

Advice?----Have someone experienced with riding motorcycles/wheelers with you, take it slow and easy---motorcycles/wheelers have a lot of power and can get away from you quickly!, wear at least a helmet, check with a dealer about a safety/training course or video (preferrably a hands-on course)

Good luck! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Rook WV.....Thanks for the info. My 250EX is automatic clutch but I'm going to get a 400EX
very soon.

Just a quick question if the RPMs get too low will the bike stall like a car or can
you come to a complete stop w/o clutching?

 

It will stall like a car....it'll go into a "bucking" mode where it jerks you around and then it'll quit....to prevent that all you have to do is pull in the clutch and then come to a stop or you can downshift and keep going. Anytime the RPM's gt low you need to either downshift or pull in the clutch and stop. To stop properly you need to engage the clutch, let off the throttle and apply the brakes....don't let off the clutch until you have it in neutral.