cover the clutch!!

[rottenduc]

I generally cover both with 2 simply because it feels more relaxed. I think a lot of the stuff burned in to people's heads at MSF is simply due to the fact that most haven't really ridden before. After being on the road a while, people work it out their own way. After "muscle memory" and reflexes are developed, I see no real reason outside of comfort in covering the clutch.

 

[navy8ret]

Hey DucatiHoney, sounds to me like you need to take the advanced riders course -- or an advanced rider course.
When I was active duty the military required us to take the advanced course every 4 or 5 years -- outstanding info and great experience every time it was an excellent refresher -- for me anyway. I highly recommend you look into it now with asking questions like this. A lot of good info is here from the other BARFers but you just can not beat experience.

 

[DucatiHoney]

I've considered it, but decided to try a track day instead. :shhh ...for now. I don't have it in the budget to take another class this year, but perhaps in the spring.

 

[Angel]

Great! I have been covering the clutch for nothing :laughing

I learned that in the MSF too and for some reason I still do it...Time to let go :cry

 

[navy8ret]

I've considered it, but decided to try a track day instead. :shhh ...for now. I don't have it in the budget to take another class this year, but perhaps in the spring.

Track days are great but they don't cover street riding like the advanced rider courses do. Enjoy the the track day though it is an experience that may make you want more :teeth

 

[DucatiHoney]

I can't afford to like track days. Cheaper than a helicopter ride off of 9 tho. :cry

 

[niclope22]

Clutch happens immediatly and takes the bike out of gear, so when you are stopping it doesn't skirt forward.

The feel of it makes much more sense.. its a direct cut to the drive

 

[JackTheTripper]

bump

 

[DucatiHoney]

I wondered why someone tried to bring this back to life.... I'm a superstar in a new forum! :banana

I still cover the clutch btw. Just habit now. I noticed I even do it at the track and with my bike and my current level of skill there's no reason to do that. I don't cover the brake--I would except that I can't ride and do two fingers without adjusting the lever so close that it hits the bar. (I tried to fix that using CRG's--problem is still there.) I think this is a new thread, but I'll do a search first.

 

[zefflyn]

I don't cover the brake--I would except that I can't ride and do two fingers without adjusting the lever so close that it hits the bar. (I tried to fix that using CRG's--problem is still there.) I think this is a new thread, but I'll do a search first.

Do you have the black CRG's?

Actually, have you tried out the throttle rocker? I like mine, because with it I can work the throttle with just the palm & thumb, rather than having to grip it with my fingers to keep it twisted.

 

[DucatiHoney]

CRG's are gold on my bike--one shorty, one long. As soon as I crash again, I'm blaming it on them. :laughing

I have a throttle rocker...it kinda scares me. I'm tough. I can hold the throttle for a few hours at a time in between coffee breaks.

 

[oliver]

I cover the clutch at low speeds on my 749 because when it...ahem...stalls in gear (as it's been known to do from time to time at low rpms), the bike stops. Quickly. And that usually scares the living shit out of me.

 

[GreenHornet]

I didn't read thru all the replies but a big reason is incase the engine siezes

 

[eisenfaust]

Me, I'm a big fan of clutch slip; using the clutch in conjunction with the throttle to modulate power at times when precise power control is required. If I'm navigating at slow speed through a maze of cages, I'm usually using clutch, throttle, and brakes alternately or in some combination. As such, I find it easiest to cover the front brake, clutch, and throttle at the same time to minimize reaction times.

When riding more agressively, in a situation where too much front brake could be a bad thing, I intentionally *dont* cover the front brake to give myself a split second longer to stop my panic-braking Survival Reaction. That fraction of a second it takes for me to move my fingers from the grip to the lever is a fraction of a second longer I have to remind myself "you dont need to brake!".

 

[eisenfaust]

I didn't read thru all the replies but a big reason is incase the engine siezes

Sure, if you're riding a two-stroke. :-D

 

[kentuckyfried]

This is very important for beginners until good positioning on the right hand wrist is achieved. In the very beginning whenever I pressed the brake, my wrist position was so bad it would tend to turn the throttle at the same time! It takes time to correct this bad habit but covering the clutch prevents one from potential accidents (most notably, losing control and dropping the bike during the MSF class).

Anybody have a problem keeping the clutch down with two fingers? It feels awkward on my SV b/c the lever can't go all the way down, it's blocked by my pinky and ring finder. Not only that, but the clutch is stiff enough to almost require a death grip using my middle and index finger. When I'm at a light I just hold it down with all 4 fingers.

They (MSF instructors) expect that when an unexperienced rider gets scared, the rider will react with a "death grip". The death grip typically results in revving the engine. If you are covering the clutch, it also results in pulling the clutch and just revving the shit out of the engine while it free-wheels. If you are not covering the clutch, then the bike takes off, you grip harder, apply more throttle, etc., etc.