Some Questions Raised by Proficient Motorcycling

[kxmike]

This raises a question on covering the brake and clutch and such for me. I took the MSF course and got my license etc. Been riding my GS for maybe 2 weeks now and they tought to cover the clutch ALWAYS, and never cover the brake. My compunction is the opposite, like you guys are suggesting, and I feel the same from MTN biking. one or two fingers over the brake lever so when something jumps out of nowhere you can squeeze, not let go of throttle maybe move your hand and pottentially grab a S*%t load of brakes. What if any use is there for always covering the clutch except at low speed or in traffic where you want to be able to stop sudenly, keep the bike running and in gear, and move out of a maybe dangerous unfolding situation?

I come from a dirt bike background so I use my clutch alot more than the average street rider . I use it like a slipper clutch, to control the rear of the bike on corner entry (at high speed) and sometimes on corner exit. I use it to wheelie once in awhile too:teeth . I use to cover it (like the brake) but found that I would unintentionally slip the clutch (slightly) when excellerating through the gears...so now I take my hand off the lever after I've exited a corner.
One reason I can think of for "covering the clutch" is for sudden mechanical failures. If you ever have a throttle stick or a motor sieze at high speed...you'd better be quick to pull the clutch in . (this isn't likely to happen to the average street rider though).

 

[kentuckyfried]

Covering the clutch is very handy when making a a sudden stop....

The guy at the MSF encouraged me to do that, b/c at the very beginning, I had bad wrist position and had a tendency to roll on the throttle when braking. It took a bit of time, but that problem got fixed. Covering the clutch makes sure that one does run into that problem.

This raises a question on covering the brake and clutch and such for me. I took the MSF course and got my license etc. Been riding my GS for maybe 2 weeks now and they tought to cover the clutch ALWAYS, and never cover the brake. My compunction is the opposite, like you guys are suggesting, and I feel the same from MTN biking. one or two fingers over the brake lever so when something jumps out of nowhere you can squeeze, not let go of throttle maybe move your hand and pottentially grab a S*%t load of brakes. What if any use is there for always covering the clutch except at low speed or in traffic where you want to be able to stop sudenly, keep the bike running and in gear, and move out of a maybe dangerous unfolding situation?

 

[Enchanter]

The reason that the MSF has students cover the clutch and not the brake is for safety in the class. Covering the clutch helps students squeeze it quickly when/if they panic. Keeping four fingers wrapped around the throttle reduces the probability of a student grabbing the front brake in a panic. Instant full application of the clutch is safer than instant full application of the front brake.

Once a person has reduced or eliminated their panic reactions (when riding) there may be times when covering the front brake could be a good idea. Bumper to bumper traffic is only one example where reduced reaction times could prove to be an advantage.

 

[RickBlaine]

My MSF Basic course told us to cover the clutch when we started. On the second day, though, my instructor told me to stop doing it.