what is considered riding the clutch?

Question

How do i know when i am riding the clutch too much on my Honda CRF230L? i want to make sure i am not wreaking the bike. I know i need to ride the clutch when taking off but when between gears do i easily let it out of just let it out like 2-3 or 3-4 or 4-5 so on.

Also is it possible to wreak the engine if i shift down too early?

Thanks

Answer 1

Your clutch uses plates that wear out. If the engine is spinning the clutch is engaged, there is friction. If you are running at high RPM's with your clutch partially engaged, there is a lot more friction. Riding the clutch creates some extra heat and wears the clutch plates out sooner, which means time and money to repair. Same as someone who is heavy on their brakes, but a little more expensive and complicated. Use the clutch as much as you need it to not stall or strip gears, but once you have shifted let go of it over the course of a second or two (don't just pop it).



If you downshift to early, its going to be the same as if you had accelerated in that gear to your current speed before shifting. So the same problems as redlining. If you pop the clutch instead of easing off of it, you have the additional stress on the engine due to the sudden change in RPM's. If you down shift REALLY early the engine is either going to force itself out of gear (if you're in1st or 2nd, one shifter position from neutral) or act as a brake (engine braking) and slow the bike down, possibly making you lose control. You almost have to downshift two gears or be an idiot for that to happen. As far as the clutch on downshifting, I usually let it out about 1.5x to 2x slower than when I am accelerating for smoothness and stability.

Answer 2

Partially disengaged (slip clutch) Bike clutches are oil bath and can take a lot of abuse unlike an automotive clutch. For example drag racing a sport bike a person sits at the line with the engine revving, then when you get the light you partially release the clutch (controlling power with clutch rather than throttle) keeping the front tire from raising too high and traction control. This method lets you access peak horse power from a dead stop. However you cannot use this method with a regular dry clutch.

Answer 3

"Riding the clutch" is keeping the clutch within the friction zone, or "slipping the clutch". It means that the clutch is being held in a position where it is neither fully engaged nor fully disengaged, and only transmitting part of the engine's energy to the rear wheel. The clutch plates are spinning against one another, causing heat and rapid wear.

Motorcycle clutches are designed to handle this much better than the dry, single-plate clutches used in cars, but there are two downsides: the clutch plates will need to replaced more often; and debris from the clutch will require more frequent oil changes.

If you down-shift MUCH too early, you can force the motor to rev beyond red-line. In the case of a four-stroke, this can result in bent valves and damaged pistons, as over-revving can cause valve float. It is much less likely to cause damage in a two-stroke, but not impossible.

Answer 4

when a clutch is in on a car or bike it is considered being between gears or out of gear. Riding it would be siting on the clutch, out of gear when you don't need to be. Think about riding your breaks down a long *** hill.. no you gear down, or tap your breaks. You have to ride it a bit to get into first but imagine if you where gliding down a hill, and breaking slowly off and on, you shifted down in a car but you had clutch in whole time, why? its not needed. Only touch it when needed don't ride it like your slapping on the gas going up a hill. you can break without holding down the clutch cant you? So then holding down the clutch the whole time, whenever you hold the clutch when breaking when you dont NEED TO, that would be riding it in a sense. Basically, pressing the the clutch more then needed and when you don't have to, to such an extent it just looks stupid. Why do something if you don't have to, its a waste of time and effort. People ride the clutch because of various reasons, having the clutch engaged because they cant make up there mind or intend to change gears, but you don't need to coast along with the clutch in for 30 seconds before you shift.

Answer 5

Riding the clutch is simply pulling on the clutch lever too often. A lot of people do this if they anticipate changing gears or simply can't make up their minds. When starting off in first gear you need to ride the clutch a bit so you don't stall the bike, but once you're up to speed and shifting from first to second, second to third, etc., just pull the clutch lever, shift, and let it go.



If you shift down too early you can overrev the engine, so you need to be careful. Let the bike get close to "bottoming out" in a particular gear before you shift down.

Answer 6

pretty much others have answered your questions already and all i have to say is don't use the engine to slow your self down to much this means like don't keep down shifting every gear and letting go the clutch and letting your engine rev very high. just slow down by using the brakes unless you need to stop immediately or the brakes don't work you would down shift.remember brakes are a lot cheaper than clutches.

Answer 7

on a side note I agree with Chan, I think i wore my engine right out within a year by excessively downshifting to slow down drastically and noisily. These days the engine sounds kinda "whishy" and doesnt sound as powerful and vibrant when I first started riding the bike. Accelerations weaker now and sometimes it gets stuck in neutral between 3rd and 4th o.0 Brakes ftw they cheaper to replace



as for your question, I think the best way is to see for yourself whats going on inside the heart of your bike. Check these 3 you tube vids out, top to bottom. Listen and watch very carefully, it might take you a while to grasp it did for me, but when you its like eureka, lightbulb goes on x)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKzowCJG7WA



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WESl-nii-n4



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y1rEdlDL6Q



Understanding whats actually going on in there throws out alot of the advice from other people, and you can create your own motorcycle handling methods that our unique and your own.



happy riding, go fast, but not too fast ;) x)

Answer 8

When you are pulling in the clutch before you are ready to shift, or after not fully releasing it. It's hard on the clutch and will cause premature wear.