Who rides motorcycles?

[dfkrug]

Here is another Q for you long-time riders (street or dirt): do you use the clutch when shifting 1st-to-2nd and up? Or just when taking off?

 

[Racenut]

Here is another Q for you long-time riders (street or dirt): do you use the clutch when shifting 1st-to-2nd and up? Or just when taking off?

My bike, BMW R1200GSA, is hard to get a smooth 1-2 shift without the clutch, not sure if it's just clunky like that or the extra low 1st makes for too much of a ratio gap. So I usually clutch that one, but not after that.

 

[JasperFrank]

The single best advice I could give to anyone, is to Not ride beyond a speed at which you can stop in time. Most people don't understand that the front brake is really your only brake, the back brake is useless in most all situations. You can add to the braking, using the back brake, and it can add a little, but just a little. As the front forks compress, you have to know where that bike is going, cause that just changed the entire geometry, of where you are going. if you don't know that, then you don't know how to stop, or where you are going to stop. So many people i've known, just rode on some sort of faith, well beyond their ability to stop. I ride with this in mind. Can i stop on that blind corner? How many feet would I have if something was ahead? I don't operate on faith anymore.

 

[hunt4570]

My 2019 goldwing has ABS as well as selectable Torque Control. An airbag is also an option that I didn't get.

What? No air-conditioning??:laughing:

 

[hunt4570]

Here is another Q for you long-time riders (street or dirt): do you use the clutch when shifting 1st-to-2nd and up? Or just when taking off?

Yep, use my clutch going up or down, I understand you don't have too, but it is easier on the bike to use it.

 

[lman]

What? No air-conditioning??:laughing:

If I stand up on the seat I get a lot of air conditioning, especially today with 6 inches of snow.

 

[Tomtint]

Here is another Q for you long-time riders (street or dirt): do you use the clutch when shifting 1st-to-2nd and up? Or just when taking off?

Always.

 

[hunt4570]

The single best advice I could give to anyone, is to Not ride beyond a speed at which you can stop in time. Most people don't understand that the front brake is really your only brake, the back brake is useless in most all situations. You can add to the braking, using the back brake, and it can add a little, but just a little. As the front forks compress, you have to know where that bike is going, cause that just changed the entire geometry, of where you are going. if you don't know that, then you don't know how to stop, or where you are going to stop. So many people i've known, just rode on some sort of faith, well beyond their ability to stop. I ride with this in mind. Can i stop on that blind corner? How many feet would I have if something was ahead? I don't operate on faith anymore.

No your front brake is NOT your only brake. yes it gets most of the work on a hard stop but its closer to 70% front and 30% rear. If you only use your front you risk locking it up and losing control. As you slow down your weight transfers forward putting more pressure on the front wheel, but your back tire is definitely still helping to brake... unless of course you are doing a stoppie, at which point you should not be on the road anyway!

 

[hunt4570]

If I stand up on the seat I get a lot of air conditioning, especially today with 6 inches of snow.

HA!! I've done the snow thing a few times! I remember riding down from Mount Evans in the tire tracks in the snow!

 

[kcflhrc]

The single best advice I could give to anyone, is to Not ride beyond a speed at which you can stop in time. Most people don't understand that the front brake is really your only brake, the back brake is useless in most all situations. You can add to the braking, using the back brake, and it can add a little, but just a little. As the front forks compress, you have to know where that bike is going, cause that just changed the entire geometry, of where you are going. if you don't know that, then you don't know how to stop, or where you are going to stop. So many people i've known, just rode on some sort of faith, well beyond their ability to stop. I ride with this in mind. Can i stop on that blind corner? How many feet would I have if something was ahead? I don't operate on faith anymore.

No your front brake is NOT your only brake. yes it gets most of the work on a hard stop but its closer to 70% front and 30% rear. If you only use your front you risk locking it up and losing control. As you slow down your weight transfers forward putting more pressure on the front wheel, but your back tire is definitely still helping to brake... unless of course you are doing a stoppie, at which point you should not be on the road anyway!

You should be using both brakes simultaneously. As in my case, a 2011 Kawasaki Concours, I have linked brakes as many new motorcycles do so some of these things don't matter. By habit I use both. But always finish the stop with the rear only to prevent the dreaded nose dive. But with linked brakes that is also a non issue but old habits are hard to "BRAKE". As far as using the clutch for upshifts and downshifts, why wouldn't you? Much easier on the bike and much smoother.