The only time you should ride the clutch is when you're trying to maintain a low speed. If your throttle is that jerky you might have a carb or throttle cable issue.

 

Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I've got some sea foam I'm going to try but don't want to open up the carbs if that doesn't work. : (

 

You should not ride the clutch

 

Riding at parking-lot speeds with very little throttle while feathering the clutch in and out to maintain slow speeds won't hurt anything with normal use.

Bringing the engine RPMs up higher while riding on the clutch will cause abnormal wear.

 

Dods is right. It's like a car, you should be able to control your speed in traffic without riding it too much. Play around with what gear you're using at different speeds, that might help a bit with controlling your pace without burning your clutch up.

 

um... ride the clutch is like to hold it at the friction point?

 

Clutch is your buddy. 2 things to remember:

1. If it's an oil bath clutch 'feathering' the clutch at low speed to control throttle isn't a problem. (Dry clutches can get hot--they don't get the bath).

2. Covering the clutch means having your fingers ON the clutch not squeezing the clutch.

Check out the "Clutching" and "Slow Motion" vids here: http://www.howzitdonecrash.com/Howzit_Done_.html for more info.

 

Riding the clutch means holding it at the friction point and feathering it to make it slightly grab.

Meaning no disrespect to anyone, but if a rider is in a parking lot and the rider is going slow enough to have to pull the clutch (feather it) then the rider should stop to put distance between the rider and what ever is in front of the rider that is causing the rider to slow to a speed that is not safe for traveling. Driving that slow would almost mean you are walking the bike while in the saddle, easy to lose balance and lay the bike down. If a person is at a stop light or sign on a slight grade, where a lot of feathering of the clutch does takes place, then feathering will not hurt the clutch. Most MSF riding courses recommend that you come to a complete stop and hold the hand brake, feathering is still not recommended.

 

Honestly dude, I can't help but feel that you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Checkout the Ride Like a Pro V video and tell me that you know more/are a better rider than Jerry Palladino.

One of the truest tests of a motorcyclist's skill is his ability to maneuver the bike at low speeds. Perhaps you need to practice that if you're laying your bike down at slow speeds?

 

Thanks for your help everyone.

 

My bike will not ride with clutch fully out at less than ~20 MPH even with no throttle. It just isn't geared that way.

At parking lot speeds, I don't ride with the clutch in the friction zone the entire time, but rather feather it in and out, alternating between adding power and coasting. A lot of the total time is spent in the friction zone, just not constantly.

 

Riding a clutch in a car will burn it out, they are not wet.

Bikes have wet clutches, you CAN and are encouraged to ride them (friction zone) when performing low speed maneuvers.

 

This is what I learned in my basic rider's course as well. We were told we could ride the clutch all we want and it won't hurt the bike.

 

Well yes, they were talking about normal use, of course

 

Dont touch the clutch!!!!! Dont look at the clutch!!!! Dont acknowlidge the clutch!!! DONT DO IT!!! My 70mile harley 20' iron i just got yestersay is toast cheese.

 

That's okay, its still under warranty. "Toast cheese" could you elaborate please, I'm not familiar with that term. Just curious.

 

Not in operation

 

Wow! Totally fubar'ed in just 70 miles! That's a problem.

 

Clutches are designed to be feathered or used in and out. If you do not use the clutch in some situations you will stall the engine. trials type bikes can be controlled at slow speed completely by the throttle. Tall geared bikes require the clutch to be used. Dry clutches will not over heat with normal feathering use. there was some good a info in the early posts. Covering is two fingers over the clutch. Two stroke bikes at the track are riden this way, in case the dumb thing seizes. My XS400 can be riden around the local village in second and sometimes third, depending on the traffic. In first hardly any need for the clutch, except when stopping. My sport bike requires the clutch in and out, feathering for stop and go and crawl maneuvers. Ducati uses dry clutches. we never treated the dry clutch in the H1R any differently. Or the old corked clutches, or the dry clutches in the Nortons and many other bikes. Clutches were designed to slip and grab while accelerating. Brakes were designed to slip and grab while braking. Use them for what they were designed. UK

 

Covering is two fingers over the clutch.

I do the same thing over the throttle/front brake when on a hill. Holding the front brake while twisting the throttle and releasing the front brake. The clutch is doing some slipping before grabbing and going. I have several hills where both feet on the ground is mandatory. Not a place for newbies to ride.