Total Motorcycle Community Forums

When I used to drive my stickshift car, or even any manual car for that matter, everytime I brake, I would find my self holding in the clutch. If i needed to accelerate or maintain a speed, I would just go up to the friction point and then release. But then I realized that as I started to ride a motorcycle, everytime I brake I would also hold in the clutch and follow the same habits. For example, say if I was to start braking, I'd hold in the clutch as I would brake but if I had to continue on, I would slowly let out the clutch and give it some gas. Now if I still needed to brake harder I would hold in the clutch continuiously and then downshift if necessary. Now just wondering, does anyone else do this or do I need to fix my habit?

Your supposed to use your brakes?

Honestly the only time I brake and clutch at the same time is when I am slowing down to a certain point (like I get down to 20mph so I go from 3rd to 2nd). Otherwise I just take hand of the throttle and brake if I have to (which on a normal ride I barely ever ahve to brake). Same with when my wife was teachign me to drive a stick shift car (whcih I still cant figure out the hill thing on those). No point in pushing in the clutch unless you have to really slow down a great deal to where you absolutely need to downshift. I always keep my clutch covered when I am slowing down but dont use it unless I have to.

when im slowing down/braking... i only use the clutch when or if im gonna downshift.

otherwise, i use just the brake.

plus, you get more stopping power since engine breaking is also present if you don't use the clutch.


oh and i dunno if always using the clutch before braking is bad habit... i think it's just a different way of doing things.

what does the MSF teach about this?

i don't remember since i don't follow eveything they teach anyway. like braking... i follow what "sport riding techniques" teaches ...i use the rear then followed quickly by the front. MSF teaches use both at the same time.

There comes a point when ya need to clutch in order to save the bike from stalling, when your slowing down or cdown shifting gears.

but

You gain maximum braking when the engine is under load, than you get if you disengage by clutching then braking. Also an advantage is you need less brake to stop the bike which means less stress on the front wheel (if your using front to stop of course:))

Yeah you see, because for a car, there is no engine compression so I would always hold in the clutch for no apparent reason =\. Actually, to switch gears quickly if ever need to be I guess, but you're right, I guess with a motorcycle it's more preferable to not hold in the cluthc and have engine compression help with the braking.

No engine compression on a car? Not true. You can engine brake in a car just the same.

I actually have the same problem of disengaging the engine every time I do any significant braking. Maybe this is a common thing for people who have driven nothing but manual transmission.

The only time I feel it's really a bad thing on a bike is going through a curve/corner. You're supposed to accellerate through the turn, and if the engine isn't already engaged and you find yourself engaging it in the middle of the turn, you have to been extremely smooth at the friction point to keep good traction.

It's hard to break those old habits from driving my truck.

Andrew wrote:No engine compression on a car? Not true. You can engine brake in a car just the same.

I actually have the same problem of disengaging the engine every time I do any significant braking. Maybe this is a common thing for people who have driven nothing but manual transmission.

I do the same thing, but I'm only a recent convert to manual transmission cars. Unless I know I'll be staying in the same gear throughout the turn (or whatever), I go on the clutch when doing any significant braking. The vast majority of the time, I'm going to be in a different gear when I start accelerating, and I've always figured brake pads are cheaper than engine rebuilds

I found myself doing the same thing on my bike last night, but I just have to make sure I'm back in gear as I start the turn after braking. Trying to do it less.

Andrew wrote:No engine compression on a car? Not true. You can engine brake in a car just the same.

I actually have the same problem of disengaging the engine every time I do any significant braking. Maybe this is a common thing for people who have driven nothing but manual transmission.

The only time I feel it's really a bad thing on a bike is going through a curve/corner. You're supposed to accellerate through the turn, and if the engine isn't already engaged and you find yourself engaging it in the middle of the turn, you have to been extremely smooth at the friction point to keep good traction.

It's hard to break those old habits from driving my truck.

I may have those same problems as well. I drove a manual transmission truck for three years until I completely tore up the spidergears in the rear. Now when I drive my automatic car I find myself reaching for a nonexistant gearshift and clutch every time I slow down.

I used the engine to slow down my truck all the time, I could stop on a dime faster than people with automatics by doing that.

We'll see what I do when I get my bike.

I don't enjoy the smell of fused clutch plates. I stay offa the thing unless im coming to a stop, shifting, or pulling out.

I thought one of the advantages of a wet clutch was that it could be ridden a bit more, vs dry like most cars have? I only ride the clutch if I have to stop short, otherwise I try to downshift - but I don't think it actually hurts anything to ride it a bit. Or is that completely wrong?