What's the big difference?

[TMcMahon51]

I'm looking at a couple of older style bikes, and I would like to know, what's the major difference between a Hydraulic clutch, and a Mechanical clutch? They both do the same thing, don't they? If it's a clutch, then it should pretty much use the same principles to do the same thing, don't they? As far as I know, they both dissengage the drive from the engine for gear change, one uses fluid and the other moving parts, but in the long run, what's the big difference?

[poppygene]

You're right, T. They do the same thing, they just go about it differently. Brake fluid versus steel cable. Hydraulics normally don't require much maintenance - just a regular fluid change - whereas cables stretch and require adjustment and lubrication. It's been a long time and I wouldn't say it is something you need to worry about, but I had a clutch cable break once. If that happens to you, it can pretty much disable the bike, unless... well... I won't go into that here.

[Aggroton]

you just missed a good rundown on this during corbins ride on last night...but he did a good job explaining it.

[TMcMahon51]

ANother question, which probably also sounds pretty stupid, but here goes. What are those clutches that are operated with your foot instead of on the handle-controls? Are they some sort of modern version of "suicide" or something? I know it's stupid, but I usually work on cars, I want to be into bikes, but know almost nothing.

[Sev]

I seem to recall hearing that a lot of people don't like hydrolic clutches because it removes a lot of the feeling from riding the bike. You can't tell as readily when you're in the friction zone by the feel of the clutch. Though that doesn't mean much to me as I've only ever ridden a mechanical clutch.

[oldnslo]

Hydraulic clutches are great. I've had several, never a failure ever, but if you must feel the cable sliding in the tube, and the little increments of spring movement in the clutch, then they're not for you. I sure wish my corrent old bike had one. They are smooth, won't break at a stoplight, and little or no adjustment is required. For the street rider, they are perfect. Just add brake fluid to the master cylinder once in a while.

[Telesque]

ANother question, which probably also sounds pretty stupid, but here goes. What are those clutches that are operated with your foot instead of on the handle-controls? Are they some sort of modern version of "suicide" or something? I know it's stupid, but I usually work on cars, I want to be into bikes, but know almost nothing.

Foot operated clutches are simply that- Clutches operated with your foot.

Back in the day, they were the counterpart to the jockey-shifter, which was a rod sticking out of the tranny. While most bikes use the common clutch-on-left-grip setup, there's still some custom jobs out there (and maybe even some as stock options?) that use a foot-clutch.

I'd actually like to try one out- Using both levers as brakes, with clutch on the right foot and shift on the left foot. But I have no idea what the ups and downs of using that sort of system are (Well, other than having to have one foot on the clutch being a hassle when you need to foot-roll your bike while in gear, but putting it in neutral isn't a really big deal)

[TMcMahon51]

Thanks for the help Telesque. I think a foot-clutch would be intresting, as well as a "twist-grip" clutch. If you've seen Biker Buildoff on the Discovery channel, then you might know what it is, other than that, all it really is is a clutch placed in the right handle, which pretty much operates the same way as the throttle... by twisting it.

[Randy]

Which manufacturers use hydraulic clutches? It there a growing trend towards one or the other? Just curious.

[mswarrior]

Which manufacturers use hydraulic clutches? It there a growing trend towards one or the other? Just curious.

My 1984 Honda VF1000F Interceptor has a Hydraulic clutch and I have yet to have any problems with it so far @ 42,000 km.