Clutch = Anger

[VermilionX]

An exercise that worked for me when I was learning to drive stick was to find a small hill, roll up on it and (in this case with your feet barely touching the ground) use the engine and clutch to roll yourself up and down the hill, and make it stop and hold it still on the hill without using the brake.

i call that hanging.

and yes, it's a great practice. i was so happy when i learned it on the 1st car that i drove.

i dunno if it can be pulled off on a bike though.

[Kal]

It can. My instructor did it to me just before my test and was mightly impressed that it was no problem.

Of course I was on a 500 and I'd been doing cold starts on that hill on my 125 for months...

[VermilionX]

It can. My instructor did it to me just before my test and was mightly impressed that it was no problem.

Of course I was on a 500 and I'd been doing cold starts on that hill on my 125 for months...

wow!

how long can you hold the bike still on a slope?

i could only hold it for a short time before i have to either go again or put a foot down.

[CNF2002]

Well you would have to put your feet down if the bike is absolutely still. The object of the exercise is not to balance the bike, but to learn how to balance the clutch.

On the hill you wont be holding the bike motionless with your feet, just toe-down enough to keep from tipping while you focus on maintaining position and forward/backward movement with the clutch and engine.

[The Grinch]

Well you would have to put your feet down if the bike is absolutely still.

Why? I can do it on a bicycle (it's called a track stand), so I see no reason why it can't be done on a motorcycle.

[buddhacide]

Well, thanks to this thread I managed to go for a little cruise in first. A small personal victory. The friction zone seems to be at a point where the clutch is almost fully released - I suppose this is good once things start going faster.

I also didnt know that the bike would move without any throttle at all.

One thing that I felt sort of weird about was the breaking. I found that when i went to use the front break it was sort of difficult to not open the throttle a little bit. Did anyone else find this?

One thing I need for certain is a bigger practice area. The alley behind me is ok, but there isnt enough of a through way to practice anything, by the time you get going you're already there

Anyhow, thanks again all. This forum is great.

[The Grinch]

Speaking of slow-speed clutch and throttle control, did anyone see the show about a motorcycle "rodeo" last night on the Speed channel?

They had a "race" where riders lined up in lanes on about a 100 yard course. The winner was the last one across the finish line.

[flynrider]

My bike buddies and I used to to that a lot. We quit when a former trials rider joined our group. He could crawl along with the wheels barely turning, and occasionally come to a full stop. He took all the fun out of it

[Kal]

It can be done on a bike, but there is a big difference between a motorbike doing it and a push bike. A push bike is comparatively easy because the riders weight is such a large percentage of the total weight, on a motorbike the rider is a lesser percentage of the total weight.

wow!

how long can you hold the bike still on a slope?

i could only hold it for a short time before i have to either go again or put a foot down.

Not all that long, and I have had the advantage of low weight, low CoG bikes to do it on. Your 750 will have a high CoG to make it responsive so not the easiest bike in the world to do it on.

I aspire to not put my foot down at the lights. I know I am not the only one, my instructors admitted they play the same game outside of work.

[sharpmagna]

Speaking of slow-speed clutch and throttle control, did anyone see the show about a motorcycle "rodeo" last night on the Speed channel?

They had a "race" where riders lined up in lanes on about a 100 yard course. The winner was the last one across the finish line.

Yup, I saw that program. They called it the Slow Race. Now that took a lot of clutch control and balance.