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A couple years ago someone was telling me how bike clutches are specially made so that its impossible to burn them. Something about it being submerged in oil. Is that true? Can you feather the clutch as much as you want at any rpms w/o burning it? if so why arent car clutches made in a similar way?

On another note whats a slipper clutch?

Nah, clutches on bikes can wear out. Just takes longer. And yes, generally speaking, they're wet clutches, ones submersed in the engine oil. Typically the transmission and engine share the same oil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipper_clutch

OK how bout feathering, good or bad idea?

TKDean wrote:OK how bout feathering, good or bad idea?

Feathering is one of the most basic and necessary skills. So, it's a good idea

Honestly, feathering the clutch will wear it out faster. But it's a trained technique at most rider training courses, because of the added difficulties of riding a bike compared to driving a car.

That being said, I don't feather mine anymore - I only did it for a little while, while I was first learning to ride. Clutches aren't cheap, and a burnt one smells awfully bad.

[quote="Sev"]Honestly, feathering the clutch will wear it out faster. But it's a trained technique at most rider training courses, because of the added difficulties of riding a bike compared to driving a car.

That being said, I don't feather mine anymore - I only did it for a little while, while I was first learning to ride. Clutches aren't cheap, and a burnt one smells awfully bad.[/quote

I agree - clutch is not meant to be "feathered" in any vehicle. Concentrate on & practise smooth clutch realease & gentle/even throttle up technique. The brakes are for stopping & for holding the bike stationary on hills. Works very well and the expensive bits on your bike will last longer.

Feathering simply refers to the technique of keeping the clutch in the friction zone: somewhere between fully disconnecting and fully connecting the final drive. So you're technically feathering the clutch when you're doing a lot of low speed drills, or when you're starting out from a stop, or when you're shifting, etc...

Feathering does not mean holding your bike on a hill with the clutch instead of the brake. You're using the technique to do it, but holding on a hill is not feathering.

Skier wrote:Feathering simply refers to the technique of keeping the clutch in the friction zone: somewhere between fully disconnecting and fully connecting the final drive. So you're technically feathering the clutch when you're doing a lot of low speed drills, or when you're starting out from a stop, or when you're shifting, etc...

Feathering does not mean holding your bike on a hill with the clutch instead of the brake. You're using the technique to do it, but holding on a hill is not feathering.

Yup, I do my best to either keep it all the way out, or all the way in. Though in slow speeds I'll keep it covered so I can pull or semi-pull it if I need to. I do feather on occasion, but I try my best not too.

Sev wrote:That being said, I don't feather mine anymore - I only did it for a little while, while I was first learning to ride. Clutches aren't cheap, and a burnt one smells awfully bad.

How do you do this? I feather my clutch at really low speeds; its easier for me to modulate speed smoothly than by using the throttle. I'd love to find a better way though.

Grey Thumper wrote:

Sev wrote:That being said, I don't feather mine anymore - I only did it for a little while, while I was first learning to ride. Clutches aren't cheap, and a burnt one smells awfully bad.

How do you do this? I feather my clutch at really low speeds; its easier for me to modulate speed smoothly than by using the throttle. I'd love to find a better way though.

I use to feather in traffic jams or slow speeds. Now i use short bursts. Much easier IMO.