Need Help Driving With a Clutch...

[Dog--]

I'm getting a Dirtbike (2002 YZ 125) in a few days, and IN THEORY I know how to drive a clutch, however, it's my first bike and it's a 2 stroke, which I hear are easy to blow up for beginners, so I just want a few questions answered from anyone who knows how to drive a clutch.


1) So, you hold down the clutch thing, let go of the throttle (so it's at zero), then shift up, and slowly release the clutch, and increase the throttle. When in 3, 4, 5, 6 gears you don't have to slowly release the clutch, you can just let it go. Is this correct for shifting up?

2) For shifting down, can I just hold down the clutch thing, and shift down a bunch of times, then let it go, or do I have to hold it down, shift down, then release it, then pull it back down again for shifting down again?

3) Any tips for starting out driving a clutch?

 

[sinkoman]

First off, i'd say get a bigger bike. I own a TTR125, and while it worked out perfectly for me when I first bought it, i've outgrown it in a matter of a few years. How old are you? If you're around 13+, i'd say start looking at 200s, 225s, or even 250s. Four strokes are really nice too if you're trail riding.

(It's driving with a "manual transmission", not driving a "clutch").

If you're doing any sort of speed, you really don't need to worry too much about clutch release speed. Don't pop it, don't be too slow (lest you burn it out), just let it go. And yeah, you squeeze the clutch, bring it up a gear, and then give it some gas as you steadily release the clutch. You only really need to worry about how much gas you give it when you're going slower, because excessive amounts will equal you on your ass if the clutch engages quickly enough.

But good luck learning how to get it in gear. It'll take you a while to get the hang of letting out the clutch slowly yet smoothly, so as not to do a wheelie and/or kill the engine.

For downshifting, it depends on what you're doing. When i'm comming to a complete halt, I coast in gear for a while, then depress the clutch and rapidly downshift, and then use my brakes to come to a halt.

DON'T DO THIS IF YOU'RE NOT PLANNING ON STOPPING! Doing 30 through a trail and then dropping it into first without slowing is a great way to kill your bike.

When i'm just slowing, I heel and toe. I hold the clutch, downshift, use my brakes to slow down to a reasonable speed for the gearing ratio, and then while the brakes are still depressed, rev match the engine output shaft to the tranny input, and then quickly release the clutch. Essential if you're driving on fairly grippy roads, unless you want to get rid of your knobs, and nice in single track trails, so as not to disturb your balance in the mud.

Manual transmission really isn't that difficult at all. Just don't be an idiot with the clutch.

When I first learned, my biggest problem was that I thought that the clutch was just a sort of a temporary neutral, so I was always doing all sorts of shit that I shouldn't have been doing. Read up on manual transmissions and get a good idea of how they operate, will make shit a lot easier for you.

BTW, I really doubt you'll blow your cylinder, unless you're going to try to do 100 mph on some horse trails

 

[Dog--]

I was waiting for you to post, as I know you've got a dirtbike.

The reason I'm getting a 125 is because it's cheap as shit, 2002, owned by my cousin, ridden maybe 15-20 times, perfect condition, $700, couldn't pass it up (I'm 16 BTW). Also note that it's not my money even thats paying for it, my parents are buying this for me as a "practice" bike, then next summer I'm selling it for about $2000, then buying a 250 (hopefully Honda). So the 125 is only for about 1 year.

I should tell you a little about who I'm riding with. First off, I live in the country (so far out people drive on the roads with dirtbikes, and if a cop comes, they just drive off the road into a forest, and the cop doesn't even bother). Another thing, the people I ride with have been riding their entire lives, they got souped up 250's and 450's, they mostly do motocross, but they do trail ride with them, which is why I need speed more then power.

I know about not giving it too much gas while shifting, learned the hard way. Driving a little 90cc down the road (pavement), topping out in 1st, shifted into second, and did a wheelie (which I didn't think this little thing could do). Scared the hell out of me because I was on pavement and riding for the first time.

I've lived out here for 3-4 years, and just getting a dirtbike now (it is so damn boring without one in the country..).

And yes, there is PLENTY of black-top racing out here. (I'm really eager to try this road by some train tracks, it basically ramps right over the tracks, the way the road is)

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

First tip: ABATE.

What to do next: Bike upright and in neutral, turn on bike. Disengage any parking brake. Pull in clutch, slowly apply a mild amount of power, release clutch enough that it engages and starts pulling, apply enough power that your roll is comfortable, release clutch fully and apply more gas.
To upshift, release throttle, engage clutch fully, upshift, apply throttle (power, gas) and release clutch smoothly.
When slowing, do the same, but downshift. On some bikes you don't need to clutch to downshift, but you should use it for now.
While turning, apply your brakes and downshift if necessary before the turn. Don't do either while turning. Apply throttle 1/2 to 3/4 way through the turn.

I started on a 400cc street bike when I was 16. You'll get use to and bored of that 125 in a month or so. I doubt you'll get anywhere near 100mph with such a bike.

 

[Dog--]

Well, I actually probably won't even keep it for a year, since I do not ever plan on riding in the winter with a dirtbike (maybe a quad or sled), thats when I'll sell it, then buy a 250 by the time the snow melts (if we even get snow this year...)


Oh, I think it should also be noted that I'm not very tall, I think I'm like 5'6". I tried to sit on my friends 450, and I could barely stand straight, I'd probably have to lower it ALOT if I got one..

 

[sinkoman]

First tip: ABATE.

What to do next: Bike upright and in neutral, turn on bike. Disengage any parking brake. Pull in clutch, slowly apply a mild amount of power, release clutch enough that it engages and starts pulling, apply enough power that your roll is comfortable, release clutch fully and apply more gas.
To upshift, release throttle, engage clutch fully, upshift, apply throttle (power, gas) and release clutch smoothly.
When slowing, do the same, but downshift. On some bikes you don't need to clutch to downshift, but you should use it for now.
While turning, apply your brakes and downshift if necessary before the turn. Don't do either while turning. Apply throttle 1/2 to 3/4 way through the turn.

I started on a 400cc street bike when I was 16. You'll get use to and bored of that 125 in a month or so. I doubt you'll get anywhere near 100mph with such a bike.

OT, get on aim, or MSN, or SOMETHING! I has questions to ask you.

 

[xcellerate]

1) So, you hold down the clutch thing, let go of the throttle (so it's at zero), then shift up, and slowly release the clutch, and increase the throttle. When in 3, 4, 5, 6 gears you don't have to slowly release the clutch, you can just let it go. Is this correct for shifting up?

You should be off the gas, then disengage the clutch, then shift gears, then you engage the clutch and apply the gas at nearly exactly the same, but not in equal amounts.

You should never just 'let it go' under normal driving...once you're moving you should keep the same principal as you did in first gear it just doesn't have to be as gentle or precise.

2) For shifting down, can I just hold down the clutch thing, and shift down a bunch of times, then let it go?

Yes, but again don't just 'let it go.'


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You should read up on or ask questions about what the clutch actually is because from your questions it sounds like you don't fully understand it. I'm not making fun of you or anything like that and maybe I'm wrong but I'm just saying...

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

^Agreed.
I was going to say you should try to learn how a clutch operates. When I was learning to ride I didn't get it and people just kept telling me to release the clutch slowly and I did, but that was the problem. Once I learned that it is a rotational mass that is driven by friction I understood it must be operated within certain tolerances, and through practice I could memorize and skillfully apply those tolerances.

 

[Shasta]

Oh dear god.

Also,

...IN THEORY I know how to drive a clutch...

...assorted questions about the "theory" of driving a "clutch"

If you know how to do it "in theory", then why are you asking so many questions about how to do it "in theory"?

And for the love of jesus, at least get the terminology right, to avoid looking like a complete twat. It's called a "manual", as in manual gearbox. Guess what an automatic gearbox/transmission is called...?