The Clutch is Key

My first 10,000 miles!

Driving several manual-transmission Fords through the years helped me understand how a motorcycle transmission works. Engage the clutch, the engine no longer transmits its torque to the wheels. Let it out, the vehicle moves forward. Simple, right?

I didn't know when I first started out how important the clutch really is. I thought it was just for changing gears. Lever-in, shift, lever-out.

Luckily, before I started riding much, I read about the "friction zone," where the engine just begins to engage. Still, it took a lot of practice before I really understood it.

We did a lot of training with the clutch in the basic rider course. My hand got so sore and fatigued that it stopped holding on, and at one point the bike shot away from me across the range (luckily, at less than 20 mph).

Still, I wasn't using the clutch on the slow turning moves, as in the U-turn box, and that was a mistake. To get good traction, it's best to keep that clutch in the friction zone, I learned, with controlled, steady power to the rear wheel. That gives you more stability than coasting.

A great practice for how the clutch really works on a bike is the "slow race." I do this whenever I'm in traffic, approaching stopped vehicles. The moment I see the brake lights ahead of me, I pull in the clutch and downshift, then ease the clutch out with my foot on the brake. That way I'm slowing but I have more control over the speed.

I noticed the difference yesterday on a long ride across high-volume traffic areas, riding side-by-side with my Ironman. Not to brag, but I did feel proud that I was gliding into the stopped traffic and lighting or not even putting my feet down, while he shot ahead from behind me and seemed to be slamming on the brakes as if surprised.

Feels good to be in control, finally.