Stalling out at a light

[Mamadukes]

41 more days till the MSF class, but I'm here reading and learning. You mention driving a manual transmission car, which I used to do and actually loved - driving can be so boring without doing something. Is the shifting on the bike like the car? When you refer to the sweet spot and the friction zone, is this the same principle as when I'd be at a hill, and be "clutching" it, working the clutch and the gas to keep the car ready to go? 2 wheels vs. 4, balance involved, etc. I know, but is is that place where you just know that your clutch is going to "catch?"

[Mantronik]

Originally Posted by Mamadukes

friction zone

"the area of clutch lever movement that begins where the clutch starts to transmit power to the rear wheel and ends just prior to full clutch engagement"

Car = dry clutch = not good to drive around with it partially engaged
Motorcycle = wet clutch = allows you to ride around with it in the friction zone for slow maneuvers and what not without hurting it in any way

The hill, not really the same - you can sit there with the clutch in the friction zone and find the spot where it will hold the bike in place w/o adding anymore throttle = just idling there.
Or some riders will hold the bike in place with just the rear brake.

[soc_monki]

Originally Posted by Mamadukes

41 more days till the MSF class, but I'm here reading and learning. You mention driving a manual transmission car, which I used to do and actually loved - driving can be so boring without doing something. Is the shifting on the bike like the car? When you refer to the sweet spot and the friction zone, is this the same principle as when I'd be at a hill, and be "clutching" it, working the clutch and the gas to keep the car ready to go? 2 wheels vs. 4, balance involved, etc. I know, but is is that place where you just know that your clutch is going to "catch?"

yes and no...you should NEVER keep a car balanced on a hill using the clutch, even with the brakes just to keep it "ready to go". put it in neutral and let the pedal out all the way. otherwise your disc, pressure plate, and throwout bearing will go bye-bye in very short order! dry clutches dont like to be ridden.

as for a bike...yes, its like driving a car. when you get in the friction zone you give it gas and let the clutch out. but a bike has a wet clutch (most of the time...im pretty sure all modern bikes do) and it tolerates "riding" much better than a cars dry clutch.

thats one thing that has always got me...when people hold a car on a hill with the clutch, or leave it in gear and hold the clutch in at a light. i remember one girl i knew got a brand new Camaro with a manual. i saw her holding the clutch in and said "put it in neutral and let that clutch out!" she said "but itll die wont it?" and i told her that her clutch is gonna die before the engine will, especially if she didnt put it back to its natural position!

just some info ya know...

[evmo]

The starter went out on my last bike and was going to take some time for another to show up so i was push starting it. Once I stalled it in the left turn lane and had to dismount and stand next to the bike waiting for the light to change. Once it did I had to push start it with a line of cars behind me. Ah the memories...

[dam05]

I can't work hills yet.

Stalled today a light, truck behind me beeped. aww well now i know a little better.

[soc_monki]

Originally Posted by dam05

I can't work hills yet.

Stalled today a light, truck behind me beeped. aww well now i know a little better.

if you have trouble with hills then find a safe one and practice! a little tip that my dad taught me while i was learning to drive a manual car...use the brake! i used the e-brake in the car, but on a bike you can use the rear brake, or front brake, doenst matter. use whichever youre comfortable with.

hold the brake, give the bike some gas and let the clutch out until you feel it catch. release the brake and be on your way. before you know it you wont even need to use the brake to help on a hill!

[jbsmd]

Waiting for the light to turn green, the line I was in, didn't move fast enough for a couple of cars and myself to get through before it turned red. I knew it would go through at least four more changes before it would be our turn again, so I put it in neutral and turned off the bike. All behind me had stopped. As soon as I did this, the light turned green again. Sirens blasted, and boy, talk about panic. An ambulance had activated the light to turn green. Don't think I've ever started, jammed it in gear and took off so fast.

[:::]

Haha, somehow my gearshift got messed up (my fault probably) i guess i downshifted without using the clutch and i got stuck in 3rd gear without realizing it. Went out into the intersection and watched the tach go 1.5k-3k then down to 1k without even letting off the throttle and of course it stalled. Started it back up and tried again, and again, and again before realizing that I should get out of the middle of the street and let some other cars go. Very embarasing having to duck walk the bike across an intersection, but isnt that why they made tinted visors and black helmets.

[SGVRider]

Originally Posted by Glad2Ride

I'll always feel better when stalling, by remembering this:

A while back I was behind a cocky kid on a crotchrocket waiting on a red light. The kid was having so much fun reving his motor while showing off that he completely flipped the bike out from under himself when the light did finally change. I could see his embarrasment right through his fullface as he stood looking at the small oil stream coming from under his bike as it lay half over the curb as the traffic slowly drove by.....

Hah, what a loser. It happens to the best, though. Dani Pedrosa flipped his lil' ol' Repsol Honda on a free practice start. They say it was the electronics. YouTube - Dani Pedrosa Launch vid
I love the way Hopkins looks around like "Did anyone else see that?"

I have no trouble with motorcycle transmissions now, but I always stall cars. I stalled my buddy's M6 like 3 times trying to drive while he was sloshed, it's much more difficult to feather in the clutch and rev match on a car it seems to me, simply because it's harder to get a feel for the throttle and clutch levers. You just have to slip the clutch a lot. Don't be afraid to abuse it, new friction plates are like $30.

[rustygunner]

I haven't stalled a bike in years... until the other day =) Just let out on the clutch and forgot to open the throttle for some reason. Had my wife riding with; she took off and I was just sitting there at the light. I was a little embarrassed for sure.

[soc_monki]

Originally Posted by SGVRider

Hah, what a loser. It happens to the best, though. Dani Pedrosa flipped his lil' ol' Repsol Honda on a free practice start. They say it was the electronics. YouTube - Dani Pedrosa Launch vid
I love the way Hopkins looks around like "Did anyone else see that?"

I have no trouble with motorcycle transmissions now, but I always stall cars. I stalled my buddy's M6 like 3 times trying to drive while he was sloshed, it's much more difficult to feather in the clutch and rev match on a car it seems to me, simply because it's harder to get a feel for the throttle and clutch levers. You just have to slip the clutch a lot. Don't be afraid to abuse it, new friction plates are like $30.

i guess launch control doesnt work eh? LOL nice vid!

as for car vs. bike trannies...its so much easier to ride a bike. i love driving manual cars, but instead of yanking the clutch and hitting a little lever, you have to shove your foot down and move your arm around. so much more work...i wish cars came with sequential trannies

[lilspider776]

LOL we all go threw this! my first time i couldn't make it down the block cause every stop sign i stopped at i stalled!!!! problem where i was living, it had inclines to every stop sign.

[Nightwisher]

Originally Posted by murtasma

I always just give it a little gas before I let the clutch out smoothly. Haven't stalled the bike since I started doing this.

Same here. I stalled at a few lights the first week I got my bike, before I got over my fear of giving it gas before letting out the clutch. I didn't wanna end up like our friend who flipped his bike lol.