I know old Indians, and i think old HDs to, have the suicide clutch. I asked an old timer why its called that, he says cause if you use it wrong it will flip you over backwards. At highway speeds that equals death. That makes me afraid to ride it and i've been riding for a while. Anyone ever rode an oldie with the suicide clutch?

 

Really they were called that was because (the I know betters will be in shortly) you had to shift with one hand, clutch and release with a foot and break and throttle with the other hand.and foot... on a hill it was a PITA..... definitely a hand/eye/foot/hand coordination thing..... hence suicide shift.

I will be proven wrong in a matter of hours, TIA

 

The old timer is full of ****. Flip you over bacwards?

 

Suicide clutch got the name because if a rider couldn't find neutral and he lost balance his foot would come off the clutch causing his scooter to jump into traffic.

 

flip over backwards ? thats funny . Maybe he's thinking about a "suicide kick start"

 

I had one of those! ( w/a magneto.)

Gimpy

 

Left foot clutch. Left hand on jockey shift. Right foot on brake. Right hand on throttle to keep the damn thing running and to steer.
Better find neutral fast coming to a stop at a signal/intersection or out you went into traffic.
Also factor in usually 1 or more false neutrals to keep you on your toes.

 

The old bikes had "rocker" clutches, not suicide clutches. The clutch pedal stayed where you put it, if the tension was set correctly.

Now, a rocker clutch could become a suicide if the tension was too loose. But even then it simply mimics a car clutch - pedal down & you're disengaged; pedal up & you're engaged.

 

Nope,, just the thought of having one Scarrred me...




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I like the idea, but starting on a hill with one terrifies me.