I own a 1934 74ci VLD (flathead) Harley Davidson. I hear people who should know just what makes this style of clutch (not the shift) seem to be suicide. This is what I know after 53 years of being around this 1934 VLD. 1, It's not the shift. 2, It is the clutch. 3, Has anyone who talks about the "suicide" ever rode one? 4, I would have to guess NOT! Please understand this type of clutch is seemingly suicide. If one forgets he has his bike in 1st gear while sitting at a red light, or other intersection stopped. If you remove your foot off the clutch (again, while in gear) the friction plates will be wet (at some point) and the clutch will engage and launch you and bike into traffic. Coining the word "suicide" So with all this in mind my Father who shipped this VLD from Germany after WWII (1944) always called it the "Suicide Clutch". Was he wrong or what is the deal? Please correct me and give me reasons why I am (if I am) wrong about this term. "Suicide clutch", Not "Suicide shift" Thank you Gentlemen. I have logged many, many miles on this factory correct VL and it is truly a joy to have this vibrator between my legs.Sweet ride.

 

Hey Wobohart,you are right it should be called suicide clutch because that is exactly what was so unpredictable if not adjusted properly.All my first half dozen Harleys were tank shifters.After the first one a 1937 80" Flathead learned how to adjust the clutch so when disingaged you could trust it.I did get launched a few times through stop lights amazing how hard it is to try and stop those beasts.

 

I run a foot clutch and when my foot slips off the clutch the bike will stall. I never call my bike suicide clutch as I have a frotn brake and dislike the term suicide clutch. I call it foot clutch with tank shift.

Drew

 

I must be missing something here. That statement is true for any stick shift be it a motorcycle, car or truck.

 

What do ya call it when your hand clutch cable breaks when your sitting at the stop light?

 

oh ****!!!

 

You ride a VLD?!?! Got any decent pictures?

 

Well they didn't come from the factory with a suicide clutch.
The had a spring loaded rocker setup, similar to what you see
on a side stand, but also with friction pads. The thing that
made them suicide was when guys would change em to act
like a car clutch. In other words, it was always engaged, press
down to disengage and you could let it snap back to engage.
I never had a problem with em, they're just different.

 

I was thinking the same thing and it would be the same for a hand clutch.

 

never happened to be but I often wonder about that situation, If I know it's a long light or need to adjust I usually put it in neutral.