No Big Deal ..........
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: New England
No Big Deal ..........
Soooo...... everyone with a suicide clutch says "learning to operate the suicide clutch is no big deal", "no problem, and little practice". 
Well....... I'm here to tell you it aint that simple.
After having the bike on a jack for 5 months, my first stop had to be the gas station (3 miles away, but 3 miles of state highway). After leaving the station a state trooper fell right in behind me. Now I've done all kinds of illegal things to the bike and I'm having a hard time finding neutral. Starting from a stop in first is a challenge. He follows me for a couple of miles. Finally I turn up a dead end road and he goes on. I practice the dreaded, start from a dead stop. Six times. Now I'm ready to try and get home. Only thing, there is a left turn across a state highway that is up a steep incline at a traffic light. I made it!!!!!!!
When I got home I had to have a STRONG one (Wild Turkey). I'm sipping as I write. It is a big deal!!!!!!!!!!
Well....... I'm here to tell you it aint that simple.After having the bike on a jack for 5 months, my first stop had to be the gas station (3 miles away, but 3 miles of state highway). After leaving the station a state trooper fell right in behind me. Now I've done all kinds of illegal things to the bike and I'm having a hard time finding neutral. Starting from a stop in first is a challenge. He follows me for a couple of miles. Finally I turn up a dead end road and he goes on. I practice the dreaded, start from a dead stop. Six times. Now I'm ready to try and get home. Only thing, there is a left turn across a state highway that is up a steep incline at a traffic light. I made it!!!!!!!
When I got home I had to have a STRONG one (Wild Turkey). I'm sipping as I write. It is a big deal!!!!!!!!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
Did you fall? If not, then its NO BIG DEAL. You will learn. If you never used one before, it would take a while to unlearn what you know already so don't be too hard on yourself.
Take the time to learn and parking lots are your friend. Practice is king and there is no alternative to it.
Take the time to learn and parking lots are your friend. Practice is king and there is no alternative to it.
I have an old Indian and a old Harley both with foot clutches..My trouble is that I am a pretty big guy and making a Left turn from a stop is a real bitch for me,as my knees hit the handlebars on both bikes..
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: New England
Did you fall? If not, then its NO BIG DEAL. You will learn. If you never used one before, it would take a while to unlearn what you know already so don't be too hard on yourself.
Take the time to learn and parking lots are your friend. Practice is king and there is no alternative to it.
Take the time to learn and parking lots are your friend. Practice is king and there is no alternative to it.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Something that I do is put it in neutral before I come to a stop so I can put either or both of my feet down. It was not difficult for me to do that as I always ride that way. What I found about starting from a dead stop is to adjsut the clutch with a minimal amount of travel so that you can start out quicker as if you let the clutch out too fast you wills tall. Take your time. I started riding my bike at 7am on a weekend so there was little traffic. I live on an extremely busy street and there is no way to even go around the block at my house without hitting traffic light and very busy streets. If I can do it you can to. No doubt.
Drew
Drew
Drew
Drew
Trending Topics
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,656
Likes: 10
From: Aledo, Texas
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski