Rounders makes a valid point...

 

It's not so much feathering the clutch, it's more about controlling the throttle. You Canadians drive in the snow and it's the same concept when you are driving a vehicle when limited amounts of traction is available.

 

I understand throttle control, but my understanding is judicious clutch feathering helps give finer control to the power to the rear tyre....

 

I wouldn't worry too much about slipping the clutch. With proper throttle modulation you'll be fine. Don't feed the dog more than it can eat.

 

With all due respect - I think not feathering the clutch is what got me into trouble - I just incorrectly applied the gas and it was all over!

 

Used to ride my hard tail springer with no front brake every where. Rain? Yeah. And. I survived. My. How times have changed. Yeah. I ride techno **** now days. 2018 Ultra with ABS. It kicked in once since I had it. Felt kinda weird. Like Clint said. "A man has to know his limitations." Now days manufacturers need to have every little security blanket built in to protect the rider from their self and lack of ability. Where as there are still stupid people still riding stupid bikes with stupid jockey shift and suicide clutch with no front brake. What a dumb *** they are.

 

he's a "little" farther south than that, Tommy
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side note, I don't pretend to know all that much, so I'm confused by "feathering the clutch" in a corner?
how would that help (or be better) than not goosing the throttle on wet/slick pavement?

ETA..., glad you're OK


..L.T.A.

 

Here in South Central PA there is nothing better than hitting Tar Snakes in the rain when you are on a curve.

Makes for some a$$ puckering moments if you have not experienced it, you feel the front tire start to slip on the wet tar snake, then grab again when it gets back on the hard surface. If you just keep a neutral throttle it will recover just fine.

I have traction control and ABS on a couple of my bikes but not RDRS. The traction control does not seem to kick in fast enough (milliseconds) when you twitch over a wet tar snake. However, it works pretty good when there is gravel or other foreign matter on a dry curve.

It would be good to know how RDRS reacts on a corner with wet tar snakes.

Wish they would sand the tar snakes after putting them down to cover the small cracks.

As I age, I find that my skill set, reaction time, and balance degrades without one knowing it. That is why I went to a trike for the heavier machines, still have lighter two wheel bikes and am constantly practicing my riding skill set.

Good on the OP to keep on riding, get that new bike and enjoy, post up a few pictures and let us know how she handles.

Suffer not from the comments provided by those who seek to derail and thread crapping. https://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...ead%20crapping

NOTE:
The above information, while credible, is worth what you paid for it and should not be considered gospel.
Do due diligence, research and have a H-D Field Service Manual before working on your bike.
You will probably have many opinions and suggestions presented; make sure you research the person providing the helpful information as there are some who provide good information that is useful and some who speak out of other orifices with gibberish. You will figure out this quickly.

 

I am not again technology. I don't like cost, and harley often seems to use us for R&D, atleast until boomers are gone. Are we still doing cross thread points?
I am concerned about the idea it will make everything ok, and get him in trouble again. I also wonder if he has confidence issue now.

Has anyone asked how the tires were? If you want to throw money around, changing tires before you need to, might do you better. When I went to AK I put 9k miles on in 3 weeks. I could tell the dramatic braking distance increase on the way home. Usually this distance increases over time, and we don't realize it. Tires are expensive, and often have something else we would rather do than change tires.

I have had traction control help me in snow. Again not against buying new bike. But it is a bike financial choice to make on a whim. I don't want see another I paid to much thread.


Another again, as harleys get faster and faster, this may happen more. Again making about me, cross thread points, when I was doing my first 50 miles on my 98" I spun the rear tire in the ran pullling out fast to beat a car, in the ran. More power than I was used to.

 

Feathering clutch involves modulating the clutch in the "Friction zone" where the clutch plates are slipping. Doing this sends only a percentage of the engine's power to the wheel, thus allowing more precise thrust control than throttle control alone....