I was watching "Ride like a pro" video last night and it was talking about partially engaging the clutch, give a little gas, and apply the back brakes as a good way to handle the bike at slow speeds.

Now I was told when first learning to drive a car, never to ride the brakes and never to partially use the clutch. Both things would substantially wear down the clutch and brakes. Is this not true for bikes? Do you guys do this as part of your normal driving?

thx,
todd

 

For years I had problems at slow speeds, but after I watched that video and put it into practice I have not had any problems. What can I say, it works that's all I know!! As for weather it wears the brake & clutch out, so be it .

 

2 wheeler is different than your car. Traction is need to maintain balance specially if you aredoing a slow speed turn as they train in MSF Fig 8. so all those 3 elements in proper proportions.

 

Yeah, I'd rather wear the clutch or brakes a little than drop my bike. Gotta love those "Ride Like A Pro" videos.

 

yes- that is the proper way to control a wheel at slow speeds. granted, it wears the clutch/brakes a bit, but if you do it properly, youd be amazed at the maneuverability.

 

I had the same technical doubt, especially since I come from my car, which is a 420 N/m 360 bhp Mitsuibishi Evo IX, where the clutch has to be used with care and skill.
But there are relevant differences in design between the two.
The car clutch is a single disk dry clutch.
The Dyna's clutch is a multidisc wet clutch. It's made to work that way.
Moreover, there's a significant difference between launching with a car "playing" the clutch and riding at slow speed modulating the speed with the clutch.
In the first case you are discharging all the engine energy using the clutch to modulate the power, and what you don't need is wasted in heat, while with the bike you are using a minimum amount of power, actually the minimum amount of power the engine can yeld, and use the clutch to further modulate it.
It's like maneuvering with your car: you use the clutch and don't burn it because you are using minimum power, so very little energy is dissipated via the clutch itself.
So, it's safe to "ride the clutch" to get proper speed, while keeping the engine at enough revs to run smoothly, but not more.

 

The throttle/clutch/rear brake technique is also intended for slow speed maneuvering, such as in a parking lot.....they are not trying to insinuate that you should be doing that in "normal" riding.

 

I learned those skills at the HD Motor School in 2001. My bike now has 69k on the original clutch. I've only adjusted it a time or two in all those miles. Now for the rear brake pads....I do find that I replace then pretty often. No big deal.

 

exactly, In other words,"man you gotta be kidding"....unless you ride only at slow speed and do a lot of tight manuvers, you will never use the technique. Chances are someone that is niave enough to even wonder or worry about theeffect it has onthier bike will never use the method anyway.... I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go round

 

friction zone. love it, use it, works everytime!!!!!!!!!