I have tried this on my SV, but it ends up being slower because the clutch lever hits my other fingers. I know everyone likes to talk about clutching and braking with two, but how in the world are you supposed to clutch with two, without hitting the other two?

 

it might be the way you have your clutch cable adjusted that is not allowing you to do this. the way mine is set up, by the time the lever hits my other two fingers, the clutch is completely disengaged. but when i go to take off just about as soon as a start to let the clutch out it starts to engage. it basically takes out a good portion of the travel in the lever. i find the two fingers to be much more comfortable and easier to ride.

 

On my 250 and my brothers 636 the clutch engagement point was way down near the bar so I learned by using all 4. The R6 engagement is only about an inch into the lever travel so it's possible to only use 2 fingers without hitting the other two fingers. I've tried it a few times and hate the way it feels since I'm so used to using 4. It also feels like I have less clutch control when using 2.

I'm going to stick with using 4 until someone shows me why 2 is better

 

Four finger clutch here. I've tried two but I don't feel like I have to control I want when feathering it. I'm guessing your lever is set on 4? Try making it a bit farther away and see if you can't get the clutch completely disengaged before hitting the other two fingers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rusty Shackleford &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it might be the way you have your clutch cable adjusted that is not allowing you to do this. the way mine is set up, by the time the lever hits my other two fingers, the clutch is completely disengaged. but when i go to take off just about as soon as a start to let the clutch out it starts to engage. it basically takes out a good portion of the travel in the lever. i find the two fingers to be much more comfortable and easier to ride. </TD></TR></TABLE>



2 fingers here

 

i use two fingers more than 4 so i have more of a hold on the clip-on. then again, i clicked on this thread because i saw "two fingered"

 

2 fingers here as well. It gives me more grip on the handle bars and feels a lot quicker when shifting. THe only thing i hate about it is when you are clutching, the lever hits your knuckles and it hurts.

 

Most likely you gotta adjust the cable tension. CRG has a dope *** adjust-on-the-fly levers. Anyways.. I only 2 finger clutch when clutching a wheelie. The 1st time I tried a clutched wheelie with all 4... woohoo!, my sphincter felt that a hurry. Almost lost my grip on the left clip-on.

 

I clutch using all 4 fingers and brake with 3. Generally speaking I think clutching with 4 is going to be a more consistent, effective methodology (but whatver works for you works... though a lot of you seem to be saying that it hits your fingers.. which would suck). Your upshifts, even on track, don't need to be lightning fast, just smooth and repeatable - that tenth isn't going to matter if you've wadded yourself up. Your efforts are better spent improving elsewhere. I also downshift with all four fingers - however - you don't need to pull in the clutch the entire way to downshift, just slightly repeal power. This, I've found, is much more smooth than fully disengaging the clutch (and is the reccomended method [according to Sport Rider, at least]). Try it, you'll probably see what I mean.

Your entire goal with shifting - ESPECIALLY downshifting - should be to not upset chassis balance. The more you bounce weight back and forth between the front and rear tires the more likely you are to lose it on turn in (or, if you suck, going straight). On acceleration just try to keep it real - these bikes are fast enough as it is and you need to concentrate on going, not on MotoGP style ramrod shifts.

As with braking you should use as few fingers necessary to get complete (linear, smooth) power out of the brake. For me and my old bike, it's three. You then use your palm and unoccupied fingers to blip the throttle while downshifting.

You should not be holding onto the clip ons to hang on. They are your only direct control over bike direction. The more you use them to support yourself the more you inadvertantly unsettle the bike because of minute body orchestra. Squeeze the tank insets with your knees (that's why the cut out is there) to support yourself. You should find that all your movements will become more fluid (though you will need to get in shape, it's tiring). This also plays significantly when cornerning, but that's another disucssion.

I think that covers "how to ride like they tell you in books." Ultimately, I guess whatever works, though, works.

 

I don't use my clutch when I shift up or down.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reckless636 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't use my clutch when I shift up or down. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Eh? Or down.. Confused....Anyway. I don't use it when I upshift from 3rd gear up. When I do use it I use four fingers, I'm used to it and using two fingers is just uncomfortable for me. For the brake I only use two on the RC but I use four on my SV.


Modified by backlash at 7:41 AM 4/21/2005

 

I clutch with two and brake with one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by censored &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I clutch with two and brake with one.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats exactly what I do as well. Middle finger for braking. And clutching when the lever hits my knuckles thats when I know when to shift.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bustdesenuts &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thats exactly what I do as well. Middle finger for braking. And clutching when the lever hits my knuckles thats when I know when to shift.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Braking with just one? That scares me so i use 2,Ive tried clutching with 2 but I dont like the feeling,so I use 4.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rusty Shackleford &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> the way mine is set up, by the time the lever hits my other two fingers, the clutch is completely disengaged. but when i go to take off just about as soon as a start to let the clutch out it starts to engage. it basically takes out a good portion of the travel in the lever. i find the two fingers to be much more comfortable and easier to ride. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Same here I also brake with 2 fingers.

 

I clutch and brake with two fingers. Better control of the bars and quicker shifting