Posts
435
Joined
12/17/2012
Location
Lisbon, OH, USA
Edited Date/Time
12/18/2012 6:20pm
I just joined Vital Mx and was thinking about periodically adding some riding tips. Here's one to get started. Please let me know if you like and/or have any questions.
Clutch in or out while braking?
The rule of the track here is to leave the clutch out while braking so the engine helps slow you down and helps control the braking process. It’s kind of like anti lock brakes. The best stopping power is just before the rear wheel locks up and that’s just what leaving the clutch out will help you with. This is done when you’re still carrying some speed into the corner. If it’s a tight corner where you’re going to be slowing down to a slow speed in the middle of the corner and/or if you’re going to do a brake slide than you have to pull the clutch in so you don’t kill the engine.
I’ve seen this technique of leaving the clutch out while braking misused and abused by a lot of beginner riders. Every time they apply the back brake they put the clutch in. They do this because they don’t have good braking control and by stabbing the rear brake on they would stall the engine. Sometimes making it stall even easier by being in too high of a gear.
It’s really the same technique for 2 strokes and 4 strokes. It’s also the same when exiting a corner with 2 or 4 strokes. The 2 stroke does depend on the clutch more than the 4 stroke but if you’re pulling a high gear out of the corner even the torquey 4 strokes can use a little help from the clutch.
A good rider can make his bike drift slide into a corner real pretty like by leaving that low end lever out (the clutch). When a rider pulls the clutch in while braking at speed he’s taking a chance of sliding out too much, then his automatic reaction is to let up on the rear brake too much. This causes the bike to straiten up and then he hits the rear brake again and so on and so on. This is especially the case on a high speed slippery approach to a corner. Learn to feather those controls or lock them up and every thing between. It takes a fine feel to go fast.
Thanks for reading, hope you like,
Gary Semics
Clutch in or out while braking?
The rule of the track here is to leave the clutch out while braking so the engine helps slow you down and helps control the braking process. It’s kind of like anti lock brakes. The best stopping power is just before the rear wheel locks up and that’s just what leaving the clutch out will help you with. This is done when you’re still carrying some speed into the corner. If it’s a tight corner where you’re going to be slowing down to a slow speed in the middle of the corner and/or if you’re going to do a brake slide than you have to pull the clutch in so you don’t kill the engine.
I’ve seen this technique of leaving the clutch out while braking misused and abused by a lot of beginner riders. Every time they apply the back brake they put the clutch in. They do this because they don’t have good braking control and by stabbing the rear brake on they would stall the engine. Sometimes making it stall even easier by being in too high of a gear.
It’s really the same technique for 2 strokes and 4 strokes. It’s also the same when exiting a corner with 2 or 4 strokes. The 2 stroke does depend on the clutch more than the 4 stroke but if you’re pulling a high gear out of the corner even the torquey 4 strokes can use a little help from the clutch.
A good rider can make his bike drift slide into a corner real pretty like by leaving that low end lever out (the clutch). When a rider pulls the clutch in while braking at speed he’s taking a chance of sliding out too much, then his automatic reaction is to let up on the rear brake too much. This causes the bike to straiten up and then he hits the rear brake again and so on and so on. This is especially the case on a high speed slippery approach to a corner. Learn to feather those controls or lock them up and every thing between. It takes a fine feel to go fast.
Thanks for reading, hope you like,
Gary Semics
GS
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
the people here and abroad.! I bought one of your vhs tapes years
ago, and got great results with some of your teq's. welcome to the
board, and enjoy the chaos that is vital.!!
I usually do the opposite, if the track is rough and choppy into the corners. Pulling the clutch into the approach allows these big thumpers to float over the decel bumps instead of plowing through them. Makes it feel more like a 2 stroke, by getting rid of all that engine braking. As a result, I go through rear brakes quick. Is it not good technique to pull the clutch or use a little throttle when entering a corner to stay on top of the chop (sand tracks)?
We were talking about using this technique leading up to the single into the straight-away. This section is a little off camber, slightly downhill and you have to veer left to hit the single/straight-away at the right angle. Instead of just letting off the gas here, would it be better to stay on the gas a little bit then apply some brake at the same time to squat the bike down for some extra tracking? You talked a lot about not pulling in the clutch, but what about throttle at the same time as brakes?
When you're practicing it on the track any time you need to move your foot position you would do this same type of movement. It's much easier on the track since the bike is automatically weighting and un-weighting almost constantly.
With some of your attention to these details, and a little bit of practice, it will soon become very easy.
For the foot placement techniques, movements and all the other important body positions and movements, you may want to check out my Volume 3, Techniques DVD #1 (Body Positions and Movements). You can see free DVD previews and/or order the DVD disc or stream on line at: http://www.gsmxs.com/dvds/volume-3/dvd-1-body-positions-and-movements
https://youtu.be/hCdwjpn0Wes
The brakes and throttle can be used together in certain situations. But this is usually done when you are feathering the brakes and feathering the throttle at the same time. I do not recommend doing this when you are using the brakes or throttle any more than slightly.
Try it out and see how it works, I hope it works good for you.
For all the breaking techniques check out my Motocross Braking Techniques DVD or Stream. You can see a free DVD preview and order online at; http://www.gsmxs.com/dvds/volume-3/dvd-2-motocross-braking-techniques
For a long time now I have said that 60% of your control going into a corner comes from the brakes. The other 40% of your control comes from your body movements. Just like exiting the corner. I believe that 60% of your control comes from the clutch and throttle and 40% of your control comes from your body movements.
One of the main reasons that four strokes are easier to ride than two strokes is because of the effects of the engine braking. Another main reason is because of tractability and smooth power through throttle control. Why would you want to give up one of these main benefits like pulling in the clutch on the way into a corner? Again, I think it would be better to leave the clutch out and learn to use the rear brake and the throttle together in these type situations.
I should also add here that pulling in the clutch while braking into a corner is not always bad. If the track's surface is soft and especially when it's rutty, as you get deeper into the corner it's a good idea to pull in the clutch, so you don't kill the engine because in these situations you can lock up the rear wheel. Any time in a corner where you are in danger of stalling the engine, you can pull in the clutch and this is usually when you get to the transition of the corner, transition being where you go from braking to accelerating. For example: if it's a slow tight corner, obviously you may need to pull in the clutch at the transition so you don't kill the engine.
If you're serious about improving your motocross techniques regarding clutch, throttle and shifting you should check out my Clutch, Throttle and Shifting Control DVD.
http://www.gsmxs.com/dvds/volume-3/dvd-3-clutch-throttle-clutch-control
I have a lot of respect for Stefan Everts but that particular technique just doesn't make sense to me, no offense Stefan.
i've always gone with the clutch out technique like you say, and only pulled it in through very tight ruts to prevent stalling...
i'm a two stroke guy whos spent very few hours on 4-strokes but have found the engine braking severe on entering corners and on 'on / off' sections...so thought i'd share what i'd seen.....thanks again
Pit Row
I hope Larry is doing good, I just noticed his website (5mmxs.com) is down now. His way of teaching reallly complimented your techniques.
Love the clips of Everts there in the sand especially at about 50 secs on the pegs leaning it right over... and the couple of passes on BT. Could watch Stefan ride sand all day.
When I first started training John Dowd back in 1996. He was used to using two fingers on the clutch. He wanted to use just one finger on the clutch because he complained about not being able to hold onto the handlebars well enough with two fingers on the clutch. I just happen to have one of these handlebar exercises and I gave it to John to use. Within two weeks he could easily ride with one finger on the clutch.
As far as training your son not to use the clutch as a crutch that is a whole different animal. Maybe you'll have to be like Gary Bailey and get the big stick out there. But seriously, I think if you catch him doing it right from the beginning and keep correcting it he will not develop that bad habit. I hope this works good for you.
GS
Welcome aboard.
Post a reply to: Motocross Techniques