Two fingers could have prevented Stewart...

Moto88
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3/7/2016 11:47pm Edited Date/Time 3/8/2016 2:34pm
First off the dude is obviously amazing on a bike, mad skills, but we all know he rarely has any fingers on his clutch. I've always not been able to comprehend how he gets away with it. I ride with two fingers on clutch 100% of the time (yes I know he's fast i'm not, who am i to give him advise blah blah...please don't turn this to a bash on me as to who am I to give advise). I would think two fingers (or 1) and a slip on the clutch as he rolled the throttle would have prevented that crash at Daytona through the whoops. So gnarly to be in that position and grab a hand full! Obviously its worked for him riding like that for years (for the most part) but for all of us normals I don't think it's a style to emulate. Yes this has been touched on in the Stewart update but not really talked about hence bringing it up again. Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?
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kiwifan
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3/7/2016 11:59pm
Nope, always use 1 finger
Spydee
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3/8/2016 12:03am Edited Date/Time 3/8/2016 12:03am
I heard he puts his socks on before his boxers too, maybe that had something to do with his form.
VET176
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3/8/2016 12:23am
kiwifan wrote:
Nope, always use 1 finger
For what? Tongue
JB 19
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3/8/2016 1:03am
Moto88 wrote:
First off the dude is obviously amazing on a bike, mad skills, but we all know he rarely has any fingers on his clutch. I've always...
First off the dude is obviously amazing on a bike, mad skills, but we all know he rarely has any fingers on his clutch. I've always not been able to comprehend how he gets away with it. I ride with two fingers on clutch 100% of the time (yes I know he's fast i'm not, who am i to give him advise blah blah...please don't turn this to a bash on me as to who am I to give advise). I would think two fingers (or 1) and a slip on the clutch as he rolled the throttle would have prevented that crash at Daytona through the whoops. So gnarly to be in that position and grab a hand full! Obviously its worked for him riding like that for years (for the most part) but for all of us normals I don't think it's a style to emulate. Yes this has been touched on in the Stewart update but not really talked about hence bringing it up again. Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?
"Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?"

Nearly all of them these days. Fingers on the clutch is like a trademark of the 90's. Almost no pro's do it now.

The Shop

3/8/2016 2:19am
Most of the time it isn't really necessary to have a finger on the clutch.. only in corners. It's just personal preference. I don't feel comfortable having a finger on the clutch the whole time.
Bultaco
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3/8/2016 2:28am
Fingers on the clutch is a relic of racing two strokes.
3/8/2016 3:02am
If you watch the video you'll see he would of had a very small window of opportunity for pulling in the clutch. Especially so considering we're not seeing it at speed.

Once the bike goes to loop the rear tire is quickly off the ground. Couple that with his bike and body position and there wasn't anything he could have done to save that.

What happened right before the wall jump was the problem. He thought he could still jump to the first whoop after moving over diagonally between Roczen in front and Brayton on the left, but lost to much drive.
3/8/2016 3:20am
I misunderstood the title completely. Ps I found one finger on the clutch useful for keeping the front wheel down out of corners, but there is no right or wrong way to ride, only fast and slow
kkawboy14
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3/8/2016 3:24am
RV always had his fingers on the clutch.....
robkinuk
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3/8/2016 3:44am


Too soon?.................................ShockedWinkTongue
Rowlands
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3/8/2016 3:58am
robkinuk wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/08/127014/s1200_villopoto_stewart_funny.jpg[/img] Too soon?.................................:ohmy: ;) :P


Too soon?.................................ShockedWinkTongue
LaughingLaughingLaughingLaughing

Shit storm awaits
Flip109
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3/8/2016 4:37am
robkinuk wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/08/127014/s1200_villopoto_stewart_funny.jpg[/img] Too soon?.................................:ohmy: ;) :P


Too soon?.................................ShockedWinkTongue
BAHAHA
jemcee
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3/8/2016 4:43am
I would suggest that the last thing he was expecting while coming up short was looping out!
ATKpilot99
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3/8/2016 5:00am
robkinuk wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/08/127014/s1200_villopoto_stewart_funny.jpg[/img] Too soon?.................................:ohmy: ;) :P


Too soon?.................................ShockedWinkTongue
Laughing
71Fish
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Ogden, UT US
3/8/2016 5:09am
Looks like Stewart should hire you guys as his trainer or riding coach. He doesn't know what he is doing out there.
BobPA
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3/8/2016 5:27am
Bultaco wrote:
Fingers on the clutch is a relic of racing two strokes.
You are so wrong. Every photo I see of pros, besides Stewart, they always have a finger on the clutch
Samuel
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3/8/2016 5:45am Edited Date/Time 3/8/2016 5:53am
Look at the only picture of Stewart in the slideshow for Daytona. He's got a finger on the clutch. When the bike grabbed, it went quick. I don't think having a finger on the clutch would have done anything. RV rides with a finger on the clutch, but it didn't stop him from looping out. When the bike hooks up like that unexpectedly, I think the last thing on a riders mind is to hurry and pull the clutch. It's probably more like "oh shit." Besides, what if he'd pulled in the clutch, caused the front to drop into whoops, sending him over the bars? You can speculate all day.
yzjs7
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3/8/2016 5:59am
None of our opinions matter. He knows how to ride, end of story.
UpTiTe
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3/8/2016 6:19am
JB 19 wrote:
[b]"Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?"[/b] Nearly all of them these days. Fingers on the clutch is like a trademark of...
"Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?"

Nearly all of them these days. Fingers on the clutch is like a trademark of the 90's. Almost no pro's do it now.
Youre kidding right?
Frodad78
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3/8/2016 6:26am
Makes me wonder how he ever got out of the habit since he was so fast on a 125.
KMC440
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3/8/2016 6:41am
yzjs7 wrote:
None of our opinions matter. He knows how to ride, end of story.
Who the hell made you "Opinion Cop"?

This thread is seriously stupid though. I did laugh at the picture....
agn5009
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3/8/2016 6:42am
Moto88 wrote:
First off the dude is obviously amazing on a bike, mad skills, but we all know he rarely has any fingers on his clutch. I've always...
First off the dude is obviously amazing on a bike, mad skills, but we all know he rarely has any fingers on his clutch. I've always not been able to comprehend how he gets away with it. I ride with two fingers on clutch 100% of the time (yes I know he's fast i'm not, who am i to give him advise blah blah...please don't turn this to a bash on me as to who am I to give advise). I would think two fingers (or 1) and a slip on the clutch as he rolled the throttle would have prevented that crash at Daytona through the whoops. So gnarly to be in that position and grab a hand full! Obviously its worked for him riding like that for years (for the most part) but for all of us normals I don't think it's a style to emulate. Yes this has been touched on in the Stewart update but not really talked about hence bringing it up again. Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?
JB 19 wrote:
[b]"Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?"[/b] Nearly all of them these days. Fingers on the clutch is like a trademark of...
"Any other fast guys ride with no fingers on the clutch?"

Nearly all of them these days. Fingers on the clutch is like a trademark of the 90's. Almost no pro's do it now.
Wut. Blink
3/8/2016 7:51am
Gary Bailey went into this topic in great detail following a JS7 crash in Daytona. But it was a different JS7 crash at Daytona:

http://www.racerxvt.com/article/gary-bailey-trackside---in-the-clutch

Before I start this analysis let me state it is not intended to rag on James Stewart. It is just an opportunity to analyze the riding of a top rider as a learning tool. If you can learn to ride better by relating to a rider you are already watching and if you can understand how arguably the fastest man on the planet, can be even faster and smoother, then certainly something here might help you no matter what your riding level is.

The fact is Stewart has always used very little clutch. I know you are thinking if you can go that fast without the clutch, then why do you need it? Let’s use a few Stewart instances to answer this question. I have thought for years that many of Stewart’s crashes were because he could not control the bike, not as a rider, but the power of the bike.

Crash One: The year Stewart went over the bars at Daytona going into a turn because he hit a braking bump, hit the gas, and got spit on the ground. Then just behind Stewart, I watched Reed hit the same kicker bump and make the corner. The big difference is that Reed had his finger on the clutch lever so he could better control the power and where the bike was going.

Crash Two: The battle between Carmichael and Stewart at High Point where James launched the bike off a jump and crashed again. There is no way to control the power when you don’t have control of the power.

Crash Three: Daytona crash this year. If Stewart had a finger on the clutch lever, he would have been able to pull it in a little and drop the front end so the bike would have set on the face of the jump. A little pull on the lever would let the wheel drop a little while keeping the rpm’s up.

Lesson learned here: Think of your clutch as a back up plan for when things go wrong or when you need to control your power. Without the clutch and knowing how to properly use it, you don’t have a back up plan or anything to go to when you are in trouble.

Brent
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3/8/2016 9:16am
...I just love that this forum is offering JAMES STEWART riding tips...

Spartacus
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3/8/2016 9:41am
While I just love that some think people at the top of their sport can't improve or aren't working to improve all the time.
moto0852
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3/8/2016 12:37pm
Brent wrote:
...I just love that this forum is offering JAMES STEWART riding tips...

Exactly!
Who are these posers like Gary Bailey and Chad Reed stepping up saying JS7 doesnt know what hes doing? Maybe he wanted to crash!
nrosso391
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3/8/2016 12:43pm
robkinuk wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/08/127014/s1200_villopoto_stewart_funny.jpg[/img] Too soon?.................................:ohmy: ;) :P


Too soon?.................................ShockedWinkTongue
Simply a perfect meme. haha
disbanded
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3/8/2016 12:46pm
You said two fingers
peelout
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3/8/2016 12:48pm
kiwifan wrote:
Nope, always use 1 finger
Finger 101: always use 1 finger before graduating up to 4 fingers bro

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