feathering the clutch?

[ZFlower777]

this is a stupid question, but what is feathering the clutch?

[mxmama393]

Moto-Lingo




Welcome to ATM....check out that page, I think "fanning" is the same as "feathering"

[Malcolmv8]

Been new to mx 2 strokes I'm curious when do you need to feather the clutch? Sounds like you need to shift down a gear if you have pull the clutch in and out to try and keep the engine going.

[char393]

Feathering the clutch allows you to keep the bike in a higher gear and sort of feed the power to the ground with little to no wheelspin. IMO, anyway.

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by Malcolmv8

Been new to mx 2 strokes I'm curious when do you need to feather the clutch? Sounds like you need to shift down a gear if you have pull the clutch in and out to try and keep the engine going.

Good question man!!


I think in a turn would be one example.

You should'nt shift in a turn as far as I know.



But there are other times too... Some of the experts around here should speak up soon

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by char393

Feathering the clutch allows you to keep the bike in a higher gear and sort of feed the power to the ground with little to no wheelspin. IMO, anyway.

um yes what she said!!

[triplendo]

It allows you to keep or get the rpm's up. Used alot when riding a 2-stroke. Also used on the start when taking off in a higher gear to keep from having to shift and also to keep the front tire down. Its easier to fan (same as feather) the clutch than to let off of the throttle if you get sudden traction and the front tire starts to come up.

[JoJmoto]

Teaching my kid has been a hard thing to do myself on this issue.

[mxmama393]

Well here is how my hubby sees it...

"Your getting faster but I sure hear you riding that clutch allot!"


So I probably over do it when I get tired and don't know when to stop. It gets me out of a bind

So I guess "feathering" could be considered gently riding the clutch

[The Baron]

Two strokes, especially lesser powered bikes like 125's are ridden in a totally different way than torquey four strokes.

For me at least, on my 125 I don't use the throttle to control my speed, it's all clutch. When I'm in a turn and coming to the point where I should start accelerating, I hold the throttle steady and use the clutch to control the power. It's just like throttle control, only on the other side. If I get wheel spin, I'll lightly pull the clutch in to keep from sliding out, if I'm getting good traction, I'll let it out and if the traction starts over powering the motor I'll feather it in and out lightly to keep the motor pulling while still putting power to the ground. I hope that makes sense.

[Malcolmv8]

Wow very interesting stuff. I've only used the clutch to shift gears and stop/start. This opens up a whole new world of clutch use
Although I think at times I have feathered it right at the top of hill climbs and stuff like that when I wasn't about to make it. I guess I've done it before without even paying attention to doing it.

[Shoei_391]

When I feather the clutch, I hear the rpms go up but when I dump it I dont get the power I want

[crfjedi393]

Originally Posted by dirtbikekid1337

When I feather the clutch, I hear the rpms go up but when I dump it I dont get the power I want

That's not actually "feathering" the clutch. Feathering is when you attain that "in-between" stage where the clutch is sort of engaged but not fully. If you were getting the rpms up with a feathered clutch you would notice the power when you released it completely.
If you are truly doing it right, your bike must have other mechanical problems.

[char393]

It's a matter of working the clutch, so to speak, with your finger to keep the rpm's at the level you want as well as putting power to the ground. You're not necessarily revving the bike up and then dumping the clutch all at one time. IMO, anyway.

[monkeyonahill]

i don't own my 125 anymore, i stepped up to a 250F, but i rode that thing hard. and i'd feather the clutch all the time, it's one of the only ways to get the most power out of the dang things! first of all you dont want to just dump it, use 1-2 fingers (i used my middle finger) and gently pull the clutch in and gently let it out. don't pull it in so it will fully engage, as crfjedi said, just pull it in partially so you're still getting some power down to your wheel. and dont let it all the way out quiet yet unless you already have the needed power to continue through. and just keep the in and out motion getting until you have enough speed to carry that gear through the powerband. that's another thing, if you feel urself falling just below the powerband, try to feather the clutch some to pop back into it, instead of downshifting and then revving way high.

it just takes practice and it really saves you from having to shift every couple of seconds, being able to feather the clutch is a simple skill that everyone on a 2-stroke should practice. It can really help you on the track and in some scarey situations. It will also help a lot in the sand. you can grab a higher gear and just feather the clutch till you get enough speed to carry yourself in that gear, and also on tracks going through corners, feathering the clutch can help you bring more speed through, compared to just bogging it out through the corner and losing speed.

pretty much just practice it! take your time and have fun!

[Shoei_391]

Originally Posted by monkeyonahill

i don't own my 125 anymore, i stepped up to a 250F, but i rode that thing hard. and i'd feather the clutch all the time, it's one of the only ways to get the most power out of the dang things! first of all you dont want to just dump it, use 1-2 fingers (i used my middle finger) and gently pull the clutch in and gently let it out. don't pull it in so it will fully engage, as crfjedi said, just pull it in partially so you're still getting some power down to your wheel. and dont let it all the way out quiet yet unless you already have the needed power to continue through. and just keep the in and out motion getting until you have enough speed to carry that gear through the powerband. that's another thing, if you feel urself falling just below the powerband, try to feather the clutch some to pop back into it, instead of downshifting and then revving way high.

it just takes practice and it really saves you from having to shift every couple of seconds, being able to feather the clutch is a simple skill that everyone on a 2-stroke should practice. It can really help you on the track and in some scarey situations. It will also help a lot in the sand. you can grab a higher gear and just feather the clutch till you get enough speed to carry yourself in that gear, and also on tracks going through corners, feathering the clutch can help you bring more speed through, compared to just bogging it out through the corner and losing speed.

pretty much just practice it! take your time and have fun!

Thank you very much everyone. It's nice to know that not everyone expects me to know everything in my first month and a half of seriously riding..

[monkeyonahill]

yeah, it took me a long time to get everything down. I was on my CR 125 for almost 2 years (sold my 125 2 months ago and got the YZ 250F) and i had everything down pretty good. But if you practice it enough you'll have it down within a few weeks of riding. it should come to you as your riding, some little things happen to do that. You just pick up little things that you never realize each time you ride, a new skill or a new knowledge, and some of them are just like: why didnt i think of that before!

have fun on that 125! i think i might have to take a spin on my dads CR 125.. i haven't been on a 2-smoker for a while now!

[Shoei_391]

Originally Posted by monkeyonahill

yeah, it took me a long time to get everything down. I was on my CR 125 for almost 2 years (sold my 125 2 months ago and got the YZ 250F) and i had everything down pretty good. But if you practice it enough you'll have it down within a few weeks of riding. it should come to you as your riding, some little things happen to do that. You just pick up little things that you never realize each time you ride, a new skill or a new knowledge, and some of them are just like: why didnt i think of that before!

have fun on that 125! i think i might have to take a spin on my dads CR 125.. i haven't been on a 2-smoker for a while now!

I tottaly understand that..each time I ride I learn something and I ask my self "wow..why didnt I do this in the first place." Thanks for the great info.

p.s. dont hog your dad's bike TOO much

[mxmama393]

I have a friend that rides an 85, I know she never uses the clutch and it bugs the crap out of me. Her throttle is on off on off on off on off, on hills she stalls, but its the sound UUUUG! on off on off on off, no constant rpm....Black smoke out of the exhaust....

I have been trying to gently suggest drills to help her use her clutch, but she has been riding for over 10 years and no one ever told her.

Last time we trail road, we all had to wait on her, poor thing.
I have convinced her to come over once a week at least to work on drills with me. I sure hope she gets it. She has come and practiced with me for 2 weeks now, so I am glad she has the desire!

I would like to have her read this thread since the descriptions are so good.
I Just need to cut my post out first

[crfjedi393]

Originally Posted by mxmama

I Just need to cut my post out first

We can do that.