Ducati Monster Forum

In my MSF course, they taught us to hold the left handlebar while covering the clutch when we ride.  Essentially, we're not gripping the handlebar, but wrapping our hand around both the handlebar and the clutch (though not pulling in the clutch).

This hasn't been a problem, since most of my riding is around the city, and I'm using the clutch frequently.  However, at higher speeds (i.e. freeway), I've found that gripping the left handlebar (and thus not covering the clutch) gives me some added stability. Moreover, I'm not shifting as much, so there's no need to use the clutch.

Accordingly, my question for you is..... Do you still cover the clutch at high speeds, or do you find it unnecessary?

Thanks  ;D

the main idea behind covering the clutch in msf is, your still getting use to riding a bike and your clutch is the only way to disconnect the bike from the motor.

You should have the clutch adjusted so that it is in a position where you can best reach it in case shit happens. aka all you need to do is extend your fingers and its right there. 

I dont cover my clutch, unless i am expecting to use it often (aka city riding) i dont shift with the clutch on the highway either. you can just back of the throttle a bit and snap the shifter with your toe and it will go right in, smoother than using the clutch and faster.

This is wrong - you shouldn't be holding on the the bars tight enough to effect the stability. You don't need to cover the clutch, but you also shouldn't be hanging on that tight either...

big

That is the typical newbie death-grip.

OP, you will find that your bike is actually much more stable if you loosen up your grip.  From time to time, try "flapping" your arms like chicken wings to remind yourself to relax.  Use your legs and abs to hold yourself up.

For freeway riding I will often just rest my hand on my leg (unless it's cold and I want to take advantage of my heated grips).

Perhaps "stability" is the wrong word. It's more just a peace of mind and an added sense of security. That said, I think I also might need to work on not gripping the bars so tightly.

I cover both the clutch & brake with 2 fingers, more of a habit from riding dirt bikes, than from any added benefit on the street...

You will find that as you get more comfortable and loosen up your grip, the bike will handle MUCH better!

Try MS's occaisional arm/elbow flapping, as well, use your knees/legs to grip the bike more, and stay conscious of having a light/fingertip kinda grip on the bars...

 [moto]

I don't cover the clutch on the freeway.  In fact, I'm often not holding onto the bars with that hand on the freeway.  Yes, that makes me less likely to avoid the mattress in teh middle of the lane.  But my bike isn't comfortable for slab riding, so I need a break in body position.  I cover the clutch in the city some, but not all, of the time.  I tend to do a lot of clutchless upshifting and downshifting.

I only cover the clutch when I'm coming up to intersections. When it's cruising time, hands are on the grips (trying hard to avoid the death grip.).  ;D

i cover the clutch in heavy traffic with 2 fingers.  at speed your grip shouldn't be tight, the lighter on the bars the better.  don't be fooled into a false sense of security from the death grip.

as mentioned already, they only have you cover the clutch in the class to prevent newb accidents.

Wait, hold on a sec... you can shift gears without pulling in the clutch???

I feel like a COMPLETE idiot for asking that question, but then again, I'm a total n00b, so it's the only way I'm gonna learn. :BLUSH:

A question for all you "I cover the clutch" guys, how many of you are old-school ex-two-stroke riders who've got a story or two that starts something like "I remember the third time my RGV/KR1/MachIII siezed up on me on the interstate at 110mph..."?

four-stroke-only johny-come-lately-big

Yeah, aka "clutchless shifting".  If you're going to try it, start with upshifting, not downshifting.

We had a bit of a discussion on it here: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3727.0

That was very helpful, thanks.

I think I'm gonna continue to work on my basic rider skills before attempting this.

Sounds like a good plan. [thumbsup]

A good friend of mine and long-time racer clued me in to his technique for relaxing his grip on the bars.  He said that during races on the straight, he would just put one or two fingers on the left bar and hold the throttle open with his thumb and forefinger on his right.  It would force him to relax for those few precious moments where he didn't need both hands on the bars.  It would also help to remind him not to grip so tightly in the turns.

I cover the clutch with two fingers simply because I cover the brake with two fingers and my brain prefers symmetry.  Seriously, though, it's just habit and it feels weird to do otherwise.


Ienatsch suggested something similar: he recommended resting your chest on the tank, taking a deep breath, and relaxing a few seconds before turn 1 (or turn whatever on the back straight).

I too occasionally suffer from the "newbie death grip", especially when doing low speed stuff when it messes me up the most.

"relax, relax, relax"

i tend to hold my hand over the clutch the only reason really is comfort in my wrists and hands from my bike not quite being set up right for me ( im picking at that problem though) for whatever reason it just feels better for me but it does cause me to release that death grip on the bars and use more of the palmish area between the thumb and the index finger to control the bike on the flats

Are you on the tall side?  I had the same problem and ended up rotating my brake/clutch levers down quite a ways the week after I got my bike.  Cyclists are notorious for that kind of probem where they'll find alternate ways of gripping the bars in an attempt to alleviate the pain caused by improper lever position.  You want the levers positioned down far enough so that your wrists aren't bent upward at an awkward angle, but not so far down to where you have to rotate your wrists down just to reach the levers with your fingertips.  I'd get the levers adjusted (5 minute job) before you start making adjustments in how you ride. 

That being said, when I started riding I had a tendency to use all four fingers to grip both the clutch and the brake lever.  A few thousand miles later and it feels really realy odd to grab on with anything more than my index and middle finger, which is really all you need.  I tend to ride with my hands wrapped directly around the bar for the most part unless I'm in a fair amount of traffic or in the twisties.  You may try practicing your emergency stops by hitting both the brakes and the clutch (which you should do anyway) just to get your left hand used to the quick feeling. 

well im about 6' and 225lbs, but that makes perfect sense i guess i will have to try that this spring when i can get the bike back on the road for trial and error purposes.  [moto]

I adjust the position of my levers by sitting on the bike and gripping the bars, I extend my fingers out keeping the palms in contact with the grips, the outstretched fingers should be level  top of the levers.
Another good reason to remove the pins that Ducati fits to fix the position of the levers.

After years of dirt bikes, I always have a couple of fingers, sometimes only one, on the clutch and the brake, and generally use the clutch like I do on a dirtbike.