Wilsons Sandbox

On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:58:26 -0000 "eddiebmauri" writes:

> The following question is about the KLR's clutch, but I preface it > with something that I was told a while back; I once had a BMW, a > tech > informed that at red lights, I should not hold the clutch lever in, > I > should put the BMW in neutral and let the clutch out. It was > easier > on the clutch, and would cause less wear. So, does this matter in > the > KLR? Is it overall a bad idea to hold the clutch lever in, like > when > waiting at a red light? Or is it better to shift to neutral and > let > the clutch out? > > Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa")

<><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><><> Eddie, I think there are at least two considerations with your question. For me the first one is safety. If I have a vehicle or two behind me that are stopped I'll probably feel pretty comfortable that I'm not going to get rear ended. So in that case I'll probably put the bike in neutral and release the clutch. If I'm the last vehicle in a lane I watch my mirrors and if a vehicle is approaching I'll make sure I'm in gear and have a safety exit. That's just incase I think I'm about to get rear ended. I usually flash my brake lite a bit while they are approaching too just to help increase my visibility. The second consideration is wear and tear on the clutch actuating mechanism. I don't hold my clutch in for long periods of time if I can help it. I figure there is less wear on the release bearing if it's not working. In the KLR I don't recall ever hearing about a release bearing failure. So on the KLR it's probably a good design. On the old airhead BMWs there are two types of release bearings. The older style uses needle bearings and they require good lube and gentle use. The less they are engaged the better. The needles lie flat in this bearing so the needles ends cover different distances when in use (rotating). This ends up sliding most parts of the bearings. The newer design (1981, I believe) goes to a ball type release bearing. Those work very well and are also quite smooth. So although I don't hold the clutch lever in if I don't have to I don't think it's terrible if you do. I put my safety ahead of wear and tear on a motorcycle. I did ride from the coast of France to Stuttgart, Germany back in 1982 with no way to disengage my clutch when I had a failure of a release bearing on my 1979 BMW R100S airhead. That was really fun since I was carrying a full touring load plus stuff from my buddy that had wrecked in Scotland. I had to get off the bike when stopped in a city at rush hour. I'd signal the drivers behind me to wait. When the light turned green I'd push the bike to get it rolling and then jump on and pop it into gear. Coming to a stop I'd just approach slowly and if my timing was off (it usually was) I'd pop it into neutral and slowly halt. Then I'd have to do the push, jump pop into gear routine again. Luckily at the two border crossings I had to do the guards just looked out the shack and waved me past. Might have been my European riding gear and the BMW. It was quite helpful. I think there were multiple causes to that bearing failure but it probably started with lack of proper lubrication. Hope this is helpful. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________________________________________________________ Make the right decisions about your inheritance. Click here for more information. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3mKSk868Op3LP5r5eTNz6g0STre8f3aJjqkQ7m0Pin6g7tgI/

Way back when I was told NOT to sit at a red light with my motorcycle in gear. The reason being the clutch cable could snap, unlikely but if it did it could launch the bike (and you) into harms way. One of those little good habits I have always tried to follow. ------------------------------------------------- Brent Tegler Fergus Ontario Canada Email: btegler@... ------------------------------------------ ________________________________ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Jeff Saline Sent: Mon 11/08/2008 1:02 PM To: eddiebmauri@... Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Clutch In-or-Out at Red Lights? On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:58:26 -0000 "eddiebmauri" > writes:

> The following question is about the KLR's clutch, but I preface it > with something that I was told a while back; I once had a BMW, a > tech > informed that at red lights, I should not hold the clutch lever in, > I > should put the BMW in neutral and let the clutch out. It was > easier > on the clutch, and would cause less wear. So, does this matter in > the > KLR? Is it overall a bad idea to hold the clutch lever in, like > when > waiting at a red light? Or is it better to shift to neutral and > let > the clutch out? > > Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa")

<><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><><> Eddie, I think there are at least two considerations with your question. For me the first one is safety. If I have a vehicle or two behind me that are stopped I'll probably feel pretty comfortable that I'm not going to get rear ended. So in that case I'll probably put the bike in neutral and release the clutch. If I'm the last vehicle in a lane I watch my mirrors and if a vehicle is approaching I'll make sure I'm in gear and have a safety exit. That's just incase I think I'm about to get rear ended. I usually flash my brake lite a bit while they are approaching too just to help increase my visibility. The second consideration is wear and tear on the clutch actuating mechanism. I don't hold my clutch in for long periods of time if I can help it. I figure there is less wear on the release bearing if it's not working. In the KLR I don't recall ever hearing about a release bearing failure. So on the KLR it's probably a good design. On the old airhead BMWs there are two types of release bearings. The older style uses needle bearings and they require good lube and gentle use. The less they are engaged the better. The needles lie flat in this bearing so the needles ends cover different distances when in use (rotating). This ends up sliding most parts of the bearings. The newer design (1981, I believe) goes to a ball type release bearing. Those work very well and are also quite smooth. So although I don't hold the clutch lever in if I don't have to I don't think it's terrible if you do. I put my safety ahead of wear and tear on a motorcycle. I did ride from the coast of France to Stuttgart, Germany back in 1982 with no way to disengage my clutch when I had a failure of a release bearing on my 1979 BMW R100S airhead. That was really fun since I was carrying a full touring load plus stuff from my buddy that had wrecked in Scotland. I had to get off the bike when stopped in a city at rush hour. I'd signal the drivers behind me to wait. When the light turned green I'd push the bike to get it rolling and then jump on and pop it into gear. Coming to a stop I'd just approach slowly and if my timing was off (it usually was) I'd pop it into neutral and slowly halt. Then I'd have to do the push, jump pop into gear routine again. Luckily at the two border crossings I had to do the guards just looked out the shack and waved me past. Might have been my European riding gear and the BMW. It was quite helpful. I think there were multiple causes to that bearing failure but it probably started with lack of proper lubrication. Hope this is helpful. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT __________________________________________________________ Make the right decisions about your inheritance. Click here for more information. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3mKSk868Op3LP5r5eTNz6g0STre8f3aJjqkQ7m0Pin6g7tgI/ http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3mKSk868Op3LP5r5eTNz6g0STre8f3aJjqkQ7m0Pin6g7tgI/> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From a "wear and tear" perspective, you want to be using the clutch as little as possible when not moving. So, when stopped, clutch in, pop to neutral, clutch out. But... from a safety perspective, saving a tiny bit of wear on a clutch that isn't very sensitive isn't worth being in gear, IMO. I'd stay in gear, clutch in until I had someone completely stopped behind me. Once at that point, I'd feel relatively safe going to neutral as long as I don't think there's much chance of someone taking a turn too short or wide and clipping me from the side. Clutches can be replaced. Body parts are harder to come by. --Jonathan "smthng" Kalmes Springfield, VA 2005 Yamaha FJR1300ABS - "Blue Bayou" 2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon - "Teflon" 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 - It's here, but it hasn't earned a name yet. http://smthng.info "If I'd known it was harmless, I would have killed it myself."

On Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 10:58 AM, eddiebmauri wrote: > The following question is about the KLR's clutch, but I preface it > with something that I was told a while back; I once had a BMW, a tech > informed that at red lights, I should not hold the clutch lever in, I > should put the BMW in neutral and let the clutch out. It was easier > on the clutch, and would cause less wear. So, does this matter in the > KLR? Is it overall a bad idea to hold the clutch lever in, like when > waiting at a red light? Or is it better to shift to neutral and let > the clutch out? > > Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa") > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote:

> > The following question is about the KLR's clutch, but I preface it > with something that I was told a while back; I once had a BMW, a tech > informed that at red lights, I should not hold the clutch lever in, I > should put the BMW in neutral and let the clutch out. It was easier > on the clutch, and would cause less wear.

At the MSF safety course they told us to always keep the bike in first gear with clutch in at red lights, because you never know when you'll need to accelerate out of the way of some motorist behind you who "doesn't see you". They showed a movie of a motorcyclist at a red light who put his bike in neutral, then a car came up behind him. You see the motorcyclist trying to get his bike into first gear (his foot is hammering down on the gear lever), the bike is being balky about going into first gear, then the car rams into him and he goes flying. Clutch plates are a lot less expensive than major surgery, methinks. -E

Clutch lever OUT, in neutral, is best for your KLR, HOWEVER, clutch lever IN, in gear is BEST if someone looks like they're going to rear-end you at the light!!! Ed

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri" wrote: > > The following question is about the KLR's clutch, but I preface it > with something that I was told a while back; I once had a BMW, a tech > informed that at red lights, I should not hold the clutch lever in, I > should put the BMW in neutral and let the clutch out. It was easier > on the clutch, and would cause less wear. So, does this matter in the > KLR? Is it overall a bad idea to hold the clutch lever in, like when > waiting at a red light? Or is it better to shift to neutral and let > the clutch out? > > Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa") >

On Mon, 2008-08-11 at 15:52 -0400, Brent Tegler wrote:

> Way back when I was told NOT to sit at a red light with my motorcycle in gear. The reason being the clutch cable could snap, unlikely but if it did it could launch the bike (and you) into harms way. One of those little good habits I have always tried to follow. >

Just keep the other hand on your front brake. It is *easily* strong enough to keep the bike in place and kill the engine if the cable snaps. -- Doug Herr doug@...

Woooooo I Like that one.... Always have an escape vector planned when on 2 wheels.. Dooden A15 Green Ape --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "fasteddiecopeman" wrote:

> > Clutch lever OUT, in neutral, is best for your KLR, HOWEVER, clutch

lever IN, in gear is BEST if

> someone looks like they're going to rear-end you at the light!!! > Ed > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "eddiebmauri"

wrote:

> > > > The following question is about the KLR's clutch, but I preface it > > with something that I was told a while back; I once had a BMW, a

tech

> > informed that at red lights, I should not hold the clutch lever

in, I

> > should put the BMW in neutral and let the clutch out. It was

easier

> > on the clutch, and would cause less wear. So, does this matter

in the

> > KLR? Is it overall a bad idea to hold the clutch lever in, like

when

> > waiting at a red light? Or is it better to shift to neutral and

let

> > the clutch out? > > > > Eddie (03' KLR - "la poderosa") > > >