How does one learn to properly slip a clutch...?

Question

when they have no one to show them whether they're doing it right or not?

Answer 1

Get a job parking cars.  I think that's all car parkers learned, trial and error on other people's cars, LOL.

Answer 2

It's called the friction point. You slowly release the clutch until the bike starts to move, when you can lightly accelerate the engine with only a very minimal increase in speed or no increase in bike speed, you're there. Actually, after a while, it is the kind of thing that you'll know when you get there.

Answer 3

Practice, you'll know when you get it.

Answer 4

slipping the clutch is only going to make

it wear out faster. who told you slipping

the clutch was a good thing.

Answer 5

When I started to ride, I had a HORRIBLE time stalling at traffic lights because I let out the clutch too fast. So I practiced walking the bike while letting out the clutch and giving it some throttle in a parking lot. My rule for starting was to have both feet on the ground and let the bike pull me, when my heels began to lift from going forward slightly, I knew I had enough friction to give it more throttle and no more stalling!

Answer 6

Even if there was someone to show you, it wouldn't help much because it's something you learn by feel.  And, as frustrating as it might be to hear it, there is no substitute for experience.

Getting moving from a standing start is a tricky think in any vehicle with a clutch, car or bike.  It's even harder in a big truck!  You just have to learn the feel of it to do it smoothly, and whenever you try it on a machine you haven't driven before you have to be careful the first few times.  Every one is different, even two bikes or cars of the same model.

Usually the person who sold you or lent you the bike will say 'Keep it over 2000 when starting out', or something like that. So you can watch your tach as you let the clutch out through the point were it begins to catch, and add a little gas if it goes below this point.

Once you're actually moving, you can just let the clutch out all the way. It's just getting off a dead start that's the hard part.  If you do it too fast you'll kill the engine.  If you do it too slowly you wear out the clutch (though M/C clutches are made to slip more than car clutch).  If you're getting off cleanly without killing the engine, you're probably doing it right.  Smoothness will come with practice.