What is a clutch for?

Question

The bike I ride is a 110cc. It's fairly small since I'm not that big. I was riding with my friend yesterday and she has a 125cc. It has a clutch. She showed me how to work it, but I don't know what it does.

??

Answer 1

It just changes the gear to go faster.

Answer 2

A clutch allows you to shift the gears...simple enough.  Congrats to your friend for being one of the last few among us owning a 2-stroke!  Anyway, I personally hold the clutch for a split second, then drop it and slam the gas.  Golden rule, if you're not crashing, you're not ridin!

Answer 3

A clutch allows the power from the engine to be sent down the drive train in a controlled way without damaging anything! without one gearbox's would be mashed up really fast!

Yours will still have a clutch, it just works slightly different! Yours is a centrifugal clutch which means when you rev the engine to a certain rpm clutch shoes get pushed out and grip the clutch basket and allow the power down the drive train!

Answer 4

Hey Mariah,

I'm guessing from your question that you don't drive a car - or that it's an auto if you do.

The main thing to know about any clutch is the "biting point" that's what you call the (slight) movement that takes the machine from standing still (clutch in) to roaring up the road with you grinning or pooping your pants! LOL

Usually when you reach the "bite" the engine sound will drop slightly and you will feel the machine wanting to pull away ( on your right foot/back brake) this is when you would increase the gas and move off smoothly - hopefully!

When you're changing up or down gears, the clutch movement is normally easier to judge as you are more "dipping" it (quick pull in - not all the way to the bar needed ) just to make sure the load on the engine is ok  i.e. not chugging away like an old clunker or revving it's nuts off like it's gonna explode!

You can probably find  a more technical explanation on this site:

http://motorcycles.about.com/cs/beginner...

or try:

http://www.beginnerbikers.org/

but the best way to find out anything about bikes is to get greasy with someone who's pulling one apart and pick their brain at the same time. If you can make a decent cup of tea you'll be in like Flynn!

Answer 5

ok first of all i have never heard of a 110cc and i have been riding dirt bikes for 3 years now and my dad raced pro. but the clutch is used for taking off in first gear and used for going faster in the corners. and some people hold the clutch in while they shift. but u dont have 2

Answer 6

changes gear which allows you to go faster

...thats the simple and to the point explanation

now if youre talking about the little level on the handlebars that pulls power from the motor so you can change the gears smoother. it also lessens the damage on the motor and the transmission. and every once in a while it helps in keeping you from going over the handlebars if used correctly ;)

Answer 7

it helps the tranny when shifting if you dont use it its bad for tha tranny and the bike.

Answer 8

a clutch is for where when u want to switch the gears and so u dont go straight forward into somrthing