Learn masterful clutch control in seconds | MiniTip Monday

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Great clutch control is at the heart of all off-road riding. The better you understand it the better you'll be able to learn new skills, take your bike to harder places and improve as a rider.
I love this drill as a method of hacking your clutch control and teaching yourself to have better muscle memory. The art of moving the clutch less and being precise with it carries over to almost every advanced riding skill I can think of.
Fortunately, it's a surprisingly simple skill to understand and learn, meaning that you can start improving really quickly. As usual, if you've got any questions about getting better on the bike, then let me know in the comments!

[@Thumpermad]

I was trying to explain this to a New to ADV riding guy the other day I use this a lot in the bush to not stall the bike during obstacles, set the throttle at a higher RPM and as you say rock the bike I use this to create momentum and boom works a treat. I'll share this video with our group thanks so much cool and concise instructions Winner cheers. We were on KTM790 Rs the rest of the Group were riding DR650s there was also plenty of sand which was thankfully damp but a real pain on the 790. Happy Trails mate

[@EmilSbaste]

The feeling when you watch the video and you say okay, I got it. Can’t do anything when you actually go out and try.

[@ironchief2346]

Always a good content from your channel.

[@msims1250]

Love Mini-Tip Monday!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thanks!

[@bobbymalta73]

Thank You.

[@quinnpeaksbiker]

Ayup! Great video, somethings just need to be constantly practiced again and again! Keep the vids coming mate! Take care and ride safe mate 😊🙏

[@yvespantaleon7877]

Good hand movements while explaining, a true professional

[@BrakeMagazine]

I went to hand movement training for three years before starting KZbin 😂

[@maverick205205]

Great video of such a core skill that so many overlook 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@BrakeMagazine]

Thank you 🙌

[@tombeckett4340]

Agree it’s so important. Thanks 🇨🇦👍

[@BrakeMagazine]

😁

[@kttmmedellin7138]

A skill that came in way handy on the back road from Salgar to Concordia I can tell you! Nothing like a good ol Colombian back road

[@BrakeMagazine]

I bet!

[@actstuntcam]

Loved it! Nice. I really need to do some rider training. Went dirt biking on the weekend, for the first time in 30 years - forgot how awesome it was, especially with no expectations of myself.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Welcome back to off road!

[@campbellrousselle9752]

@@BrakeMagazine Now, I need to find more money and time for another hobby. Doh! LOL

[@NooBiker]

Good tips.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you think so!

[@ragzontour]

Love mini tip Monday, thanks Llel. Meanwhile whomever doesn’t have that friend, I have some news…😂

[@BrakeMagazine]

😂

[@ronykanda]

❤ From India! Such a beautiful learning video for beginner Offroader!

[@BrakeMagazine]

Glad you find it helpful 😁

[@D.E.X]

I did this with a 2x4 in front of the front tire, the idea, to get on, but not roll over, the 2x4. Did my kids a world of good. That and slow riding.

[@BrakeMagazine]

Great idea!

[@pollepost]

Hi LLEL. Would you like to make a video about riding long deep muddy ruts in the TET or other greenlaning? Sometimes a 4x4 or tractor have been driving through the trails and they leave these very long slippery ruts with steep banks. I find it difficult to ride.

[@petevredenburgh8899]

My wife is wanting to move from a 400cc scooter to a small- medium motorcycle. She worries about having to use a clutch, especially on inclines. This video is a real eye-opener on how to get her started on clutch control.

[@michaelcaton9358]

Llel, you are my mate who I am usually waiting for because they lost/forgotten/ slow to put on gloves......

[@BrakeMagazine]

That is a lie. I have not and will not be seen fiddling with gloves.

[@maverick205205]

😂😂

[@suhashegde3210]

Would be great if can talk about constant throttle control. Especially while your standing during off road riding. Thanks

[@BrakeMagazine]

Sure! I have a video coming for the new season of MiniTip Monday that will be a lot of help!

[@Xibyth]

Oh that's easy, start off with the vehicle parked and idling and hold your rpms at 1500. Release every 3-4 seconds and immediately rev to 1500 rpms again. Then start practicing at lower gears between 1-3.

[@bigcatpete3227]

I use this technique when I back down my steep driveway. When I use the front brake, the wheel locks up and continues to slide.

[@dmzsniper]

So some say to pull the clutch lever all the way in when shifting and some don't. Your opinion?

[@k_plax]

Clutch related question- a more experienced rider than I recently suggested to maintain a steady throttle on trails and use the clutch to cut power to adjust speed etc. I was taught by a professional instructor with good riding and racing experience over his lifetime to leave the clutch alone as much as possible which means using the throttle. Former technique seems unusual to me. Which do you think is the better way?

[@762N8O]

You will need a healthy mix of both. More clutch control than throttle control in most situations. A lot of practice and some classes. After a good long day of offroading, my left hand resembles a claw and forearms sore for the week. I would think the racer instructor focused on street riding.

[@robjjohnsen]

I’m also looking for some clarification on this. When coasting over rocky terrain, it makes sense to pull the clutch in to control speed and not have any jerkiness of the engine.. it also feels like it helps you conserve energy and a smoother ride.

[@foxbravo3682]

Depends if you have enough money to change your clutch very often or not.

[@ce_rouse]

4:11 "...We've all got that one friend..." Unless you're that one friend.🤔

[@BrakeMagazine]

If you don't know who that friend is...

[@andrewcairnsmrkiplin]

did my CBT yesterday my clutch control and heavy hand on the throttle was terrible

[@lessmore444]

One or two fingers max. When riders grab a handful of clutch, this desired finesse goes right out the window

[@BrakeMagazine]

So damn true 🤣

[@lessmore444]

Same with front brakes. Decades of trials & mountain biking developed this as the default habit. Where one finger is found almost constantly perched upon those controls.

[@fallinginthed33p]

Yeah, Dave Moss explains this well. The middle finger is for power to pull in the clutch or brake levers, the index finger is for finer control. 2 fingers is all you need.

[@dinokadunic5002]

When you have a leaver that is as long as your handle, and (clutch only works when almost completely engaged then it sucks to say it's impossible to hold on with 2 fingers..

[@lessmore444]

@@dinokadunic5002 then clutch needs adjustment and/or switch to short levers. Needing to pull lever against the grip to disengage is not a good, safe or controllable setup.

[@therollingpebble2138]

What about the risk of half clutch-ing and wearing it out that way....

[@BrakeMagazine]

You'll only wear your clutch out of you apply a lot of load to it and slip it. High revs and a clutch half out qill damage it. Doing this, you'd have to a LOT and over time it'll teach you be gentle with the clutch which will do less damage.

[@swandx]

What can I do if the lever presses my fingers when I put it back. ?

[@BrakeMagazine]

Don't pull so far. It disengaged before it touches your fingers.

[@dinokadunic5002]

Can you show us how you set your clutch up for off roading and I mean hydrolic clutch 2.. Because all clutches you have to pull in all the way, when you ride off-road, you need to be able to hold your 2 fingers for better controle..

[@BrakeMagazine]

Great question! On Hydraulic clutches I put the lever where it's comfortable. On cable clutches I adjust it so the freeplay is correct. You do not need to pull the clutch in all the way to use it. You can feel this by putting the bike in gear and trying to pull away. If you do it slowly, you will feel the bite point is a long way from the handlebars. You only ever need to pull the clutch in until it disengages and not all the way to the handlebar.

[@dinokadunic5002]

@@BrakeMagazine I'll try it this way you explained in the vid.. See if it works.. Thx for the vid

[@NINJUTSUguy]

good point i dont like hydrolic clutches due to the lack of personal adjustment which i think is key in a lot of ways well as much as throttle adjustment and leaver position like the foot leaver position etc and in my opinion, a hydro clutch would probably stop me from buying a bike with it so how to get around that issue? some guru might know.

[@BrakeMagazine]

@@NINJUTSUguy I'm not really sure I understand. A hydraulic clutch has span adjustment and a consistent engagement position regardless. Cable is constantly changing and needs adjusting but you don't have any more control. Why would that stop you buying a bike?

[@NINJUTSUguy]

@@BrakeMagazine ok it looks like I am the one that does not understand because of my lack of knowledge, I always thought that there was no adjustment with a hydraulic probably due to some guys that owned bikes that were hydraulic clutch and a major complaint was no adjustment at the leaver ( maybe early bikes were like that?) So I was thinking that could put me off buying a bike that used a hydro clutch. But it seems I need to be re-educated and am probably out of date with what's going on.

[@Victor-fg1ky]

😂😂😂😂i do take forever to wear my gears not just my gloves. Other group riders complain I'm so slow rocking my gears😂😂😂🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

[@eliansaul6814]

So im having trouble with the clutch it hitting my knuckles yeah Ik it’s my hand position but ig it’s the most comfortable way to hold it

[@jimdavis1782]

What are the typical situations where this skill is useful?

[@BrakeMagazine]

Anytime you're suing some finesse on the clutch. Slow speed, hill starts, technical uphills.

[@greyanaroth]

Hey. Some people just need more time with the gloves man. Heyyyyyy

[@nickfifield1]

2 or 4 fingers and why?

[@BrakeMagazine]

Always one or two. You need to be able to hold the bar and use the clutch. You also need to be able to cover the control all the time so your reaction is much quicker when you need it. Four fingers is a quick way to get into trouble off road 😊

[@ffejkk37]

Yea I'm the glove guy...

[@murataydn4542]

Please add Turkish subtitles

[@BrakeMagazine]

How? We don't speak Turkish.

[@murataydn4542]

@@BrakeMagazine you do not need to know Turkish. KZbin can automatically add in the languages ​​you want

[@NINJUTSUguy]

cool but a little too basic in my opinion what you were showing seems to be related to riders that have about half a day on their first bike.,and that's all good if that's who you were aiming at, I think other riders that have had a bike for a few months could benefit from some real tips and how to recognize that they can be using the clutch badly and not know it , like when they take a pillion on the back and the pillion is getting pushed all around every time a gear change happens or the brakes are applied and during takeoffs so to prevent helmets clashing constantly the rider needs to recognize that this is because of poor clutch ,throtle and gear leaver manipulation so they can then address the how why and when .

[@Bisonmsc]

OK....you lost me when you are telling your students to only use 2 fingers on the clutch. This may work on a bike with a very smooth and light clutch but is very difficult with a heavy one. Same thing if you are doing this repeatedly like when learning as a new rider. Using all 4 fingers gives you a more controlled, precise release. It;s the very first thing I taught all my students, starting in 1994. If we are trying to introduce a skill that we want to use from now on, teach the best and most effective one right from the start and be consistent . That way the rider will not have to forget and try something totally different. Not all clutches are the same but our technique should be.

[@aughhhhhhhhhhhh]

Why are you driving this trash? They payed you?