Hey all to my FORMUM family i have a problem my girlfriend went and bought a cruiser and ahe is having trouble acc. quickly and sh eneeds help when she tries to do it she chokes i she does not come off the clutch the way she is supposed to it like flings it out and she is not giving the bike no gas at all it anybody out there has any solution or hellp hint or no anybody who is going through this small problem please help all opions are welcome as well thanks


RIDE SAFE NOT STUPID

 

get her a sportbike, problem solved lol j/k just wanted to add mu .02 im sure someone will save the day, good luck

 

Yea, sounds like she is popping the clutch.
Solution; have her get on the bike with a helmet on. Start the bike in neutral, have her pull in the clutch, and put the bike into first gear.
Explain to her again how to properly let out the clutch and apply the needed throttle to propel the bike forward with out stalling.
Ask her if she understands your instruction. If she says yes, tell her to go.
When she pops the clutch and the bike stalls quickly and firmly smack her in the back of the helmet. This should get you a displeasing reaction.
Tell her to try again and follow the above steps, if she pops the clutch again; firmly smack her in the back of the helmet again.
This us called condition reflex training. After a while, she will listen and perform the operation correctly just to keep from being smacked in the back of the helmet.

JK LOL

Bro If your still with me here is a real drill for her to practice.
With the bike in gear and the clutch engaged have her practice letting out the clutch until it starts to move the bike forward and just before stalling pull it back in. Have her get used to being able to rock the bike easily with out stalling.
This shows her where the point is that the clutch starts to engage. Then she just needs to sart applying more gas and with practice she will get it. Let her know that it is okay to ride the clutch for a little ways to get the bike moving. Its all practice.

Well hope I read your post correctly and this helps.

Later.

 

Definately well said notstock! (at least the second part - if someone tried the first part, I'd be off the bike real quick and the helmet would be used as a weapon!!)

Just follow the second part spook - and she'll get the hang of it soon enough.

 

Another way to teach clutching..
park the bike with the front wheel up againts a solid structure (house, wall, etc...)
have her play with the clutch.. letting it out a little.. then bringing it back in.. when the bike feels like its gonna engage..
if she goes to much, the bike will just stahl out due to not beng able to go anywhere (wall)... after she gets a feel for that
bring the bike back 6 inches from the wall ,, and do it again.... rolling slow to the wall... using the the clutch... then again 12 inches from the wall.. etc.. until she gets the feeling of the clutch..
eventually shell be a few feet away and be ready for a bigger runway.

 

But the first part sounded like more fun..

I'd also say it'd be a good idea to sign her up for the MSF course if she hasn't already. They had some really good drills where you'd have to ride the bike as slowly as you can while maintaining a straight line, all the while riding the clutch so that you could go as slow as possible. I thought it was one of the best exercises in the class.

 

Here is one I have used with some folks...

find an empty parking lot... hands off the throttle. brake only with the right hand... have her practice in 1st gear, no throttle, slowly letting out the clutch so she can feel it engage/disengage.

The goal is to get the bike rolling under it's own power without using the throttle, and without turning it into a bucking bronco. it will take time, and it will buck, but she will learn. show her what happens first before you let her on it to try... drop the clutch, let it buck and stall. then slowly let it out while she walks beside you so she can see and hear what happens.

 

Best thing i can think of would be to sign up for an MSF course. If she cant pull out from a stop correctly she probably has other areas that need work and the MSF beginner course is simply awesome! I am personally signing up for the experienced rider course this year since i did the beginner course last year.

 

Nice replies here but I am worried! spoknick has not responded, I fear he may have tried option 1 and then his ole lady did what blue bird said. He could have a concussion or worse. lol

 

If she took my approach - he's definately got much worse than a concussion!!!