clutch fingers

[Yankee]

I've found myself morphing into a "two-finger" clutcher lately (uh, i bet someONE out there is thinking dirty thoughts? )
anyway, i used to always use 3 or ALL fingers when shifting, but lately (and i don't know if it's cuz i'm getting sloppy or things are happening too quickly???) i have been having to opt for a quick two finger yoink!
it's normally when in turns or outta them as I am struggling to hang on for dear life with the throttle cracked wide open and i am struggling for the next gear... i don't know, it is just starting to "feel" better to have a little bit of a grip left on that bar end while still clutching.....
so my question(s)....
do we change our riding styles over time?
does anyone else do this? if not, how do you clutch/shift?

cheers all.....

[Smitty]

always been a '3 digit' man myself
the 'lil' pinky waves in the breeze
and the thumb hooks the bar

[samhasa636]

If it makes you feel better I am pretty sure Rossi is a two finger clutcher.

[aardvark]

Err, you mean you use the clutch when changing gears? I always thought it was just for taking off and stopping.

[Plaz]

Err, you mean you use the clutch when changing gears? I always thought it was just for taking off and stopping.

I'm with Jase, stopping, traffic lights and the odd first to 2nd at low revs

[sp500]

Use to be 3 fingers clutch/brake, but now on the 10 i need more grip for hanging on, 2 for me.
oh yeah previous bike was a SP1

[Damon Z1000]

What's a clutch?

[Neka79]

Err, you mean you use the clutch when changing gears? I always thought it was just for taking off and stopping.

or rolling thru town revving fark outta the bike .....

if i try to take off using 2 fingers on the clutch i crush my other 2 fingers....otherwise i rarely use a clutch, unless 2 up..then im a 2 finger clutcher...

[red_dave]

I'm a 3 finger man myself...

[Yankee]

hhhmmmm, no clutch you say, eh?! (used on wheelies but not on two wheels......) hhhhmmmmmm
and well, i don't exactly "like" Rossi, but hell, anyone who knows anything about bikes knows that he is Gawd on one, so can't be too bad i guess.....

but what about the other part of the question(s) guys/gals: has your "style" of riding changed at all since you started???

well, thanks for your views on the "fingering" question anyway

[aardvark]

and well, i don't exactly "like" Rossi, but hell, anyone who knows anything about bikes knows that he is Gawd on one, so can't be too bad i guess.....

I think the clutch on the MotoGP bikes controls more than just the clutch. Things like fuel injection cut out and other cool things.

[photomike666]

Clutch - mainly for pull away and down shifts, generally all four, but play with 2 every now and again (never tried 3). Sometimes do the same with the front brake.

Style, sure does mature. I don't stick my foot out on tight turns anymore, I tuck in more than I used to and I drop my elbows more. I also sit a touch further back and use less rear brake. Some of this is through self evaluation and attempts to improve my riding - on the whole I think I ride smoother than I used to.

[Nanna10r]

I'm a duet person myself both levers now. I used to rarely use the clutch, then i spoke to Phil & saw the light. He's got a hell of a lotta miles out his 9r without any dramas & it does like to toss stuff out of the bag at those following while doing unicycle impressions. Since then i have converted back to using it most of the time if only to unload the box.

Besides I'm doing a clutch replacement on the Fzzr after only 90 thou of mostly clutchless shifts without any stunting or real shinanigans.

Cheers Brett

[ZXRIN]

You should feel lucky that you have a choice between using two, three or all fingers on the clutch, Yankee!! try having such little hands that on stock settings, I can only reach the levers comfortably with two fingers!!!!

I think your riding style changes with experience and comfort...have you read those books from the Australian Superbike School 'Twist of the Wrist 1 & 2' ??? they liken riding and the effort you put in to different aspects to a $10 note... e.g when you start riding you spend $5 of effort/concentration on balance and keeping upright, $4 on changing gears, leaving $1 for everything else (things on the road, seat position, picking a good line round a corner etc) so, as you get more experienced how you spend your $10 changes...Does that make sense hmmmm ...maybe you should just read the books (if you haven't already)!!

[Jonno]

Iam starting to use my little finger and the one next to it alot now for the clutch, just some strange habit Iam getting into on the ever soo lonng bruce Hwy run into Brisbane. Yeah I do clutchless shifts when Iam really gunning it, but the only time I realise Iam using the clutch is when I go looking for 7th gear .

Yeah my riding has changed a few times since joining up here, first it was every which way but loose chasing those 12's, then actually deciding I couldnt beat them so I joined them and bought one, learning that bike was so much fun and still is. Now I tend to minimise my efforts on the ride days, unless some clowns decide to gun it then I just havta chase don't I, I have to do it to remind them they are doing something illegal but when they finally stop I have forgotten what I was going to say.
As ZXRIN said, I too have been doing a fair bit of reading and such, have picked up many tips from Keith Code? and some others, especially following people on rides you get to see it all, like what is good and what not to do.