Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: tips for learning clutch operation, virago 535, clutch control

Question
Hello,
I've only been riding for a little over a month.  Mainly weekends only & always here in my development, haven't taken her out in traffic yet. Oh, she's a 1994 Virago 535.  
My concern is that I still feel like I'm lurching into gear, I'm certainly not matching engine to gear speed.  Do you have any tips/hints that will make this easier and smoother for me.  I've never driven a standard car so the bike is my first foray into manual transmissions.
I'm confident in all other ways with the bike, just looking for some advice on this issue. I have an experienced rider coming by over the weekend, so hopefully will be able to get out on a real road then. Thanks

Answer
Evelyn,

Thanks for the question.

Using a clutch on a bike is one of the really unteachable "finesse" actions you have to practice to master. As for tips, the best I can give is to experiment with the clutch engagement by letting the clutch out VERY slowly while keeping revs low. Getting the bike going smoothly using smooth release and not gunning the motor is tough but worth it to learn proper clutch control.

Once under way, don't worry so much about matching revs at this point. Instead, concentrate on smoothly doing the clutch-shift-clutch sequence. As you practice more, you'll learn to match revs.

In all honesty, beginners rarely know how or learn to match revs during the first weeks of riding. The only thing that teaches it is MORE riding. It takes a while, and if you concentrate on it, you're more likely to muck it up than if you just learn the shifting sequence and get out on the road and ride. That's what will teach you smooth technique.

Since your bike is your first experience with a manual transmission, it's natural to be a little herky-jerky at first, especially in first and second gears.

See if your rider friend will 'escort' you (ride behind you) out on real roads, and go out early on a Sunday morning when traffic is lowest to practice. If you can get away from an urban area and get on some nackroads to practice, all the better.

Lastly, have your rider friend check your clutch cable to make sure it is working smoothly and not "catching". If it is, that's the main problem right there. The clutch cable needs to be very smooth when moving with no hitches in the lever travel. If it seems to be OK, the best advice I can give you is practice, practice, practice.

Best of luck,

Bill Roberson