[Closed] when clutch cable breaks whilst riding your M/bike ..how to stop safely?.

You can see why I was wondering why a mountain bike clutch mech would have a cable...can't you..??!!

DrP

Engine kill switch then open throttle to prevent engine braking?

I seem to recall if you try to shift on a bike without opening the clutch it'll find a 'false neutral'? Its been a while.

Slow down with a combo of normal brakes and engine braking and then cut the engine?

That's most definitely a question and not a suggestion btw.

Find a roundabout and keep doing laps until it runs out of fuel?

Hard on brakes and kick into neutral. It will go happily if no throttle. In fact I usually do just that anyway.
Its a touch more exciting when you are pulling up to the lights and as you pull the clutch in the cable snaps. A 600cc Rotax engine will happily pull at walking pace or more on tick over with zero throttle.

Killing engine will hep you stop but that might not be a good idea. Rolling gently might be safer rather than a dead stop.

Just ride it to a stop as usual and stall in gear on the brakes or put it in neutral as you come to a halt clutchless.

Changing down clutchless is a good skill to have. I once roade a bike 100 miles with no clutch and have also driven a car with no clutch. The bike is easier as you can get it rolling with your feet then kick it into gear. clutchless changes on a bike are not difficult. Harder in a car but still very possible

49 minutes and no update from the OP - has he managed to stop yet?

Killing engine will hep you stop but that might not be a good idea

Good point, you'll lose power steering!

It's easy. Just tap it into neutral when you need to. Pulling away takes a bit more practice.

Being a skint teenager unable to afford a new clutch cable for a week is a great teacher.

Broken throttle cables are trickier.

Find a roundabout and keep doing laps until it runs out of fuel?

I had my car's clutch cable snap in gear on a roundabout, took a few laps to decide what my exit strategy would be 🙂

All you people saying stick it in neutral, have you ever tried finding neutral without a clutch? Sure it happens occasionally when you don't want it to but on demand? I vote using the kill switch at a convenient time and place

TJ has it, short shifting is easy on a bike

At the right time and place obviously

No throttle means neutral in almost impossible not to find if you want to unless you are riding something weird and European such as my old Cagiva. My various Rotax engines found neutral easier by tapping in when moving.

I drove most of the time in my manual cars without using the clutch, it saved my aching left knee. Except starting off, obviously. Motorbikes are even easier to drive clutchless. It's all about throttle control.

Rubber_Buccaneer - Member

All you people saying stick it in neutral, have you ever tried finding neutral without a clutch?

Yes not a problem to do. I used to do it all the time when riding bikes

Motorbikes are even easier to drive clutchless. It's all about throttle control.

This.

Changing up is a piece of piss, it's probably easier than using the clutch. Gentle pressure under the pedal, roll off the throttle briefly and back on, up it pops.

Changing down I never quite mastered, but as someone else said it's probably a handy skill to have.

How would one set off without a clutch for optimum mechanical sympathy?

I once roade a bike 100 miles with no clutch

All you people saying stick it in neutral, have you ever tried finding neutral without a clutch?

Not sure why thisisnotaspoon feels you would not want engine braking but opening fhe throttle with no spark increases engine braking rather than reducing it (try it sometime).

Cougar - Moderator

How would one set off without a clutch for optimum mechanical sympathy?

ON a motorcycle? Paddle it along with your feet until its rolling with the engine at tick over in neutral then flick it into gear then wind the throttle on. tricky to do smoothly and easiest on bikes with a low first gear.

Not sure why thisisnotaspoon feels you would not want engine braking but opening fhe throttle with no spark increases engine braking rather than reducing it (try it sometime).

Edit: misread post!

edit because of edit

ON a motorcycle? Paddle it along with your feet until its rolling with the engine at tick over in neutral then flick it into gear then wind the throttle on. tricky to do smoothly and easiest on bikes with a low first gear.

Or.. Blip throttle, as revs drop stick in gear and crack open throttle. Actually easier to do than you'd imagine.

Hehehee!

I once snapped my clutch cable leaving a Brands Hatch WSB meeting. I had throw over panniers on too....
I rode all the way back to Farnborough (50 odd miles if I recall correctly) with no clutch, it's easy as pie if you keep moving, if a bit jerky changing down! I was rolling up to traffic lights as slowly as possible to avoid stopping, or bladdering through them as fast as I dared if they were green(ish..) To stop, fish around for neutral whilst still moving at a decent speed, to start off again, run alongside the bike as fast as you can, jump on (Over those panniers) and tap it into gear....

Dunno if I'd do it again, but it's handy to know it's possible! 🙂

is it possible then to change down smoothly without the clutch ? if so what's the technique...minimum throttle?
Also like to question Orange Crush re

opening fhe throttle with no spark increases engine braking rather than reducing it (try it sometime).

.I'd have thought opening the throttle would allow the engine to turn more easily whether there's a spark or not thereby reducing the braking effect ? if that's wrong please explain why.

It's the compression with the valves shut that causes the engine braking. I don't think a bit of misted fuel will alter that much.
Anyways, the correct answer is: flick kill switch during huge stoppy.

kaiser - Member

is it possible then to change down smoothly without the clutch ? if so what's the technique...minimum throttle?

Not really IMO- let the revs drop really low - little blip of throttle to open up the backlash in the drivetrain and then stomp it in. YOu need it to be in the bit where the wheel is not turning the motor or the motor turning the wheels hence the little blip of throttle. Its not kind to gearboxes tho. Cars are easier as there is a neutral between every gear to allow you to match revs nd feel the gear in

With some cars (and bikes I expect) you can start moving already in gear by touching the starter button. It helps if the gear is low and you're on a hill; it's certainly a recognised technique for re-starting a stalled Land Rover on a steep hill. Put it in gear, forward if facing downhill or reverse if facing up, release the brakes so the Landy is held on just engine compression then tickle the starter and off it will go, smooth as anything.

It's the compression with the valves shut that causes the engine braking