Holding clutch when braking

Question

I always hold my clutch when braking suddenly in traffic or to move in traffic. I heard that its bad driving. I tried to stop holding clutch and I am unsuccessful in it. How bad is this for motorcycle?. Any tip on not to hold clutch when braking?.

Answer 1

why using your clutch during braking can be considered unsafe

I have ridden motorcycles for years. Engine braking is a component of safe riding.

The engine itself can be ok and not receive any damage from pulling in the clutch while breaking other than it is additional wear on throw out bearing for the pressure plate within the clutch.

The throwout bearing is number 6 in the image below.

Although pulling in your clutch may not harm your engine it can lead to instability when breaking.

Under braking the rotational mass of the engine has a gyroscopic effect and assists in keeping the motorcycle upright. Pulling in the clutch takes away from the gyroscopic effect and may make the motorcycle feel unstable.

Rather than pulling in the clutch you can downshift immediately while using the front brake and allow the engine to slow the rear wheel and provide additional gyroscopic effect for more stability under panic stops. The resistance of the road on the rear wheel will assist in providing stability as well and an indication if the rear wheel has lifted off the ground from over braking on the front.

If you were to lock up your rear wheel by using your rear brake AND pull in your clutch thereby reducing the gyroscopic effect of one wheel and the motor the bike could become very unstable. You would only have the gyroscopic effect of the front wheel and it's a very strange feeling as you travel at a high rate of speed yet feel like tipping over.

Engine braking under normal braking helps to provide stability.

Answer 2

Holding the clutch while braking can make the rear wheel more likely to lock-up. Also you lose the additional engine braking.