How to Avoid Stalling Your Motorcycle

Stalling a motorcycle is one of the most common issues faced by beginner riders. Most beginners stall their motorcycles because they are not used to the most basic techniques of riding a motorcycle, which involve engaging and disengaging the clutch while opening the throttle.

Gear shifting is another important lesson you should learn if you are a novice rider. Most riders who are learning how to ride a motorcycle stall their motorcycle in the first gear while taking off. You must know about and learn some special terminologies and techniques if you want to avoid getting embarrassed in front of other riders by stalling your motorcycle. Continue reading this article to learn how to avoid stalling your motorcycle.

To learn how to avoid stalling your motorcycle, motorcyclists should start from the basics. Why do motorcycles stall in the first gear? This is mostly because most novice riders are unfamiliar with what a clutch is and what it does.

A motorcycle usually stalls when the engine slows down and the throttle is insufficient to keep the motorcycle engine running.

A motorcycle also stalls when the rider does not know how to properly engage and disengage the clutch. If you disengage the clutch abruptly even if the throttle is kept maintained, the motorcycle will stall.

Most riders fail to keep the motorcycle running when the brakes are applied, and eventually, their motorcycle stalls. This happens mostly because they do not engage the clutch while slowing down a motorcycle.

Apart from knowing exactly when to engage and disengage the clutch, the rider must also know when to shift gears. A motorcycle can also stall if the rider is riding the motorcycle in a higher gear at slow speeds. In this case, the engine is struggling to deliver more power but does not receive a sufficient amount of gas through the throttle to perform the task, and as a result the motorcycle stalls.

Another terrifying situation for a beginner motorcyclist is when the motorcycle is about to stall while riding uphill. Even intermediate riders sometimes fail to tackle this situation, causing damage to their motorcycles.

A motorcycle can also stall due to low fuel levels or insufficient flow of fuel through the fuel lines to the engine.

If you are interested in learning to ride a motorcycle from the basics, the first thing you should do is to get registered for a motorcycle riding course. The qualified instructors will start teaching you from the basics. These riding schools make you practice the same move repeatedly until you master it.

Learn what a clutch is and how it works. Practice engaging and disengaging the clutch while putting the motorcycle in first gear. A clutch is a mechanical device installed in manual vehicles/motorcycles to control the engine power. You can control the amount of power delivered to the rear wheel using a clutch.

• Turn on your motorcycle and do not open the throttle.
• Keep it neutral.
• Engage the clutch, and put your motorcycle in the first gear.
• Now, release the clutch gradually and observe your motorcycle.
• Keep disengaging the clutch until you feel the forward push, this is known as the catch point.
• As soon as the clutch lever reaches the catch point, start opening the throttle gently.
• The releasing of the clutch and opening of the throttle must be synchronized and gentle to avoid stalling.
• The motorcycle will stall if you release the throttle abruptly in one go.
• If you ever feel that your motorcycle is about to stall due to a lack of throttle and slow engine speed, only engaging the clutch can save your motorcycle from stalling.

Do not wait for the fuel to end before refueling your motorcycle. Always keep the gas tank full to avoid engine stalling and getting stuck in the middle of the road due to low fuel levels.

To make sure the engine is getting the right supply of fuel, make sure to clean the fuel lines, carburetors, or fuel injectors regularly. Rust formation inside the gas tank can also be the reason why fuel lines get clogged and restrict the smooth flow of fuel to the engine.

If you are always worried about stalling a motorcycle while riding uphill, follow the below steps to prevent this from happening:

• Apply either the front or rear brake to keep the motorcycle still in one place.
• While keeping the brake pressed, engage the clutch and put the motorcycle in first gear.
• Do not disengage the brake; open the throttle while slowly disengaging the clutch.
• As soon as you feel the tire is getting traction and the engine power is dominating enough to move you forward, release the brake.
• Make sure not to completely disengage the clutch until your motorcycle is not moving. It will cause your motorbike to stall.

Riding a motorcycle is not always easy for every motorcyclist. Most motorcyclists who have basic road sense and knowhow of how a motorcycle operates may not find motorcycle riding difficult. However, the most common issue with most inexperienced riders is if they do not have any prior knowledge regarding clutch operation, gear shifting, and throttle response, they will most likely stall their motorcycles.

This article contains several noteworthy tips and techniques to avoid stalling a motorcycle for beginner riders. If you follow the steps mentioned in this article and keep practicing, you can master the skills of clutch operation, gear shifting, and throttle dynamics to ride your motorcycle like a pro and avoid getting embarrassed in front of other riders.

Along with learning riding skills, you must also keep your motorcycle in good shape to earn a reputation as an experienced rider in the motorcycle community. Viking Bags helps you make your motorcycle stand out from the rest by offering a variety of motorcycle parts including saddlebags, fairings, highway bars, sissy bars, sissy bar pads, tank bags, and backpacks.