Just purchased a Stella

[T'Pring]

New to shifting and just want to know if it is necessary to use the clutch [except when starting from a stop].

[Halloweenie]

Welcome to the fun of Stella-dom. Of course you need to use the clutch. It is there for a reason. You can shift w/o it but you will kill your cruciform and put wear on your transmission. There is also a good chance of breaking off a gear tooth which could be really fun at high RPM. Plus to fix any damage, you would have to drop your engine and split your cases. Cheaper and easier to clutch.

[lmyers]

Get a dog leg lever for your clutch. Not so pretty, but a lot easier to get hold of. I've put over 13k on my Stella since I put it on. Your wrist will thank you.

[Lovelandstella]

New to shifting and just want to know if it is necessary to use the clutch [except when starting from a stop].

The stella's clutch is similar to a Stick Shift car, in that -if you want to drive -you kinda gotta use the clutch.
The clutch is as necessary as throttle, brakes and steering.
(I suppose there are ways to avoid any one of those things while riding- but it was designed to *need* the clutch.)

This neat little website was made for another Shifting Scooter, but it still might help us communicate:
http://bajajusa.com/Gentle%20art%20of%20shifting.htm (scroll down to the pictures- they help a lot!)
it shows how the clutch works and why it is necessary and it can give you a really great picture of what exactly you are doing to the engine when you change gears *without* the clutch. [fyi, they are bad things]

In a car you step on the clutch and move the stickshift
On a stella you squeeze the clutch lever and rotate the left handlebar to select the gear

There are "tricks" to somehow time it right every once in a while. but not for every single time the clutch should be used.
But if you never use the clutch you may never get it home.

Halloweenie is right. lmyers has a good idea (assuming you were having trouble reaching the clutch lever like a lot of people)

Other members, am I way off?

[ericalm]

How can you not use the clutch if starting from a full stop?

In addition to a dogleg lever, the clutch can be adjusted so that it engages/disengages in a better spot.

If you bought used, it's possible the clutch may need some adjustment anyways.

[T'Pring]

Some great information that I was looking for (I have so much to learn). I don't plan on shifting that way unless I have to but, on my way home after buying it I found it easy to just shift without the clutch [not from a stop].

After buying it, I had to figure out how to ride it in traffic to get it home -- I can laugh now about the wheelies I popped, but believe me it was a white-knuckled ride [about fifteen miles in traffic with about a couple dozen traffic signals and a setting sun].

[Keys]

How can you not use the clutch if starting from a full stop?

Approximately 135 years ago, I owned a little '63 (I think) Vespa V90. About 6 months after I got it, the clutch cable broke (this was in about 1982) and living in Grand Jct., Colorado, I couldn't find one ANYwhere. I rode for about 6 months without a clutch until I found someone who made me one. I'd be sitting at a stoplight and I'd just 'foot-paddle' forward until I was moving and pop it into first. I'd always get a little air under the front tire, but I always got going!

--Keys

[jmkjr72]

i made the mistake of trying to nurse home a scoot with a clutch cable issue and now i have to spit the case to find out how much damage i did inside

[illnoise]

I think maybe (s)he meant "choke." No, you don't want to use the choke other than for starting. Pull it out to start the engine when it's cold (shouldn't need it if the engine's been running recently), and leave it out until the engine warms up, usually no more than a minute or two. You can warm it up standing, or just ride it but be sure to remember to push the choke lever in once you get going. You'll feel the engine running strangely (sluggish accelleration, uneven idle) if you leave it out when it's warmed up.

Bryan

[ericalm]

Some great information that I was looking for (I have so much to learn). I don't plan on shifting that way unless I have to but, on my way home after buying it I found it easy to just shift without the clutch [not from a stop].

After buying it, I had to figure out how to ride it in traffic to get it home -- I can laugh now about the wheelies I popped, but believe me it was a white-knuckled ride [about fifteen miles in traffic with about a couple dozen traffic signals and a setting sun].

Just out of curiosity: Why get a Stella if not to shift?

[T'Pring]

Just out of curiosity: Why get a Stella if not to shift?

Don't get me wrong -- I got it for the shifting but, just found it easy not to shift on my maiden voyage and wanted to know ramifications for not using the clutch, on occasion [the person I bought it from gave me the idea].

[ericalm]

I had my share of gaffes when I started riding a Stella, including one colossal wheelie.

Once I got the hang of it, though, I started riding my Stella a lot more than my automatic scooters. It's slower, but much more fun.