Clutch/gloves issue

I recently received some Alpinestars GP Pro gloves, with which I'm mostly
happy. However the armour on the backs of the fingers interferes a bit with
the clutch lever when pulled in - I use 2 fingers on the clutch. It's
sufficient to prevent the bike starting when I stalled it earlier
(embarassing). Btw the clutch lever is adjusted as far out as it will go.

Is there a likelihood of ruining the clutch when I'm stationary at lights
etc? I don't know whether the clutch cutout works on the lever position or
on the position of the clutch cable/plates etc. The bike doesn't creep
forward when brakes are taken off.

Anyone else had this problem?

Thanks

Tim

 

Couldn't you try using 5 fingers instead? I bet it solves the problem...

 

Or four fingers with the opposing thumb on the other side of the bar!

 

Good point, but I didn't want to make assumptions.

 

Spose so. I didn't think 2 was unusual though.

 

Good stuff. Thanks!

 

EN 13594:2002 "Protective gloves for professional motorcycle riders -
Requirements and test methods"; Annex B "Ergonomic and size testing";
Table B1.

Question 3 - "Eyes closed - can you satisfactorily feel and operate
the handlebars, accelerator[1], clutch and brake levers, switches and
reserve fuel tap?"

Question 4 - "Eyes closed - do parts of the glove catch on or
interfere with any controls, switches, or the reserve fuel tap?"

Question 8 - "Are there any other features which might cause
irritation or make riding hazardous and if present, does the impact
padding cause any problems?"

AlpineStars were represented within the European Standards committee
that approved EN 13594 - including the text of the above ergonomic
tests - for publication. Perhaps they have not put their gloves
through the assessments to which they agreed.

[1] It means "throttle" (used later in question 5 which I have not
quoted here).

 

Er Paul, does the test above specify how many fingers you need to use to
pass this?
I dont think any of the gloves I have would 'pass' this either if I used the
clutch with only two fingers as opposed to four.

 

dwb says...

The AlpineStars in question have a flap of leather that spans the little
and 3rd finger as well, which is somehting I couldn't get on with when I
tried them on. I also found the hard plastic on the backs of the fingers
restricted bending movement in 3 fingers. I preferred the GP Plus gloves
that A/stars stopped making, they had fairly flexible carbon fibre not
hard plastic in these areas and fitted me very well.

 

The standard does not stipulate how many fingers shall be used to
operate the controls. If the assessor used all four fingers, it is
possible the problem described in this thread would not be identified.

I'd like to think this is an issue that could be addressed when the
standards are up for review in 2007, provided enough Member States
agree that the standard requires amendment (EN 1621-1, the impact
protector standard, was due for review in 2001, and despite the fact
that foam technology had overtaken the performance requirements of the
standard, plus EN 1621-1 is deficient in other areas, only two
countries - the UK and Sweden IIRC, voted for it to be updated, so it
has been allowed to continue in its original form).

Another question is whether it is necessary to have such bulky
"protection" on the digits when there are soft foam solutions
available that are probably far more effective in attenuating
transmitted force, significantly slimmer, and more flexible. Two new
foams were launched by two different manufacturers last week: lighter,
softer but still as effective, thickness for thickness, as their
previous benchmark products.