Clutchless shifting

[Les]

Does any know of any definite pros or cons of this gear changing technique? My bike seems to quite like it and it makes for a nice quick and usually smooth change especially when under harder accelleration. Do you think that it increses wear? Opinions..?

[wkid_one]

Nah it doesn't. So long as you roll off the throttle when up shifting the gear should just slot in to place piece of piss.

[Antallica]

Yeah it doesn't seem to matter on my Fixxer when I do the odd clutchless either. But I like to use the clutch anyway as to not get into any sort of habit of it.

[Two Smoker]

The only time i notice a problem is going from second to third because it is a large gap in the ratio meaning too bigger jump in the revs....

[Jackrat]

I have personaly seen boxes in the shop that have been damaged by it.This may of course have something to do with the skill of the owner.I still do it myself but just not a lot an then carefully.All the gearboxes with rounded dogs I have seen have been from the same brand of bike so that may also have something to do with it.

[Les]

Yeah I really notice the difference going thru neutral into 2nd. It seems to be sooo much smoother and no clunk like when I clutch it. My gearbox is still new (only 3000k's) so is still a bit tight. I can notice it loosening up as the k's build. I was curious as I don't want to stuff anything just yet...

Previous bikes of mine (mostly trail bikes) didn't seem to like it but the SV is fine.

[FROSTY]

Ive been clutchless upshifting for years--never had a problem

[madandy]

Never used the clutch for upshifts on the dirt bikes I've ridden AG200;175Enduro; XL 185; XR250; KDX 250; CR250. All shifted faultlessly.
The RF is smooth as silk once the oil is warm and down shifts, in low speed traffic, on part throttle are smooth too.

[Cajun]

our bandit 600 is far better going up gears with out clutch than with the clutch.

But i pretty much do clutchless upchanges most of the time

[Motu]

Never use the clutch off road - just a flick of the wrist...mind you my XR200 used to jump out of 2 gears,obviously a manufacturing fault.The XS1 has a man sized clutch pull,so not being man sized I will clutchless shift when tiered.

[jrandom]

From memory I believe I've heard that 'zook gearboxes tend to be happy with clutchless upshifts. Certainly my FXR eats them up no problem, the clutch seems to be an optional extra really. In fact it downshifts with nothing but a wrist-flick quite nicely too - a few times I've sort of been half-asleep, missed grabbing the clutch lever and hit the gearshift anyway while engine-braking and it hasn't complained.

Don't know about any other manufacturer reputations, though. Which brand were you thinking of there Jack?

[kerryg]

Here's a useful link:

http://www.vf750d.com/blurbs/shifting.html

[marty]

the RS downshifted sweet as, especially from high speed, with the tiniest flick of the wrist. it wasn't that happy up shifting, but it really only took thinking about pulling the clutch in to change up. there is a big diff from 1st to 2nd, so had to make that a really positive move, or it would hook fresh air....2 stroke at 12000rpm
:Oops:

[Deano]

I often upshift at Manfeild Open days without the clutch, but generally use it on the road. I never downshift without the clutch.

[Hoon]

I took almost half a sec off my 1/4 mile time using clutchless shifting. Also worth about half a sec a lap on the track too.
Clutchless shifting is just another part of racing and everyone does it. You can even buy quickshifter kits for your bike which will sense when you are applying pressure to the gear lever and cut the ignition for a split second so the gear can slip in without you having to blip the throttle.

Other than the time benefits its also means less work for the clutch hand. If you are racing around a track and changing gears 15 times a minute, you will have a very tired hand by the end of the day. Also it doesn't upset the bike as much and you are more likely to get away with it when leaned over.

[Jackrat]

From memory I believe I've heard that 'zook gearboxes tend to be happy with clutchless upshifts. Certainly my FXR eats them up no problem, the clutch seems to be an optional extra really. In fact it downshifts with nothing but a wrist-flick quite nicely too - a few times I've sort of been half-asleep, missed grabbing the clutch lever and hit the gearshift anyway while engine-braking and it hasn't complained.

Don't know about any other manufacturer reputations, though. Which brand were you thinking of there Jack?

Ducati,,,Now wait for the word war to start.

[jrandom]

Ducati

Ducati gearboxes going *plop*?

Par for the course though, innit? The owners would be disappointed if the gearbox stayed in one piece while everything else disintegrated...

[Deano]

Ducati gearboxes going *plop*?

Par for the course though, innit? The owners would be disappointed if the gearbox stayed in one piece while everything else disintegrated...

Ive got a mate (honest I have), who has had a 1992 900SS since new - he has chewed out a couple of first or second gears, and being quite a clever mechanic, he engineered a little barrel roller type thingy (beyond me), that squirts oil onto the gears rather than letting gravity and splashing do the job. Seems he has much less problems since doing this.

I can probably put people (Duke owners) in touch with him if you want to know more.

[k14]

I always use the clutch when changing gears, can't really see the point of not using it, apart from racing.

Although I did do a downshift without using the clutch once. I was caning it along some back country road doing around 100kph and around 15000rpm. I went over a bump and my foot was sitting ontop of the gear lever. Needless to say, I changed down and needed to change my undies aswell :eek5: Don't want to try that again.

Now I have learnt to not rest my foot on the gear lever, lol.

[Zed]

I often upshift at Manfeild Open days without the clutch, but generally use it on the road. I never downshift without the clutch.
.:ditto:.

On the open days I've been to it can be the difference between holding the lead and being dropped several places back. Me thinks perfect gear changes on the track are important. :ride:


Zed

[White trash]

.:ditto:.

On the open days I've been to it can be the difference between holding the lead and being dropped several places back.


Zed

It's not a bloody race, mate!

I only use the clutch for upshifts if riding quietly 'round town. I've also reversed my shift patern, GP stylz coz I'm a friggin' poser. :whistle:

[Zed]

It's not a bloody race, mate!

I only use the clutch for upshifts if riding quietly 'round town. I've also reversed my shift patern, GP stylz coz I'm a friggin' poser. :whistle:Lol, Not for you maybe pal, but for those of us newbies who are compatible in our riding skills there is definately a competative spirit out there- nearly racing! :sneaky2:

[White trash]

Lol, Not for you maybe pal, but for those of us newbies who are compatible in our riding skills there is definately a competative spirit out there- nearly racing! :sneaky2:

Yeah, I'm just taking the piss outa' all the Jimbo750 types out there who use the ol' "It's not a race!" in a real high pitched squealy voice to explain their poor performances.

Man I love it when he's on holiday and can't retaliate! :ar15:

[Kwaka-Kid]

Lol, Not for you maybe pal, but for those of us newbies who are compatible in our riding skills there is definately a competative spirit out there- nearly racing! :sneaky2:
really? cant say ive felt that... mind you im on an underpowerd little 400 :(

anyways regarding clutchless shifting - erm, 1st thru to 2nd clutchless? done it a couple of times by accident and dont ever plan to do it, i use clutch from 1-2 and 2-3 on the racebike and from there i clutchless shift, on the road, every damn shift ive made has been clutched i think, maybe there has been a slight exception for a ride with friends when i stupidly got a little carried away - its one of those things that in my mind symbolises(sp) racing, as with wearing full leathers, so on the street i try and keep it cool and just relax. - oh and done it very seldomly slowly alongside mates to show them that its not just a myth. Anyway i cant see much difference using it on the track in terms of speed or anything? when i used to clutch always when i was still very fresh (first 3 race meetings?) i just tapped the clutch in and flicked back out, it all happend so smoothly, just as i do from 1-2 and 2-3. oh and i ALWAYS clutch when downshifting, tried it the other day twice on the streetbike jsut very gentally.. dont really like the feel.

[wkid_one]

LOL - I reversed the pattern on the R1 - was kinda great until you need to do an emergency move and chop it down a gear or two and your mind hasn't quite cottoned on the fact the box is inside down!

[Wenier]

i always use the clutch downshifting cus the bike dont seem to like it otherwise. on upshifts i use it from 1-2 but after that i can go clutchless but of course thats more for the race track and sometimes when having fun on the road.

[Kickaha]

I very don't ever use the clutch to upshift while racing and very rarely on the trailbike,I don't use it much while road riding either as the XJ550 changes better without it..

I have used the quickshfter setup on my TZ250 powered superkart,they are bloody brilliant,keep it pinned and just go up through the gears.

[Posh Tourer :P]

the RS downshifted sweet as, especially from high speed, with the tiniest flick of the wrist. it wasn't that happy up shifting, but it really only took thinking about pulling the clutch in to change up. there is a big diff from 1st to 2nd, so had to make that a really positive move, or it would hook fresh air....2 stroke at 12000rpm
:Oops:
I wouldnt call a 2-stroke at 12000 rpm "Fresh" air......

[marty]

fresh-ish.....

[Deano]

fresh-ish.....

Mmmmmmmmm, nothing like following a well tuned 2 stroke burning some good oil - TTS smelt alright.

[pete376403]

When Castrol R40 was the preferred oil for speedway, it was just about worth not winning to sit in behind another bike and sniff the exhaust :)

[Coldkiwi]

I took almost half a sec off my 1/4 mile time using clutchless shifting. Also worth about half a sec a lap on the track too.
Clutchless shifting is just another part of racing and everyone does it. You can even buy quickshifter kits for your bike which will sense when you are applying pressure to the gear lever and cut the ignition for a split second so the gear can slip in without you having to blip the throttle.

Other than the time benefits its also means less work for the clutch hand. If you are racing around a track and changing gears 15 times a minute, you will have a very tired hand by the end of the day. Also it doesn't upset the bike as much and you are more likely to get away with it when leaned over.

hey, thanks for that! very good info dude. It occurs to me now that the biggest pain i was experiencing last time I spent a day at puke was in my clutch hand. I've tried using clutchless since then and I really enjoy the more seamless power so I'll just have to get more into the habit :2thumbsup

[Dr Bob]

I always use the clutch when changing gears, can't really see the point of not using it, apart from racing.

Although I did do a downshift without using the clutch once. I was caning it along some back country road doing around 100kph and around 15000rpm. I went over a bump and my foot was sitting ontop of the gear lever. Needless ....

Quite some time ago on a bike I forgot I owned {a CX400 custom - very embarassing really} I had to go to the hospital because I had accidentally slashed the side of my hand by my thumb with a stanley blade. I had a pressure bandage (teatowel) wrapped around my left hand and I had to crash up and down the box. The biggest problem was getting underway. The hospital was about 40km and five or six sets of lights away. :argh:

[vifferman]

Quite some time ago, I 'overhauled' the clutch on my bike (not the FahrtSturm - I didn't own it then, because it didn't exist), and not having a torque wrench, I just tightened the clutch basket bolts up as best I could. Come time to go to work, Hello (Hello?!?) - the clutch didn't work. Had to ride all the way to work (no problem) with no clutch. The hardest part was traffic lights: rev it up, bang it into gear, and we're off! :laugh: