Does it hurt the transmission to shift with out the clutch? I have a 2000 600F4. My bike seems to shift better from 3-4 and up without the clutch as long as i let off the gas a tad bit. I have heard that it don't hurt the trans at all then i have heard thatt it does hurt the trans. What you opinions on this topic?

Thanks.

 

its called power shifting and it hurts it if u dont do it good thats why it is easy to do in 3 and up not 1 to second the gears are too small

 

From what I have read and heard, but nobody quote me on this, you can upshift without the clutch as long as you unload the engine (let off a few rpm) and shift.

Apparently the transmissions in bikes don't have synchros like other vehicles so it doesn't harm anything as long as you take the load off the engine. Essentially using the clutch unloads the engine enough to make the shift smooth and clean, but rolling off the throttle a few hundred rpm will do basically the same thing.

Even though I've read and hear alot of info about clutchles shifting, I wouldn't recommend doing it all the time as although it's not supposed to do any bad I'm sure using the clutch is a better method. I mean it was put there for a reason right.

 

I know what power shifting is and it works well, but I'm just talking about up-shifting when you just rideing nicly with one hand. I'm sure the clutch is the best way, but if the trans don't grind then it shold not be hurting anythng that I know of. I try to use the clutch as much as possible, but sometimes I just click it and go, but I always let of the gas.

Thanks for you thoughts on this matter.

 

is this your first bike? because how can you forget to use the clutch? I know you can shift not using the clutch but I wouldnt expect the trans to last as nearly as long

 

It is a sport bike and is expected to be treated as such. While accelerating I rarely use the clutch other than for initial takeoff.

 

It always seems to shift BETTER when I DONT pull in the clutch.

 

Yes you can shift without the clutch, at any gear. I personally do not do it from second to third. But I do afterwords.

Also, it depends on how hard I'm riding too. If I'm cruising and I'm at 6grand or less, I'll use the clutch, at least half the time; if I'm giving it some gas you better believe I shift without the clutch.

It is not the optimal method of shifting, there is a reason why the clutch is there in the first place. If shifting without the clutch was the optimal way we'd never have made a clutch. However, it also isn't much worse, so feel free to do it.

 

The biggest problem you'll run into from clutchless shifting is bent shift forks. Having a bent shift fork will make your bike seems as if it's falling out of 2nd and 3rd gear. In second, sometimes it'll fall into nuetral. Also, a bent fork will also cause you to miss shifts to second and third when you're accelerating hard.

It's not bad for the bike when it's done right, but it's also one of those things... unless you're racing there's really no advantage/disadvantage to it so it's kinda like, why bother?

The best advice is to just use your clutch.

 

I rarely use my clutch to shift up through the gears, I use it for starting off and sometimes to shift from 1st through to 2nd, though not always even that and some times now and again I'll use the clutch in higher gears, but normally I clutchless shift. I've been told sports bikes are designed to clutchlessly shift so as long as you do it right then it'll be fine. I've been doing it since about a year and a half ago now and haven't had problems from doing it. At the end of the day it's your bike, so do what you feel happy with doing really.