Does anyone know for sure if this messes up the gears or anything like that? I was telling my friend he should do it since it cuts shift times down like crazy but he laughed and said it would **** it up over time. It feels nice and smooth when i shift though so i disagreed but i only do it when i race

 

Well, that all depends on how long you are going to own the bike! lol

Seriously, do whatever YOU think is better. Personally, I use the clutch unless im racing. The clutch is there for a reason and it wont go bad by using it for shifting, unless your slipping it of course.

 

I know for a fact if you do it right it causes no harm at all to your gears!!!! The clutch is there for a reason you`re right, to change back down with!! Racers do it on track they don`t use the clutch ever on up shifts, i`ve done it on all 3 of my previous bikes all the time and never had any problems.

People are just scared of the unknown.

 

The thing is, if you dont get enough upforce while shifting sometimes it misses the gear and when you hit the throttle, up goes the tach. its happened to me a couple of times now and it scares the **** out of me, and it only does it in top gear. Maybe its just me, who knows. But its never happened when i use the clutch.

 

If u need a lot of force it seems to me you you need a little practice, Stick with what you like though you don`t have to do it without the clutch its personal choice.

But if ya do fancy practicing you may find that if ya get ya foot under the lever ready and put a tiny amount of pressure on it when you come off the throttle it`ll slip in easy, accelerate normal though if ya take it easy it won`t go in, ever.

 

I read a Klik & Klak article a couple years ago about speed shifting a car. They said it's like crossing the street blindfolded, most of the time your going to make it; but if you don't, its going to be ugly. Basically, if you dont time it just right you risk crunching the gearbox... bent shift forks, broken teeth and general ugliness something like bolts in a blender.

Totally guessing, but is this the risk when you downshift w/o the clutch??

 

Car tranny is completely different scene than a bike tranny -- modern bike gearboxes are synched up to allow upshifts without the clutch. Down shifting is right out because you'd have to match engine speed to the lower gear. Too high and you'll hear gear teeth being ground down -- too low and you could slide the rear. I've only ever missed an upshift when USING the clutch. It's always a more positive shift when I don't use the clutch.

 

There was a one page article in one of the major magazines recently (Cycle World I think) about clutchless upshifts. The writer was at a trackday and couldn't believe how many people were wasting so much time and energy using their clutches. The article went on to tell why clutchless upshifts cause no harm to a modern sportbike. I'm thinking it was early this year, maybe.

 

I read the same thing in Motorcyclist about a year ago. But don't try it on your car's 5 speed tranny[8D]

 

I have been placed in the situation with a broken clutch cable that forced me to ride my old bike (katana 600) without a clutch at all. I can tell u from personal experience, it most definately can be done with upshifts as well as downshifts. The trick is to make sure you time the shifts in between the acceleration and deceleration points. If you find that right rpm, the shifter will "slip" right where it needs to go with ease. I was doing downshifts as easily as upshifts, and doing that with no clutch can be tricky! The fun part was getting it rolling while popping it into first without killing the engine!!! I had to ride 20 miles back home, and I made it without too much headache. (I had to stop on downward slopes everywhere.. Try rolling a bike uphill to slip it into first gear!!)

Honestly, I don't see why I would use this on the street.. My personal thought on the issue, its MUUUUUUUCH cheaper to replace clutches, then to replace shift forks, shift drums and gears.. And in learning this procedure you can increase wear on your transmission for no real benefit on the highway. Seconds count on the racetrack, but in the streets whats the rush? Of course if you do it "Right" it doesn't hurt the transmission etc etc, but my personal opinion, why risk it? If it works for a year, great.. But if all throughout that year you have been shifting wrong and it damages your shift forks, u will be removing the motor for a overhaul that wasn't necessary! Use wise judgement in your decisions on how to ride your ride. If I'm not on the racetrack, I'm using my clutch.