Tell me how ya'll feel about this....I have read that it's better to shift without the clutch when riding. Then I hear it's not good to shift without the clutch while riding. I've raed on a sportbike website that's it's ok to not use the clutch. I don't race or anything but I'd prefer to not use the clutch. The shift is smoother to me. How wrong am I for doing this?

 

you know...there is a proper technique and time for upshifting without clutch...should be done quickly and in higher RPMs. you do it in low and you fubar things.

 

The goal with or without the clutch is to shift when there is no load on the driveline. Letting off the gasfor an instant to shift reverses load in the gear box and offers a breif moment of freewheeling in the drive line and a chance to sneak a shift in....with proper timing this is no worse than a clutched shift.....but with bad timing you will have cummulative damage...wear on the forks or nicks/chips/wear on the engagement dogs in the tranny.

Racing or not I always use the clutch in a downshift.

If someone says shifting with the clutch wears it out....well, yeah...its a clutch. Its like saying, don't use the brakes. The clutch is a wearable item....but easily changed and much cheaper than transmission parts or service....

 

Use the clutch... that's what it's for!

 

[sm=exactly.gif][sm=goodidea.gif]

 

i clutch it.. i paid for one, might as well use it. PLUS... i'm not cooool enough to shift without one.

 

I can only think of a few situations on the road where clutchless shifting is even worth doing, and thats usually merging onto a highway. You can shift with the clutch nearly as smooth as without it too. Just gotta do it right.

 

+1

Everyoneshould learn long hand before using the calculator.