Clutchless Shifting

[pikababy1210]

so whats the consensus on clutchless shifting? My friend introduced this idea to me because I have wee hands and i get bad muscle pain because the clutch lever is a far reach for me. So on days when i ride in a lot of traffic, i take advantage of some clutchless shifting. i've learned to do it smoothly so i'm not crunching gears but my question is: Is it bad for the engine or does it cause just slightly more wear than regular shifting would?

[GPTECHMAN]

dude, use the clutch...you dont have a scooter

[Hellbound]

I hear good things about doing it, but i wouldnt do it. Adjust your clutch handle to fit your needs. If that dont work then stick with clutchless. I know mgp people use clutchless. But i feel for safety reasons stay with it.. And how do you know your doing it right ;) i hear all that clanking from your bike when you shift :P

[Cyanide41]

My bike won't let me do it. I am not sure why, but I would had to say it's not good for the bike. Yeah moto gp guys might do it, but how often do those bikes get stripped down and rebuilt? How long does a tranny on a moto gp bike last?

[Hellbound]

well i also talked to a guy about this. As long as you know how to do it you will be fine, but if you dont kiss ur transmission goodbye.

[pikababy1210]

I hear good things about doing it, but i wouldnt do it. Adjust your clutch handle to fit your needs. If that dont work then stick with clutchless. I know mgp people use clutchless. But i feel for safety reasons stay with it.. And how do you know your doing it right ;) i hear all that clanking from your bike when you shift :P

Clanking??? i don't know what you're talking about......... :rolleyes:

[pikababy1210]

My bike won't let me do it. I am not sure why, but I would had to say it's not good for the bike. Yeah moto gp guys might do it, but how often do those bikes get stripped down and rebuilt? How long does a tranny on a moto gp bike last?


It might have to do with the timing. cause you have to do it right as you let off the gas....or so i was told, and this does work for me. i'm sure in a race situation it might be warranted....but i guess for my purposes, its not a good idea. i don't want the transmission to go to crap. *sigh* sucks to be a small person.

[Philo]

http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/shifting.html

Use the clutch in traffic, your hand will just get stronger. It's great for guys to help prevent the right-arm from getting dis-proportionately large. :shifty: :lol:

[Cyanide41]

and guys will appreciate your "stronger" :lift: grip too

:D

[shaggy]

clutchless shifting is fine if you are doing right, which it sounds like you are. If you don't hear the tranny grinding you ok. I clutchless shift almost all of my upshifts now and trying to smooth out clutchless downshifts at the track. If done properly the wear to the tranny is nothing to worry about.

[CjrJAM]

clutchless shifting is fine if you are doing right, which it sounds like you are. If you don't hear the tranny grinding you ok. I clutchless shift almost all of my upshifts now and trying to smooth out clutchless downshifts at the track. If done properly the wear to the tranny is nothing to worry about.
+1 I started clutchless shifting after reading an article in one of the bike magazines saying it was ok to do it (if done correctly). Although I rarely clutchless down shift, I mostly always upshift now and seem to have gotten pretty good at it. Will have to try it at the track as I imagine it will be a time saver.

[shaggy]

there's a good thread on it on the wsmc forums...if I find it I'll post it up.

[cbrsmurf]

Clutchless shifting is fine if you do it right, just don't load the shifter until you shift.

[cbrsmurf]

My bike won't let me do it. I am not sure why, but I would had to say it's not good for the bike. Yeah moto gp guys might do it, but how often do those bikes get stripped down and rebuilt? How long does a tranny on a moto gp bike last?

My bike let's me do clutchless fine. Maybe you aren't doing it right or there may be a problem with the bike.

[Robert]

been upshifting without the clutch for years and never had a problem on any of my bikes i only use it when i downshift and in traffic

[wanderer]

wait... bikes have clutches? ; )

[pikababy1210]

Clutchless shifting is fine if you do it right, just don't load the shifter until you shift.

can you elaborate on that for me?

[pikababy1210]

http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/shifting.html

Use the clutch in traffic, your hand will just get stronger. It's great for guys to help prevent the right-arm from getting dis-proportionately large. :shifty: :lol:


haha, LOL guys.

[pikababy1210]

Thanks for all the great input guys. I seem to be getting mixed reviews, but its kinda a sticky situation considering the only way to improve is by practicing which is bad if you have the occasional f*ck up. I'm pretty sure I'm doing it correctly, but I don't want to find out the hard way that I"m not. the first few times i experimented, i crunched some gears (my poor SV!!!) but i've been on a good streak. its felt like normal shifting, minus the clutch. no crunch, the gear shifts like butter.....but are there any other tell-tale signs that i could be doing it incorrectly?

[Beast619]

Same here, i clutchless upshift when accelerating hard, but if im in traffic or putting around town i use the clutch. I always use the clutch for downshifting though.

I feel it saves time when accelerating to not use the clutch, just gotta learn when and how to do it properly. Most guys ive been with in the canyons use the same method as i do. Clutchless upshifts, clutch downshifts.

[TreAdidas]

Now I don't clutchless shift but only a few times here and there...

But since we're talking about it.... This was a good read and it seemed to make sense to me:

http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/shifting.html

[what?!]

http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/shifting.html

Use the clutch in traffic, your hand will just get stronger. It's great for guys to help prevent the right-arm from getting dis-proportionately large. :shifty: :lol:

hellboy status... :devil:

[DucMonzter750]

and guys will appreciate your "stronger" :lift: grip too

:D

:roflmao: (dirty mind playing tricks on me)

[Lost]

I use clutchless on my morning commute but not that much on the track. I think what ever flips you pancakes is cool. Its not going to make you faster or slower either way.

Now a quick shifter, that shoud net you around a tenth or 2 a lap!

[Lost]

Btw, im pretty sure the motogp guys are using quickshifters, thus no strain on the tranny..

[pat_mangiona]

clutchless will work on any (modern) bike due to a constant mesh tranny. When you are full open and you go to shift it wont until you let off a bit. That is why there are kits (quickshifters) for this. It cuts the ignition for you so you dont have to let off. As for down shifting without a clutch...that is not very productive. Thats why people pay a lot for a slipper clutch. Downshifting with no clutch will start to do some work on your tranny. How do you enter a turn without a clutch? I use the clutch to keep traction going into the turn. Isnt it a bit of a rough ride by just stomping it down with no clutch?

[GetnJgyWitit]

I use the clutch to control engine braking on my down shifts. And I use the clutch for my up shifts. It's there, so why not use it? I don't know, I think I'm just paranoid of blowing my transmission because I'm to lazy or think it is going to give me a tenth or two per lap. There are plenty of other things I need to work on that will give me more time per lap then that.

[Lost]

Whoa two years!! :whistle:



After reading this post...

Why did none of us tell this poor girl that she should just learn to use the damn clutch till she gets better? :roflmao:

:fart:

[pat_mangiona]

there is no reason to not use the clutch on the street, If you are cruising along banging through gears at 5k rpm it will make some not so nice noises without a clutch. At the track it will save a minimal amount of time but I do it more so to not miss gears or hit false neutrals. Anyways I'm new here and was just poking around and thought I would chime in. Carry on =)

[GetnJgyWitit]

there is no reason to not use the clutch on the street, If you are cruising along banging through gears at 5k rpm it will make some not so nice noises without a clutch. At the track it will save a minimal amount of time but I do it more so to not miss gears or hit false neutrals. Anyways I'm new here and was just poking around and thought I would chime in. Carry on =)

LOL just cause you are new doesn't mean you should hold back. Jump in, enjoy!

[pat_mangiona]

I'm not saying to hold back. Im just saying that usually on the street you wont be clacking through gears at redline trying to shave time. If you notice that if you are riding and clutchless shift at say 5k rpm it is a bit violent as opposed to when you wind the bike out to say 10k rpm (you may adjust these figures for twins and what not.) and up. My thought is, it does wear on a transmission when you don't use a clutch. it will put a beating on the shift forks and drive gear over time. by preloading the shifter every up shift you are putting yet more wear on the shift forks. So if you are riding on the street why bother wearing it out faster if you don't win any money =)

[GetnJgyWitit]

I'm not saying to hold back. Im just saying that usually on the street you wont be clacking through gears at redline trying to shave time. If you notice that if you are riding and clutchless shift at say 5k rpm it is a bit violent as opposed to when you wind the bike out to say 10k rpm (you may adjust these figures for twins and what not.) and up. My thought is, it does wear on a transmission when you don't use a clutch. it will put a beating on the shift forks and drive gear over time. by preloading the shifter every up shift you are putting yet more wear on the shift forks. So if you are riding on the street why bother wearing it out faster if you don't win any money =)

LOL no! I was talking about your last comment. You said something about you being new and not wanting to chime in with opinions so much. I was saying don't worry about it. Opinions and advice are what forums are all about. :thumbsup:

[pat_mangiona]

=) I keep replying to post's then noticing they are from years ago. i'm gonna have to start making up stuff

[Lost]

=) I keep replying to post's then noticing they are from years ago. i'm gonna have to start making up stuff

Its probablly good that we look at posts from a few years back. Alot of people here have gone from street riders to track addicts in the last few years. There are some damn good riders here and a few that have pulled 1st's this year! :eek:

Its interesting to see what our take was on things back then!

[GixxerDemon55]

I only use clutchless upshifts on the track.

Still use the clutch on the street