Clutchless Shifting?

I

ILYJTS4E

New member
Nothing to it, just push up on the shift lever with you boot, then slightly let off the throttle and the bike will go into the next gear. Absoloutley nothing wrong with this, and over time it will actually save you wear and tear on the clutch plates. the bike might jump around a little until you get the technique down, but no more that using the clutch.

I only shift with the clutch at very low speeds around town. Once on the move (even in town) I don't use the clutch lever to shift up. I always use the lever to downshift though.
 
I only use the clutch when Im changing down in the lower gears or changing down in the wet when i want to be sure the engine braking wont lock up the back wheel on the wet.

changing up should not be a problem at any revs, just blip the throttle when you change.

Cheers
 
I've only done the clutchless upshift a couple of times. That is something that I don't even think about when riding. If I can make myself think about it, I'll try it on the 848 some time.
I have been in the habit of blipping the throttle on downshifts for years. That has become second nature to me now. It helps out for a smooth downshift and sounds pretty cool also!!
 
I'd just like to set he record straight.....I only clutchless up shift at the track, it's definitely harder on the transmission dogs and can bend shift forks. On the street i usually use the clutch.

For the newbs and lurkers,
http://www.gadgetjq.com/transmission.htm
 
On the track, I only use the clutch for starting and stopping. 5 years of trackdays and CCS racing...no problems on the Ducs. Knock on wood.
 
I can't believe so many of you clutch your upshifts, no reason to at most speeds. I only clutch off the line and sometimes into second on the street as I like to have the ability to modulate power should I hit gravel in an intersection or someone pulls in front of me.

I have always upshifted without the clutch and have never had any issues on any of my bikes, you just need to make sure you unload the drivertrain first, i.e. give a little gas then let off so the gears and chain aren't tight, slides right in like butter, no way you would be bending anything that way. Also if you upshift at full clip with the clutch you are really abusing it asking it to take all that power, clutches aren't cheap either.

As far as downshifting, just blip and slide it in, easy as pie....
 
Coming from a drag racing experience (used to have a CF Hayabusa), I clutchless upshift, but only from 2nd gear on up. Don't like to chance that 'weak link' second gear.

As for downshifts, I never blip. Some race schools teach you to learn to down shift *very* fast, very smooth, and if you do it right you don't have to blip. A very good lesson: on a straight road, keeping constant speed, practice up shifting and downshifting w/o blipping the throttle. Use pressure on the shift lever. Be smooth and make a game of it, just how fast and smooth can you do it? Downshift fast enough and you won't upset the bike.

Case in point, the instructor (a certain Mr. J. Pridmore) dove into a corner at Spring Mountain Raceway (Turn 5A & 5B) and downshifted from 2nd to 1st while almost elbow down. The bike didn't shimmy at all, it was as smooth as silk. Practive enough, it becomes 2nd nature and much smoother than blipping the throttle and 'guessing/hoping' the rpm is right.
 
Great Advice... thanks ... I wish there was an easier way to practice it... without hurting the clutch ... from the initial attempts ...
 
You're not going to hurt the clutch. Find yourself a straight back road, maybe an industrial park on a Saturday or Sunday. Just ride up and down the street, pushing on the shifter, pulling in the clutch, and the moment the bike shifts, let the clutch out. Practice getting faster and smoother.

After a while, you realize that most people downshift and let go of the clutch too slowly, causing the bike to shimmy, the motor to rev out, and the clutch to burn up.

Make a game of it in your head. How fast, smoothly, can you do it? Practice practice practice.
 
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