Shifting with the clutch... why?

[ps2fixer]

I have always clutched between gears, of course that is how I was taught to ride a atv. Just to put it out there, semi autos clutch between gears too, the shifter clutches, shifts, then lets the clutch out, check out a big red some time. I suspect either way the transmission gears don't face much wear, but the shift forks might if they are being forced into gear, bent shift fork anyone?

[Mosh]

While many people have done it with success on their machines...I have worked on far far too many atv and dirtbike engines with ground shift forks and rounded engagement cogs popping out of second gear...for me to see any benefit in not using the clutch. To say it saves wear on the clutch is a foul assesment as well. Plates are cheap and far easier to replace than gears and case splitting.

I liken it to a turn signal on a car. The lever is there but too many dont use it nor can Anybody force them to..but it sure would save a lot of headaches if more did.

[DohcBikes]

I'm with Mosh on this, power shifting wears out forks, dogs, and slots faster, no matter how good you are at it.

When doing all gear runs on a dyno, when the average guy shifts, the HP and torque curves drop considerably, sometimes all the way off the bottom of the graph for slower shifters. This is obviously due to the time it takes to operate the clutch without the engine under power.

When the average guy power shifts, the curves obviously do not dip nearly as deep before returning to the levels from the higher rpm in the previous gear, due to the time saved by not operating the clutch while the throttle is closed. So in turn, the forks, dogs, and slots are subjected to a much higher load immediately when the throttle is opened again in an instant.

Some riders are proficient enough with the clutch to keep the power levels from dropping significantly while shifting, and yet even less riders are able to match or exceed the power levels occurring while reentering the next gear up...(guess who) I've never seen anybody that could keep their curve higher through the gears than I can using a clutch, and that includes people power shifting. The only way to make my shifts faster is with the air shifter el mentioned, or for some bikes, just a fuel or ignition interruptor known as a quickshift, which will allow full throttle shifts. Race use.

The big difference is how the force is applied. If you slam 300lbs into a wall with no cushion, more damage will occur than if you had a buffer between the weight and the wall. The 300lbs of force is still transferred, but much more smoothly, controlled, with a less destructive outcome.

Clutches are a lot cheaper and easier to replace than gears and forks, and when operated properly, do not rob power on 99.99% of shifts anyway.

[aldochina]

I like my clutch very much! Unless your on the strip, or shooting for a hole shot I just dont see the point. Even then, does it really make you faster?

[manbearpig]

To each their own, i suppose. the racers do it one way, the recreational riders do it another

[slashfan7964]

I was always taught to shift a bike/three wheeler/quad with the clutch. Maybe it's just how they are used to riding.

[Ghostv2]

God (Honda) gave us clutches and by golly I'm going to use it. Japanese workers didn't slave over this bike all day for me not to use it.

Plus I always thought you were suppose to.

[Afrothunderkat]

I never use a clutch, in fact my trike doesn't even have one on it!

Well, I admit,its a semi automatic but hey, its not to say that if it weren't, id be using the clutch!!! lol

Still has a clutch that can be slipped! Hold the shift lever all the way down or up and let it out like a hand clutch.

My 2250dx's clutch would drag if you just clicked it into gear, something was broke but It allowed me to hold the shifter up or down between gears that acted like a clutch. Was super fun revving it up and dumping it in 2nd!

[fabiodriven]

It's true that the correct way to drive a truck with a non synchronized tranny is without the clutch. However, as others have said, you're "lining up" the gears in between shifts with the engine based on road speed, incline or decline, weight, steering drag/scrub, and many other variables. The tranny is never just slammed into gear, or "power shifted". The transmission is fully engaged and in gear before any load is applied to it.

When you power shift a trike, assuming your definition is to hold the bike wide open and just upshift, or just jam the shifter down while decelerating, you're not "lining up" the gears. You're just crashing them at that point. I'm guessing the only thing saving them then is the shock load being released through tire spin or skidding. I always use the clutch on a trike, even when drag racing. When racing I only let of the throttle a hair, if at all, while shifting. I do use the clutch though. I am very confident in my ability to shift and feel as though I'm more than likely faster than a large percentage of people at it. Nearly every single vehicle I've owned has been a manual and I'm a truck driver so I shift gears all day a lot of the time and have been for almost 15 years.

[350for350]

I always use the clutch. The exception was my old Bultaco dirt bike. I only used it to start and stop. Otherwise it would slip. Now on my 1997 kx250, if I want all out acceleration I'll use the clutch to shift, but I won't let off the throttle at all.

[6speedthumper]

It's true that the correct way to drive a truck with a non synchronized tranny is without the clutch. However, as others have said, you're "lining up" the gears in between shifts with the engine based on road speed, incline or decline, weight, steering drag/scrub, and many other variables. The tranny is never just slammed into gear, or "power shifted". The transmission is fully engaged and in gear before any load is applied to it.

When you power shift a trike, assuming your definition is to hold the bike wide open and just upshift, or just jam the shifter down while decelerating, you're not "lining up" the gears. You're just crashing them at that point. I'm guessing the only thing saving them then is the shock load being released through tire spin or skidding. I always use the clutch on a trike, even when drag racing. When racing I only let of the throttle a hair, if at all, while shifting. I do use the clutch though. I am very confident in my ability to shift and feel as though I'm more than likely faster than a large percentage of people at it. Nearly every single vehicle I've owned has been a manual and I'm a truck driver so I shift gears all day a lot of the time and have been for almost 15 years.

Yeah, that description of powershifting that you gave, Fabio, is not how I do it at all! Lol! I always release the throttle between shifts. So, technically, I guess it's not considered "powershifting". Can't stand gear clash. I almost always use the clutch for downshifting though. I just feel it's far too much load being applied to the transmission during downshifts to not use the clutch. Interesting to see who does what, and why!

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Anyone who has ever split a bottom end and comprehends how the transmission works/shifts can easily see why shifting with a clutch makes it easier on the transmission components..particularly the shift forks. I too have seen plenty of scrubbed shift forks and their corresponding hubs on the gear resulting in "missing" gears... And that is a fact.. Disagree?? I don't care.. you are wrong. Occasionally shifting this way is one thing, but habitually it WILL wear forks faster.

I have done it on occasion, but rarely. And I too am an experienced truck driver. One thing about shifting this way that tells me its more impact and strain on the NOW DISCONTINUED shift forks and trans gears (except Yukons) is the abrubt manner in which the engine RPM comes down when shifting up this way.... and of course the abrupt increase in RPM when down shifting. I suppose if you do it slowly enough and get good at matching the next gear before clicking it in you can get smoother at it.. but that would be SLOWER than shifting with the clutch because now you are waiting for engine RPM to come down and match for ground speed in the next gear up (the way you properly shift a heavy truck)... So then what is the real benefit??

But do what you want, it's your machine... and you won't ever ride my machines if thats how you treat em.

Try this sometime: Pin the throttle and do not lift... just a quick tap on the clutch and shift up.. you might be surprised just how quickly you get up through the gears and accelerate.

[manbearpig]

i totally undertand how these transmissions shift.. thats why i can shift without the clutch without damaging components.

i have also split MANY bottom ends (2 and 4 stroke) and have seen the damage first hand. i also know how it happens. it does not happen from someone who knows how to shift without the clutch. it happens when a motor pops out or is accidentally knocked out of gear and is slammed back into gear while the motor is still at high revvs (without clutch). Missed shift anyone? It also happens because people genuinely do not know what theyre doing and try to "power shift" without blipping the clutch. If you try to ride these bike like they have an override transmission, you will not have a good time.

heres an example: one of my go pro vids during a race. if you dont want to watch, just listen. like i said, i do not use the clutch at any time during a race other than to bump start after locking the breaks, to feather to gain RPM, and to start and stop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu4l...KChEUhk0jIU8Xw


never once have i drained metal flake oil from one of my own bikes that i ride this way

[stroberts22]

I use to never use a clutch but have been trying to use the clutch more and found that it helps control the power of a 2 stroke to keep it in the power band. Also under braking you get less wheel hop using the clutch instead of just down shifting. I have also been ruff on discontinued forks so I'm trying to be easier on my stuff. Here's a article about James Stewart not using a clutch.

http://www.racerxvt.com/article/gary...-in-the-clutch

[The_Steve_Man]

I dont use the clutch. I do let off the gas a little before shifting. If I start getting out of the powerband I just kick it down.