shifting with out a clutch...good/bad? : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

HOOCH · 04-02-2009, 06:59 PM

is shifting with out a clutch bad?...I never use mine on my yfz450 when i race it!...Just curious cause i don't know too much about bikes but am trying to learn!

clarkmanning · 04-02-2009, 07:09 PM

downshifts aren't a good idea. upshifts are OK if you practice how to do it right.

185EZ · 04-02-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarkmanning

downshifts aren't a good idea. upshifts are OK if you practice how to do it right.

What would be the right way? You left us hangin.
I heard on the drag strip to keep pressure on the upshift and just momentarily let off on the throttle and it will shift up.

SaltH2OHokie · 04-02-2009, 07:17 PM

I don't ever use it on upshifts except 1-2...

URBAN_ninja · 04-02-2009, 07:19 PM

yeah i upshift by keeping pressure on the pedal and barely rolling off the throttle and i get a much better time at the track. hasnt hurt the clutch yet

clarkmanning · 04-02-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kawi_T
Don't use the clutch, you don't need it. The wobbles can be caused by your off throttle/ on throttle motion during shifts. Try to do it with as little arm motion as you can. You don't need to let all the way off the throttle. An old school method is to start pulling up on the shift lever (pulling up hard)while the bike is still WOT, then just blip the throttle fast and it'll jump into the next gear.

This is from a drag racing thread.

Kawi_T · 04-03-2009, 05:57 AM

I clutchless shift all the time. when riding just let off the gas and shift. It will shift very smoothly as long as your up in the RPM a little bit. If you try it at low R's (say 2nd to 3rd at only 4000 rpm) it probably wont be really smooth, but if you do it higher up its very smooth. Now about the part where you pull hard on the lever and blip the throttle, that is a drag racing technique that IS HARD ON THE SHIFT FORKS. The forks are pushing the gear into the next gear but it wont go because you are still WOT. When you let off it briefly unloads the tranny allowing it to shift. Like I said, this is an old school technique. I don't do it because I have an air shifter.

HOOCH · 04-03-2009, 07:17 AM

thanks, as soon as the snow melts here im going to go out and try that!

LOUIEzx6r · 04-03-2009, 07:54 AM

someone want to tell me what WOT stands for. i know im an idiot.

Kawi_T · 04-03-2009, 07:56 AM

Wide Open Throttle

rileydeed · 04-03-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawi_T

Wide Open Throttle

Also known as WFO Wide F...ing Open

hellagrant · 04-03-2009, 12:26 PM

Holy crap I never knew it was okay to shift without using the clutch. So obviously you should only do this on higher RPMs, correct? Probably on the track and in the twisties but not riding around town.

185EZ · 04-03-2009, 12:46 PM

Call me old fashioned but unless I'm on the drag strip and need that extra tenth of a second to beat a Busa, I'll use the clutch.
Let's not all get lazy on our bikes.

Skippy905 · 04-03-2009, 01:17 PM

If you get really good at reading your RPM's you'll figure it out for any vehicle. Car, Truck, Motorcycle.

I drove truck for many years, and the only time I needed the clutch (except on 18 speeds) was going down into the lower gears. Once you get the feel for it gets pretty easy.

That being said, I still would recommend you use the clutch when downshifting anytime.

JBearSVT · 04-03-2009, 01:20 PM

I had several mechanics at my local shop tell me it does cause extra wear and tear on the transmission. That being said, they all told me they do it on their own bikes too... so apparently it doesn't hurt it much. Well, unless you have a shifting fuckup of epic proportions, but done properly it shouldn't shorten the lifespan enough to matter.

**Shifty1** · 04-03-2009, 01:49 PM

It does cause extra wear and tear on the tranny and the clutch but if you do it right and only at the strip, it won't blow up on you or anything.

Scabbs · 04-03-2009, 01:55 PM

just get a quick shifter.

ill sell you one.

eastcoastmod · 07-01-2009, 08:10 PM

I know this is an old thread but I feel I must put on my two cents.
I never shift witht he clutch when under WOT.
I used to think that the newer wet clutches were bulletproof.

My 06 6r only has 19000km on it.
Oil has been changed every 2500km to preserve the clutch and motor.

My clutch now pops in and out of gear and has become too dangerous too ride.
From reading other posts. It is going to cost me about 600$ to have it fixed.

Did this happen because of clutchless shifting? No idea but I can tell you I baby the bike in every other way.

-Op- · 07-01-2009, 08:23 PM

eh, I do occassionally. Not all the time. I would rather use the clutch and let my tranny not have as much work. Little nicer to the shifting forks too. I use it when I get lazy occassionally or under hard acceleration. Just kinda going

to everyone else on here I guess. lol

Hammerhead · 07-01-2009, 08:38 PM

Clutchless upshifting is OK except 1st to 2nd. Too big a jump between ratios makes it hard on the box. Downshifting clutchless is a bad idea since the only way to keep the gears from banging is to rev the throttle slightly as you shift to match rpms with speed-a nearly impossible job.