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Hey guys, I read somewhere that shifting with the clutch is the same as shifting without any throttle.
Is that true?

And....
How hard is it on your transmission to shift without the clutch?
I'm not planning on doing this, but I just want to see what you guys have to say about it.

Thanks!

well it cant be good for your clutch i remember when i had my 125, i got lazy sometimes and didnt use my clutch but.............dont do it

I don't think that is hurts your tranny while upshifting. I imagine, though, that downshifting with no clutch would be hard on the internals.

Almost nobody that races regularly uses the clutch for shifting up and a lot don't use it for down shifting either.
I've been using a Rekluse for awhile now , but when I didn't if I was racing or practicing to race I almost never used it for upshifting, and wouldn't use it for down shifting much either.
These transmissions in the competition bikes are designed to take that ,and that's why in any modern motocrosser even as much abused as they are transmission problems are pretty rare.
I have never had a transmission failure in any dirt bike I've ever owned...yet Doug

when i short shift i normally dont use the clutch but when i wind it out i always use the clutch i learned that on a 3 wheeler 1st gear winding it all the way click and flip it went almost past vertical but it didnt flip thank god now i always use the clutch

I have always tried to use my clutch, but the truth is that I don't quite a bit. I have never had any issues with it either way.
Joe

The only time I really use the clutch, is when I'm coming to a complete stop, and when I begin moving again. Other than that, I really don't find myself using it all that much. Of course there are times when you HAVE to use it, but not too often.

There is no need to use the clutch when shifting. I never use the clutch to shift, only when starting/stopping and to slip it on hills and in turns. These bikes are made to be shited without the clutch. All the pros leave the start gate and never lift the throttle until the first turn and they are ripping gears the whole time.

Wait, i never knew this.... so its not bad on the Transmission, and the engine to not use the clutch when shifting gears?
And this is obviously helpful in races?

dirtbikermicah wrote:Wait, i never knew this.... so its not bad on the Transmission, and the engine to not use the clutch when shifting gears?
And this is obviously helpful in races?

Yes Sir!!

I never knew that either! I always thought you would destroy the clutch plates by shifting without the clutch.
Okay, just making sure, but its totally safe for me to shift without the clutch? Also, can it be done on any bike?

I upshift my Ninja without the clutch, but use it when downshifting. On the 450r, I really don't use it much.

Okay, just making sure, but its totally safe for me to shift without the clutch?

On any dirt bike it sure is.
I wouldn't and don't shift without the clutch on my 1200cc street bike, because that would be putting a lot more stress on the transmission because of all the reciprocating weight. I've tried it just for the heck of it and it's "clunky".
However, when I did club road racing on 600's then 750's I rarely used the clutch and never broke a thing in the transmission. Body work and leathers, another story. Doug

i've been practicing not using the clutch today.

just put the throttle down quick then shift. sure seems smooth enough with that Rotella oil from K-mart...!

fast!



kirk out