i do use it when cruising and up shifting no water what. on track i dont use it downshifting into corners because its so much easier not to use the clutch
Clutch needed when shifting?
Started by
SBMX
, May 15 2009 09:51 AM
40 replies to this topic
Posted 15 May 2009 - 02:27 PM
All I can add is that since we started riding about 3 years ago, we have been banging gears without the clutch and no tranny issues that I know of yet?
We only ride older 2 strokes and have no idea what is technically right, but that is what we have done since somebody more "experienced" than us told us so.
We only ride older 2 strokes and have no idea what is technically right, but that is what we have done since somebody more "experienced" than us told us so.
Posted 15 May 2009 - 02:45 PM
OrangeYZ said:
Huh?
..... It takes some force to shift at full power, and it takes less force than that to shift when clutching or off the throttle.
..... It takes some force to shift at full power, and it takes less force than that to shift when clutching or off the throttle.
When shifting without the clutch you shouldn't need to apply crazy amounts of force. If you are forcing it you are doing it wrong.
Posted 15 May 2009 - 02:55 PM
fttam said:
This is one of those things.....if you think it's going to blow up your tranny, then pull in your clutch. On the other hand, there's plenty of guys out there who clutchless upshift (and yes, downshift too) for years without problems.
Me? In just the last 7 or 8 years alone, I have 35K on two modern sportbikes that I clutchless upshift all the time, plus another 10k on my DRZ. Am I saying that I know for a fact that it's perfectly harmless? No
Me? In just the last 7 or 8 years alone, I have 35K on two modern sportbikes that I clutchless upshift all the time, plus another 10k on my DRZ. Am I saying that I know for a fact that it's perfectly harmless? No
Ya, I'm not completely sure if you have to use the clutch, hell for all I know it might be perfectly fine..
I just think its easy enough to cover the clutch, so I always personally use it, and recommend all my friends use it
But I also have a habbit of always leaving 1 finger on my clutch, even if I'm not using the clutch, I always keep 1 finger over it
Posted 15 May 2009 - 03:03 PM
Think about this - if you have a Rekluse, you are ALWAYS shifting WITHOUT the clutch. I've never heard any stories of blown transmissions due to shifting without the clutch. Does anyone have and DIRECT proof (i.e. a blown up trans) that shifting without the clutch is harmful?
Posted 15 May 2009 - 03:37 PM
DieselSJ said:
Think about this - if you have a Rekluse, you are ALWAYS shifting WITHOUT the clutch. I've never heard any stories of blown transmissions due to shifting without the clutch. Does anyone have and DIRECT proof (i.e. a blown up trans) that shifting without the clutch is harmful?
but a rekluse is designed different, its design to have some give and not engage all the time, and im not sure, but does it disengage as the shifter is lifted like a auto clutch on a crf 50???
I don't have 'direct proof' but I do have many friends with no 2nd gears on their sport bike from shifting without the clutch in wheelies.. Bikes with less then 15k miles.. My 2nd gear was shot at 12k miles on my f4i
Not saying its ONLY because of clutchless shifting, but I'm sure that didn't help it at all..
Posted 15 May 2009 - 03:47 PM
Towlieee - are you clutching it up in 2nd? I'd imagine that's harder on the clutch/transmission than clutchless shifting.
Posted 15 May 2009 - 03:56 PM
sticky400sm said:
Towlieee - are you clutching it up in 2nd? I'd imagine that's harder on the clutch/transmission than clutchless shifting.
once your in gear, you aren't going to hurt your tranny by dumping the clutch hard..
It's the act of engaging harshly into gear that would cause damage..
Now I'm sure clutching up wheelies isn't good on the clutch, but I doubt that would ever hurt a tranny. But even then, I got 34k miles on my stock clutch on my sport bike, and my bike is mainly a stunt bike
Posted 15 May 2009 - 05:02 PM
I've made a lot of clutchless upshifts and downshifts on several bikes and I've never had a transmission problem. The trick is learning to do it right without trashing your ride.........maybe borrow a friends bike:devil:
Posted 15 May 2009 - 05:16 PM
I rarely clutch up or down, if it clicks smooth that's all there is to it, it was a smooth shift. Its not like all the gears in your tranny stop turning just because you pulled the clutch in for a 1/2 second. As pointed out the Rekluse does the exact same thing, you back off the throttle for a split second to unload the gears and you shift... every shift is a 'speed shift'.
Posted 15 May 2009 - 05:27 PM
I used to only use the clutch to start out. In 30 years there has been no problem, a little blip of the throttle and it would go right in. I bought a WR, and was replacing shifting forks at 3800 miles.
Needless to say, I now use the clutch at all times.
Needless to say, I now use the clutch at all times.
Posted 15 May 2009 - 11:16 PM
Towlieee said:
....I got 34k miles on my stock clutch on my sport bike, and my bike is mainly a stunt bike
I gotta say....you do have a nice 12 going in your avatar
Posted 15 May 2009 - 11:25 PM
Towlieee said:
but a rekluse is designed different, its design to have some give and not engage all the time, and im not sure, but does it disengage as the shifter is lifted like a auto clutch on a crf 50???
That is incorrect. When it is engaged, there is no slip. It does not disengage when you shift.
Posted 16 May 2009 - 05:25 AM
on 2 strokes I hardly ever used clutch when racing , maybe out of a tight corner if i didn't select the right gear or in the air to tap the back brake to correct the flight of the bike . I'll let you know about the 4 stroke after i ride it for a bit longer .
Posted 16 May 2009 - 09:22 AM
Back in the early 70s I use to clutchless shift my Suzuki 185 all day long. Just roll off the throttle going up, going down you need to give a little gas. It's just like a truck with a crash box, no clutch needed if you get the engine speeds right. Really slick was adding a momentary push button engine kill switch. When your ready to shift up, just touch the button to kill the engine for a split second and it would unload the gear box for the shift. Throttle stayed in the same spot. Supper fast shift and sounded great! I put over 50K miles on that bike and never had any tranny problems. On my DRZ I run a Rekluse, and it is a great addition.
Posted 16 May 2009 - 10:04 AM
i never use mine downshifting on a track, and i have never gone through a clutch or had any tranny problems
i usually use it upshifiting unless i cant
i usually use it upshifiting unless i cant
Posted 14 August 2010 - 06:22 AM
Am looking hard at a Rekluse,So I had to ask. Wow! so many opinions,even opposites.IMHO all dirt bikes will take alot of abuse,and will also require alot of maintanence.The more you abuse any componant, The sooner it will fail. I belive for long life of sequiential tranies with or with out Rekluse, you should unload drivetrain with any combination of throttle or clutch to upshift.For down shift,you should try to match drivetrain speed to engine speed so shift is smooth.Again this for long life,On the track or in the woods you have do ,what you have to do.
