By power shifting I mean shifting gears with the clutch still but not closing the throttle. I never used to do it but I have started doing it sometimes and it seems faster. I noticed most of the more skilled riders do it and was wondering how bad on the clutch and gearbox is this? Thanks in advance.
How bad is power shifting on your bike?
Started by HyperGlow, Jan 30 2011 11:12 PM
56 replies to this topic
Posted 30 January 2011 - 11:12 PM
By power shifting I mean shifting gears with the clutch still but not closing the throttle. I never used to do it but I have started doing it sometimes and it seems faster. I noticed most of the more skilled riders do it and was wondering how bad on the clutch and gearbox is this? Thanks in advance.
Posted 31 January 2011 - 12:09 AM
I have been reading quite a few other threads on this subject on here, but if anyone else has anything new, that would be good. Because I am just starting doing it, some times I get it a bit wrong and there is a bit of "clunk" when I shift gears, so I was just wondering how to get it right, all the time.
Posted 31 January 2011 - 01:30 AM
Sooooo many different points of view on this, from what I can gather, and from personal experience, you basically can't damage your gears from abusing the gear box. Shift with the clutch, shift without the clutch, what ever works for you 
Older bikes like the clutch, by older I mean pre '90. For me modern bikes like no clutch, but thats just how bikes respond to my style.
Someone will chime in saying use the clutch every shift because they broke a gear or a shift fork, chances are it wasn't from lack of clutch use.
Just ride it how you feel comfortable
No offense intended with this post, just personal opinion.
Older bikes like the clutch, by older I mean pre '90. For me modern bikes like no clutch, but thats just how bikes respond to my style.
Someone will chime in saying use the clutch every shift because they broke a gear or a shift fork, chances are it wasn't from lack of clutch use.
Just ride it how you feel comfortable
No offense intended with this post, just personal opinion.
Posted 31 January 2011 - 02:39 AM
Well, I race vintage motocross. My first year, I was a novice. I ride a Can-Am 250 2 stroke. I would left off the gas and shift. This was only because I was 16 and racing for the first time. I couldn't make my brain tell my left hand to clutch. I am 19 and always use the clutch. If you ride enough it becomes just as fast. In my opinion it is easer on the bike. I will be adding a second bike and class. A Triumph 500cc 4 stroke. There is no way I will ever power shift this thing. It is too nice. I would say just practice and like driving a manual car, you won't have to think about clutching, and it will be just about as fast as power shifting. The clunk you hear is probably you not getting a full throw on the shifter.
Posted 31 January 2011 - 01:41 PM
it will not hurt it any more than clutching. but if you have a four stoke in my opion on strats to get the hole shot you would be better of not letting off the gas and putting pressure on the shifter as you get to the shift time tap the clutch as quick as you can not letting off the gas and you will get much better hole shots also start in second also.
Posted 31 January 2011 - 06:49 PM
i never use my clutch comin out a turn but on straights i do use it....only if i have time i use it.
Posted 31 January 2011 - 10:42 PM
Thanks for the replies, I always have a finger on the clutch because I ride a 125 2t and I have always used it when shifting gears since my finger is there. So using the clutch is just what I do but for starts and straights and sometimes when I get tired I just won't shut the throttle. It just seems that bit faster and if I'm racing I was just curious if it was worth the extra damage if there is any.
No offense taken huskymad127 :D
No offense taken huskymad127 :D
Posted 31 January 2011 - 10:55 PM
I rarely use the clutch when shifting, never when down shifting, sometimes when up shifting. I find the clutch helpful when upshifting in the lower parts of the gear box. Once you get up to 4th (in my 6 speed) the issues go away. But below 4th, man it can get really messy and sometimes not go into gear at all!
That could also be a KTM thing... IDK honestly.
That could also be a KTM thing... IDK honestly.
Posted 31 January 2011 - 11:17 PM
Another thing I have found, some bikes love no clutch, my husky just seems to be smoother through the gears without a clutch, when slowing down for a corner, if you use the clutch when you downshift the back wheels gets a tad squirelly, if you use no clutch its perfect :ride:
On my olf crf 150f, shifting with no clutch was fine at times, other times you would hit a "false neutral" between gears so to speak.
On my olf crf 150f, shifting with no clutch was fine at times, other times you would hit a "false neutral" between gears so to speak.
Posted 10 February 2011 - 05:12 AM
if your going 2 power shift USE THE CLUTCH not useing it is a fast way to breaking a tooth off ur gears, my dad learnt the hard way.
i ride a kx450 and i always and i mean always use the clutch, more than the average 250 rider and i have never burnt 1 out or damaged a gear, just make sure ur clutch has some play and ur bike'll be fine
i ride a kx450 and i always and i mean always use the clutch, more than the average 250 rider and i have never burnt 1 out or damaged a gear, just make sure ur clutch has some play and ur bike'll be fine
Posted 11 February 2011 - 01:29 PM
in my opinion most bikes nowadays are built to withstand the abuse . back in the day thier finishing jumps were smaller than most of the average sized triples and there were no 110 foot tables or 3 foot high whoops . bikes are built for abuse . my opinion anyways
Posted 11 February 2011 - 07:47 PM
i actually just had this conversation with the guys at the shop the other day and they told me that motocross bikes now-a-days are built with some kind of clutch (forget the name) that doesnt require you to use the clutch at all. they said the clutch is only needed for starting and in corners and such. Out of habit and fear of potentially having to spend alot of money i will probably always use my clutch to some extend
Posted 11 February 2011 - 09:20 PM
i let off the gas when i shift and slam it back on when i complet my shift.
Posted 12 February 2011 - 09:17 AM
HyperGlow said:
By power shifting I mean shifting gears with the clutch still but not closing the throttle. I never used to do it but I have started doing it sometimes and it seems faster. I noticed most of the more skilled riders do it and was wondering how bad on the clutch and gearbox is this? Thanks in advance.
It's not hard on the tranny or clutch at all, as long as you doing it with good timing and smoothness. Don't miss the gear.
Posted 18 February 2011 - 09:55 AM
Shane Watts recently mentioned that there isn't as much traction in dirt so you shouldn't worry nearly as much about using the clutch going down gears. He also said he doesn't use it going up, which isn't really a revalation. However, having rebuilt transmissions before it still pains me to not use the clutch going down, and I still blip the throttle when going up without the clutch.
Old habits die hard I guess, but when you pull apart a tranny and the dogs are round and the shift forks have burnt groves in them, you'll want to use the clutch a little more too!
Old habits die hard I guess, but when you pull apart a tranny and the dogs are round and the shift forks have burnt groves in them, you'll want to use the clutch a little more too!
Posted 18 February 2011 - 12:09 PM
Thanks for making this thread HyperGlow, I had the very same question!!! I never even knew people shift without the clutch I always thought it was more of a power shift. Personally by what I gather I'll just stick with using the clutch... I do the power shifting in moderation as it is and will probably just stick with that. Just don't like the idea of not clutching cause once you get used to it it's probably worth using it unless you have a team of mechanics on standby ;)
Posted 19 February 2011 - 04:05 PM
It's all about the load on the transmission when you shift. There is the least load when you let off and use the clutch, the most load when you don't let off or clutch. When "powershifting" the trans is shifted under more load than when chopping the throttle and shifting without the clutch. You run the least risk of trans damage by shifting it unloaded.
Posted 19 February 2011 - 04:45 PM
Shifting without the clutch does take a certain feel on upshift. Downshift-no big deal. Each bike is different and everyone has there own opinion on this.Best to go with what you feel comfortable. If you are not comfortable,you cannot focus on riding.
Posted 19 February 2011 - 06:11 PM
huskymad127 said:
Sooooo many different points of view on this, from what I can gather, and from personal experience, you basically can't damage your gears from abusing the gear box. Shift with the clutch, shift without the clutch, what ever works for you :thumbsup:
Older bikes like the clutch, by older I mean pre '90. For me modern bikes like no clutch, but thats just how bikes respond to my style.
Someone will chime in saying use the clutch every shift because they broke a gear or a shift fork, chances are it wasn't from lack of clutch use.
Just ride it how you feel comfortable :ride:
No offense intended with this post, just personal opinion.
Older bikes like the clutch, by older I mean pre '90. For me modern bikes like no clutch, but thats just how bikes respond to my style.
Someone will chime in saying use the clutch every shift because they broke a gear or a shift fork, chances are it wasn't from lack of clutch use.
Just ride it how you feel comfortable :ride:
No offense intended with this post, just personal opinion.
completely agree. i would only add that it is faster to shift that way, and is actually the proper way to shift a smoker when trying to be fast. i dont pull the clutch in all the way when i powershift, i just bump it to assist the gear change, except on my drz.
