After reading the article below i was shocked to see that he does not recommend cluthing on down shifts, has anyone done this and suffered from sever gearbox damage?
10 Absolute MX Practice Tips by Gary Semics
#4 You do not need to use the clutch when you down shift.
Some inexperienced riders use the clutch to downshift and then just hold it in while they brake the rest of the way into the corner. Using the clutch to downshift is not necessary and it brakes up the steadiness of braking with the help of the engine's backpressure.
It is necessary to use the clutch when you up shift because the transmission has torque on the gears from the power of the engine. But, there is very little torque on the gears when the throttle is off and you’re slowing down. So, leave that low end lever (the clutch) out when you’re down shifting and braking for a corner.
No clutch on down shifts?
Started by
Tom579
, Apr 13 2012 07:31 PM
26 replies to this topic
Posted 13 April 2012 - 08:29 PM
Tom579, on 13 April 2012 - 07:31 PM, said:
After reading the article below i was shocked to see that he does not recommend cluthing on down shifts, has anyone done this and suffered from sever gearbox damage?
10 Absolute MX Practice Tips by Gary Semics
#4 You do not need to use the clutch when you down shift.
Some inexperienced riders use the clutch to downshift and then just hold it in while they brake the rest of the way into the corner. Using the clutch to downshift is not necessary and it brakes up the steadiness of braking with the help of the engine's backpressure.
It is necessary to use the clutch when you up shift because the transmission has torque on the gears from the power of the engine. But, there is very little torque on the gears when the throttle is off and you’re slowing down. So, leave that low end lever (the clutch) out when you’re down shifting and braking for a corner.
10 Absolute MX Practice Tips by Gary Semics
#4 You do not need to use the clutch when you down shift.
Some inexperienced riders use the clutch to downshift and then just hold it in while they brake the rest of the way into the corner. Using the clutch to downshift is not necessary and it brakes up the steadiness of braking with the help of the engine's backpressure.
It is necessary to use the clutch when you up shift because the transmission has torque on the gears from the power of the engine. But, there is very little torque on the gears when the throttle is off and you’re slowing down. So, leave that low end lever (the clutch) out when you’re down shifting and braking for a corner.
Posted 14 April 2012 - 02:48 AM
Only time I use the clutch is when starting from a stop.....sometimes I fan it coming out of a corner, but not for shifting. Most motorcycles(all dirtbikes as far as I know) use a wet clutch, which is what makes this possible. Stay on top of your maintenance and you won't have any issues.
Posted 14 April 2012 - 03:06 AM
that's interesting because on the street, I up shift coming out of a corner without the clutch but I never down shift without the clutch. Just blip the throttle and shift
Posted 14 April 2012 - 03:24 AM
taylorjohn, on 14 April 2012 - 03:06 AM, said:
that's interesting because on the street, I up shift coming out of a corner without the clutch but I never down shift without the clutch. Just blip the throttle and shift
Posted 14 April 2012 - 09:36 AM
On street bikes with or without slipper clutches, you have to use the clutch when your breaking hard on down shift because there is so much engine breaking, you need to manage the rear wheel hop. Because of all that engine breaking, it is harder on street bikes to just bang it down a gear. However, sequential gearboxes are designed to be shoved into gear, the clutch is just a way to lessen the tension on the drivetrain so it makes the shifting easier. Since dirt bikes have so much less engine breaking, all you have to do is tap them up or down and you'll be fine. 
Edited by tye1138, 14 April 2012 - 09:37 AM.
Posted 14 April 2012 - 04:12 PM
Tech420, on 14 April 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:
No, you don't "have to" use the clutch to downshift in all scenarios. On the track or other time braking from a high speed obviously use the clutch, but if you are just putting along on the street and want a little more power you can just click it down.
Thats what I said, didn't I? I said when breaking hard, which would reference high speeds, you would want to use the clutch.
Sorry, if I mis-phrased. I never use the clutch on my street bike expect for taking off from lights.
Posted 15 April 2012 - 05:44 AM
i dont use the clutch on my mx bike except for some corners and the take off
Edited by 08rider, 15 April 2012 - 05:44 AM.
Posted 15 April 2012 - 07:14 PM
I still clutch on down shifts occasionally. It's what my dad taught me when I was growing up that you had to clutch with every shift and it's been a hell of a long voyage trying to get away from that. Most of the time I only clutch when shifting up when I'm wanting to haul some ass and don't want let off the gas. I've also been really working on getting my shifting done in the air. There's a lot of times that isn't plausible but if there is a jump out of a turn that you downshift for you can save a bunch of time by clicking up mid air.
Posted 16 April 2012 - 04:56 AM
2SiX, on 15 April 2012 - 07:14 PM, said:
I still clutch on down shifts occasionally. It's what my dad taught me when I was growing up that you had to clutch with every shift and it's been a hell of a long voyage trying to get away from that. Most of the time I only clutch when shifting up when I'm wanting to haul some ass and don't want let off the gas. I've also been really working on getting my shifting done in the air. There's a lot of times that isn't plausible but if there is a jump out of a turn that you downshift for you can save a bunch of time by clicking up mid air.
Posted 16 April 2012 - 11:05 AM
If you're not on the throttle you won't feel the bike move when you upshift, but if you're panic revving, it will bring the nose up when you grab the next gear.
For whatever reason I feel it more when I downshift in the air. It's not a instant endo or anything, but the front wheel will drop 6 inches or something right after you click it down.
For whatever reason I feel it more when I downshift in the air. It's not a instant endo or anything, but the front wheel will drop 6 inches or something right after you click it down.
Posted 16 April 2012 - 02:07 PM
Tech420, on 16 April 2012 - 04:56 AM, said:
Does shifting mid flight alter the bike level, or are you pulling in the clutch while shifting in the air?
It would if you were on the gas. Clicking up on the gas would cause the rear tire to spin faster which would bring the front up. I typically shift off throttle somewhere around the middle of the flight. Same for downshifting if there is a turn right after the landing.
Posted 01 July 2012 - 12:34 PM
I always use the clutch to downshift. learned to Ride on the street and thats they way its suppose to be done, clutch throttle blip, downshift, release clutch. i do it without even thinking so im not going to try to change it.
Posted 26 October 2012 - 01:27 PM
I like to stay in a higher gear and use the friction zone in corners. That way when I exit..I have a lot of power on hand, and all I have to do is let go of the clutch lever. That's really the only time I use the clutch, besides starting the bike from a stop lol.
Posted 06 November 2012 - 11:48 AM
You will here when you are hurting somthing if you downshift without a clutch, The reason you can do this is because when you downshift, your actually releasing the ammount of tourqe on the gears, so it is safe, ive been doing it for about 6 months ever sence i read that, and never hurt anything. and its unfair to compair this concept with street bikes, likelyhood is, you dont have a 250, most people are riding 600's and above, and there is alot of engine breaking, also when you downshift without the clutch, dont be pinned in the gear your already in, because its obviously going to be rough on the transmission.
Posted 09 November 2012 - 08:39 AM
AJCr250, on 01 July 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:
I always use the clutch to downshift. learned to Ride on the street and thats they way its suppose to be done, clutch throttle blip, downshift, release clutch. i do it without even thinking so im not going to try to change it.
Not really
I've been riding without touching my clutch on the street and in the dirt for years. If you know how to do it properly (throttle blips when necessary) you aren't hurting anything.
Posted 22 November 2012 - 06:06 AM
Well for mx I dont know how you go fast into corners clutching on the downshift on a 4 stroke. Brake hard and knock it down a gear then rip the corner.
