Triumphrat

Tbird95 · 10-20-2005

I have just started to use a clutchless upshifting gear change technique with my TB and was wondering if any else is using this technique. I have found that this technique offers quick smooth gear changes and plan to continue using it if there are no long term mechanical problems associated with its use.

Appreciate any feedback from riders who upshift this way on the long term mechanical status of their gearbox.

Thanks
Mark

walshja · 10-20-2005

Isn't that called powershifting?

I used to do that in my car when a teenager. There is actually a point when your engine speed and gear selction is syncronized perfectly, and you can put the car in nuetral and back into gear with no resistance at all from the car.

I would think it is OK, so long as you are sycronized between your engine speed and the gear you are shifting into.

but if you are not syncronized, you will start to grind gears, and that can't be good.

so I think if you are perfect every time, it's safe, but the question is, can you be perfect everytime?

b2brand · 10-20-2005

guess that's why they put a clutch on em, eh? not to be flippant, but other than a long haul trucker syncing on the shift, most gas engines are made to use a clutch ( automatic tranny same thing) as it is difficult to get them "perfect". having ridden for many years, i find the torque on the shift is much better/smoother w/ the clutch, but to each his own.

JWoodsie · 10-20-2005

I do it all the time, and have done with every bike I've owned. IMHO it doesnt do any damage,as long as its not crunching.

barry5824 · 10-20-2005

Unless I am driving hard I rarely use the clutch for up gear changing, except for first to second gear, and have done so on every bike I've had - not had any problems from it in 34 years.

The ratios on my 6 speed box are so close together, it is difficult to make a crunchy change even if you try!!

Give it a go -- with a bit of practice I have found that even clutchless down changes under gentle-around-the-town-driving conditions are OK. Or am I just being a lazy sod??

Silk · 10-21-2005

As with Barry, I have clutchless upshifted on many bikes, (which = more years than I care to think about just now) and (apart from 1-> 2) have found it actualy very smooth and easy on the T - especialy as she seems to get even better as she goes on.

I don't do it all the time, but my wife has also commented (from a pillion perspective) that my clutchless shifts seem much smoother than my clutched ones.
Its not just a power/speed thing, (although that was where I started it, back in my 'idiot years' when I thought I could be a 'privateer') I have found that good clutchless shifting is almost seamless through cruising acceleration too, needing less throtle dip. Hard to describe, to me it is almost 2nd nature.

As for long term mechanical affect, I have read that if done right, it shouldn't be any worse, if done right there is no clunking or mis-meshing - and as barry said it is actualy hard to make a bad one with the T this way. And have to say - I have never naffed a clutch/gearbox (he says looking for some wood to touch) .... well only once, but that was when a cam chain snapped and dropped into the box on a CX500 in the middle of the Cairngorms (about 20 miles from anywhere.... but that was a diferent story).

[ This message was edited by: Silk on 2005-10-21 02:07 ]