No clutch when upshifting, huh?

[TattooedRedHead]

I've heard people state on this forum and others that they don't use the clutch when they upshift...

How is this even possible? The process goes: Pull clutch lever to disengage plates, pick up on clutch lever with foot and slowly release clutch lever to re-engage clutch plates.

Please inform me on the mechanics of how you could ever get away with not pulling the clutch lever to upshift... This is really confusing me. I've even tried it! I reved up in 3rd let off the throttle fully DID NOT pull the clutch lever and attempted to upshift and nothing... The clutch lever was firmly in place and no amount of lifting with my foot would allow me to upshift.

I don't get it... is there some secret you riders of 5+ years aren't sharing?

I've been riding for alllllmost 5 years and have heard this rumor repeatedly.

--Kory

[F4sSprintST]

I do it at times

It's the same principal as a speed shifter - relieve the pressure off the drive train, shift.

SPeed shifter does it electronically, we do it with the throttle


the key is to REMOVE THE PRESSURE from the drive train. That doesn't mean chopping the throttle, because that still puts pressure on the drive train. Basically you need to just have neutral acceleration

check out http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/shifting.html

[saphena]

I do this almost all the time and have done so almost since I originally mastered basic use of the clutch nearly two years ago.

Accelerate to the change-up point; toe under gearshift; close throttle and kick up at the same time; roll on throttle - no clutch hand at all.

Works down as well but much less easily and takes much more practice, don't do it.

[DaveB]

I don't think that clutchless upshifting can really be recommended. I've been doing it for years, although not very often on my Sprint. It is a racing style of gearchange. It has to be a very deliberate ultra-fast change. You close the throttle & reopen it as quickly as possible- you snap it shut & then immediately snap it open. As the throttle is closing you change gear & again it is a very deliberate action. Get it right and it snicks through utterly smoothly & the whole gearchange is done in about a third of a second. It also works best when you're near redline, hard on the throttle. Get it wrong and horrible grinding sounds scream out from the gearbox! It's best to practice on an old bike.

Why do it? Well I've never ever missed a clutchless upshift. When I'm overtaking, & I have to upshift, I usually do it clutchless because I know it'll be a clean quick successful gearchange.

DaveB.

[airrider03]

Originally Posted by F4sSprintST

the key is to REMOVE THE PRESSURE from the drive train. That doesn't mean chopping the throttle, because that still puts pressure on the drive train. Basically you need to just have neutral acceleration

check out http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/shifting.html

+1...Exactly...

[oldndumb]

Are you going East or West when you try it?











Just kidding.
For upshifting, just pre load the shift lever by lightly pressing with your foot, then roll the throttle off just a bit and the preloaded shifter will snick into the next gear. It takes some practice to find the right amount of pre load and roll off.

Motorcycle xmissions shift smoother with a bit of pre load on the shifter even when using the clutch. If you do this regularly you will eventually discover no clutch shifting.

Some people are of the opinion that this puts unnecessary wear on the shift forks. I have never seen proof of that. I also belong to the school that believes that full throttle shifting using the clutch is harder on the xmission than clutchless shifts.

I have done it down shifting, but do not normally do it that way because I tend to get sloppy with my clutchless down shifts at slower speeds.

[KevyKev]

I use the technique that OND is discribing, however I don't normally clutchless shift. Just by experimenting around and pre-loading the shift lever, I actually have performed clutchless shifting just by accident if you will. Performed right, it is very smooth and very quick. I have NO definitive answers on whether or not damage can or will occur from performing the clutchless shifts, so I don't do them---plus, I haven't really NEEDED to do the clutchless shifts. I have never worked on a motorcycle tranny though, so I'm no expert!

Kev

[Panthers_Den]

I only really do the clutchless shifting when at track days. When going against super sports, every little millisecond helps.

[flyingbiker]

I agree with what's been written - pre-load shifter roll-off throttle briefly (may not even fully close, just enough to momentarily unload drivetrain) apply enough pressure to shift, and roll back on throttle. Went through a phase of downshifting w/o the clutch too, but it is harder to get right (smooth) so don't do it anymore. I've never ground gears doing clutchless shifts, but have had missed shifts when using the clutch (esp. 5th to 6th under high accel). The one thing I would add that has not been mentioned is having the throttle cable adjusted to minimize backlash helps (me) execute shifts that a pillion doesn't notice. I can't comment on the mechanical implications of these shifting styles, but learnt the technique from a 'mature' rider that had been doing so for many years (on various Japanese sport/touring bikes), and not experienced transmission issues.

[saphena]

FWIW my baby brother, a car mechanic, assures me that no harm is done to the parts by this procedure, assuming it's done smoothly obviously.