Clutchless upshifting. Safe on Harleys?
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
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Clutchless upshifting. Safe on Harleys?
Is it safe to upshift without using the clutch on Harley's (Dyna)? I have been doing that quite sometime on my sport bike without any adverse affects. I tried it on my 2010 StreetBob today and it upshifts ok without clutch. Given the excess weight of the bike, is it safe to do this? Or should I use the clutch?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
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From: East Coast
Perhaps in the upper gears, but what's the point? I use the clutch. You have a Sportbike anyway. Your American scoot is never gonna be a bullet. If you do make a 200 horsepower monster out of it one day, you had BETTER use the (hopefully highly upgraded) clutch, unless you have a REALLY HIGHLY UPGRADED tranny.
correct amount of pressure and speed and it should be no issues at all, surprising how many people think this is an issue when its not, gears at the right speed will mesh fine.
I don't do it much as its so easy to use the clutch, but I have done it with all my bikes over the years just got to remember to be gentle and let it find the right moment.
I don't do it much as its so easy to use the clutch, but I have done it with all my bikes over the years just got to remember to be gentle and let it find the right moment.
Last edited by ==ShaDoW==; Oct 30, 2010 at 09:10 PM. Reason: typo
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,820
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From: Somewhere In NY
what shadow said is correct.................at the correct rpm you could shift with a feather
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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The transmission is constant mesh. The gear clusters are always together.
The input and output shaft has what are called dogs. Look between 1 and 7 and you will see them. Huge sob's.
They slide back and forth between clusters on the mainshaft and countershaft when you change gears.
You shouldn't have any trouble.
The input and output shaft has what are called dogs. Look between 1 and 7 and you will see them. Huge sob's.
They slide back and forth between clusters on the mainshaft and countershaft when you change gears.
You shouldn't have any trouble.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,580
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From: The Internet (& Dyer, Indiana)
Certainly not a wear factor. Big trucks go millions of miles and clutch replacement is expensive. Good reason for them to shift clutchless.
Our HD clutches almost never wear out, and are easy to replace.
Our HD clutches almost never wear out, and are easy to replace.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Clarksburg, PA
I sometimes don't use the clutch when my girl is on the back and I have my hand on her...no big deal.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Joliet, Illinois
I often do this from 3-4 & 4-5, because I usually keep my left hand on my wife's or G/f's leg. I just put some pressure on the shifter, back off the throttle a little bit at the right moment, and it pops right in.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 293
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From: usa
Mine shifts fine without the clutch. I haven't done it from 1st to second, only from 2nd to third and up. Just a little pre load on the shifter and jig the throttle back a bit and right back to full throttle. Very quick and smooth shifts.