To pre-load shift, or not?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
I always put pressure on the lever on my BMW's. They didn't like to shift without it.
My other metrics, I preload and roll off the throttle to complete upshifts. No clutching necessary.
I tried both on the Harley, and they don't like it a bit. I pull in the clutch, shift, and release the clutch. The clutch I barely pull in though, just enough to allow some slip.
My other metrics, I preload and roll off the throttle to complete upshifts. No clutching necessary.
I tried both on the Harley, and they don't like it a bit. I pull in the clutch, shift, and release the clutch. The clutch I barely pull in though, just enough to allow some slip.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
I feel dumb, I have been driving things that shift since 1957 or so and have never heard of pre-loading a shift. Sounds like extra effort, extra wear on the parts, and to save what........ .00003 milli seconds of shift time.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
My bike doesn't like the pre-load method either. However, I can downshift without the clutch at all very smoothly if it's done correctly. I did this by accident on a loner bike once, so then I did some experimenting on it and figured out when to downshift without using the clutch. I don't do this normally, just wanted to see if it could be done.
Pre-loading makes shift times quicker on a metric sports bike, but it seems it's just hard on **** on a Harley & you don't gain anything.
Pre-loading makes shift times quicker on a metric sports bike, but it seems it's just hard on **** on a Harley & you don't gain anything.
Last edited by Sharkman73; Aug 8, 2012 at 10:11 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 776
Likes: 4
From: Tucson, AZ
I've never pre-loaded on my Harley. Just the loud clunk that you can hear and feel when dropping into first took me a while to get used to. I rode a Honda and two Suzuki sportbikes before my first cruiser and those transmissions felt like precision mechanical wonders compared to my Fat Bob. I don't ride my HD any where close to the way I rode those rice rockets. If I'm just farting around town usually it's a slow and deliberate roll of throttle, disengage clutch, shift, continue farting around....
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 6
From: Arkansas
Once again, Thanks for the constructive replies.
Last edited by FXDWG12; Aug 8, 2012 at 11:59 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
What are the other reasons?
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 853
Likes: 19
From: Melbourne
I suppose if your in racing mode then a pre-load shift could help keeps the revs up between gears, which is what you want for race shifting. BUT good luck trying it on a harley AND getting consistant results; the tranny is just not built for it (unless you install a proper electric or air shifter that interupts the Ign between shifts)
On my 250 street racer the ONLY time i used the clutch at all was at the lights to start...all my up and down shifts were always clutchless.
On my 250 street racer the ONLY time i used the clutch at all was at the lights to start...all my up and down shifts were always clutchless.
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Club Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,481
Likes: 4
From: Georgia
That's the only thing that makes sense from the preceding discussion. A Harley does not use a preloaded shift unless you do it without the clutch because that's what happens.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
On a metric, you can preload the shifter then roll off the throttle for a smooth clutchless shift. Some of the bikes I've had prefer this method to clutching.
On BMW's, preloading the shifter is almost mandatory. My 2002 K1200RS wouldn't complete a shift half the time without preload. My 2004 K1200GT was a little better, but it still wanted preload. Without preload sometimes you'd hit a false neutral. Quite often, actually.
On a Harley, preloading is a waste of time. So is trying to do a smooth clutchless upshift.
On BMW's, preloading the shifter is almost mandatory. My 2002 K1200RS wouldn't complete a shift half the time without preload. My 2004 K1200GT was a little better, but it still wanted preload. Without preload sometimes you'd hit a false neutral. Quite often, actually.
On a Harley, preloading is a waste of time. So is trying to do a smooth clutchless upshift.