Clutch or no clutch
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,976
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From:
RE: Clutch or no clutch
My Harley transmission has been screwed up since I bought mine (like so many other 06 Dynas).
My dealer ordered a bunch of parts for it in September 06, (after I had ridden it almost 1 year) and I have never heard from them whether the safety recalls kit came in or not........ The new primary bearing came in, but they wanted me to wait for the nuetral indicator kit to come in before they open up the tranny. Still isn't done.
So to be so long winded............. The tranny sounds like a washing machine in nuetral, and when going slow in the lower gears, and has since new.
Anyway, it shifts just fine with or without the clutch, as have all the bikes I've riden, and standard transmission cars I have owned.
If you ever miss a gear,at high RPMs,you'll certainly wish you had used the clutch.
I do generally shift with the clutch, but certainly don't worry if my foot beats the hand from time to time.
Anybody else have to wait half a lifetime to get the dealer that sold you you bike, to do warranty work for you?
My dealer has ordered new CO2 sensors for bike, also. Mine went bad, but that was 3000 miles ago, and the engine runs fine, but the check engine light comes on when the RPMs get too low when cruising under load.I keep the TFI set a little rich, just in case.
DougJ
My dealer ordered a bunch of parts for it in September 06, (after I had ridden it almost 1 year) and I have never heard from them whether the safety recalls kit came in or not........ The new primary bearing came in, but they wanted me to wait for the nuetral indicator kit to come in before they open up the tranny. Still isn't done.
So to be so long winded............. The tranny sounds like a washing machine in nuetral, and when going slow in the lower gears, and has since new.
Anyway, it shifts just fine with or without the clutch, as have all the bikes I've riden, and standard transmission cars I have owned.
If you ever miss a gear,at high RPMs,you'll certainly wish you had used the clutch.
I do generally shift with the clutch, but certainly don't worry if my foot beats the hand from time to time.
Anybody else have to wait half a lifetime to get the dealer that sold you you bike, to do warranty work for you?
My dealer has ordered new CO2 sensors for bike, also. Mine went bad, but that was 3000 miles ago, and the engine runs fine, but the check engine light comes on when the RPMs get too low when cruising under load.I keep the TFI set a little rich, just in case.
DougJ
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
RE: Clutch or no clutch
Use the clutch man. A new tranny is around $3000, if using the clutch prevents having to spend $3000 then I for one use it. It is possible to get away with not using it but why chance it??
RE: Clutch or no clutch
ORIGINAL: L0W R1D3R
There is a reason that motorcycles have a clutch. Keep shifting without it. You should answer your own question fairly soon.
There is a reason that motorcycles have a clutch. Keep shifting without it. You should answer your own question fairly soon.
I have not had any issues on any of my race bikes or streetbikes transmissions after countless clutchless upshifts. Can't say I do it all the time now but, if I am riding aggressive or involved in a little "light to light" action...I will not be using my clutch.
RE: Clutch or no clutch
And before the flaming starts...
A motorcycle’s gearbox differs from your typical automobile transmission in that it can actually change gears under a small load, and only needs a slight interruption in the flow of power to accomplish an upshift. Its constant-mesh, sequential dog-engagement design means it can change gears much more readily than a typical automobile synchromesh transmission that requires an almost total stop in power flow, which is why using the clutch is necessary for upshifts in manual-transmission cars. This is why "power shifters" are so popular with motorcycle racers; by using a device that cuts ignition power momentarily while upshifting, the rider is able to keep the throttle pinned wide open, saving time and effort.
Basically, the technique is simple: Instead of shutting off the throttle completely and pulling in the clutch while you shift, just let off the throttle a small amount and perform the upshift in a quick, near-simultaneous movement; ignore the clutch. Don’t shut the throttle off completely, just let off enough to get the shift done. Upshifting without the clutch also gets you in the habit of performing the shift quickly and smoothly, as otherwise the weight transfer from letting off the throttle can upset the bike’s handling. Once you become accustomed to using this technique, you’ll be amazed at the time and energy saved (and you’ll probably reduce wear and tear on your clutch plates, too, judging by the clutch slip wetypically hear as riders try to squeeze and release the clutch lever quick enough during each shift).
A motorcycle’s gearbox differs from your typical automobile transmission in that it can actually change gears under a small load, and only needs a slight interruption in the flow of power to accomplish an upshift. Its constant-mesh, sequential dog-engagement design means it can change gears much more readily than a typical automobile synchromesh transmission that requires an almost total stop in power flow, which is why using the clutch is necessary for upshifts in manual-transmission cars. This is why "power shifters" are so popular with motorcycle racers; by using a device that cuts ignition power momentarily while upshifting, the rider is able to keep the throttle pinned wide open, saving time and effort.
Basically, the technique is simple: Instead of shutting off the throttle completely and pulling in the clutch while you shift, just let off the throttle a small amount and perform the upshift in a quick, near-simultaneous movement; ignore the clutch. Don’t shut the throttle off completely, just let off enough to get the shift done. Upshifting without the clutch also gets you in the habit of performing the shift quickly and smoothly, as otherwise the weight transfer from letting off the throttle can upset the bike’s handling. Once you become accustomed to using this technique, you’ll be amazed at the time and energy saved (and you’ll probably reduce wear and tear on your clutch plates, too, judging by the clutch slip wetypically hear as riders try to squeeze and release the clutch lever quick enough during each shift).
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Burlington Ontario Canada
RE: Clutch or no clutch
I've done the same thing in every standard car I've owned, both up and down- there's a "sweet spot" in most trannys (transmissions, not cross dressers) that you can find after a while. At a certain RPM for each gearthe tranny shifts smooth as silk. eg, in a GM 5 speed front driver it was something like 1500, 2100, 2500 3000 3000.
Found this out in an '00 cavalier after I broke a toe on my left foot and had to drive 300 miles home. The only time I used a clutch was when coming to a full stop.
I don't do that on the bike, I don't really know it well enough yet. (No tach, eh?)
D
Found this out in an '00 cavalier after I broke a toe on my left foot and had to drive 300 miles home. The only time I used a clutch was when coming to a full stop.
I don't do that on the bike, I don't really know it well enough yet. (No tach, eh?)
D
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 0
From: The dream that woke you up in tears.
RE: Clutch or no clutch
Oh My Gawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wouldn't one think the clutch was there for a reason......just maybe?
All you guys that wanna upshift w/o the clutch.....go right ahead.
As for anyone who thinks doing so is an alternative to actually learning a thing or two about shift points/rpm.......whatever.com
Wouldn't one think the clutch was there for a reason......just maybe?
All you guys that wanna upshift w/o the clutch.....go right ahead.
As for anyone who thinks doing so is an alternative to actually learning a thing or two about shift points/rpm.......whatever.com
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Clutch or no clutch
Quote, EVOrider
"Use your clutch. Use it normally, but don't abuse it though. Avoid holding it in for extended periods of time and riding it...will shorten the life of it big time. "
Re: EVO rider
The MSF rider’s course advises riders.” That when setting at a stop light or any intersection, to keep the bike in first gear the clutch lever held in and watch vehicles approaching from the rear.” In case you need to maneuver to get out of the way of some who is too engaged in talking on their cell phone, reading novel, or whatever. (We have stop lights here that seemingly take forever to cycle.) This may cause some extra wear on the clutch, but the MSF feels that the option to quickly maneuver out of the way far offsets any wear on the clutch.
Zyklon
"Use your clutch. Use it normally, but don't abuse it though. Avoid holding it in for extended periods of time and riding it...will shorten the life of it big time. "
Re: EVO rider
The MSF rider’s course advises riders.” That when setting at a stop light or any intersection, to keep the bike in first gear the clutch lever held in and watch vehicles approaching from the rear.” In case you need to maneuver to get out of the way of some who is too engaged in talking on their cell phone, reading novel, or whatever. (We have stop lights here that seemingly take forever to cycle.) This may cause some extra wear on the clutch, but the MSF feels that the option to quickly maneuver out of the way far offsets any wear on the clutch.
Zyklon
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Clutch or no clutch
ORIGINAL: 2BKFXDL
Oh My Gawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wouldn't one think the clutch was there for a reason......just maybe?
All you guys that wanna upshift w/o the clutch.....go right ahead.
As for anyone who thinks doing so is an alternative to actually learning a thing or two about shift points/rpm.......whatever.com
Oh My Gawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wouldn't one think the clutch was there for a reason......just maybe?
All you guys that wanna upshift w/o the clutch.....go right ahead.
As for anyone who thinks doing so is an alternative to actually learning a thing or two about shift points/rpm.......whatever.com
Upshifting clutchless is a perfectly legitimate. Post's in this thread have gone into great detail to explain why. If you disagree, tell us why you disagree and support it with what you feel you need to.
Personally, for me, there is a clutch on my bike so I can stop and go. I shift without it. I am not new to riding, infact I probably have more time on a bike at 32 years old than most people twice my age. I don't like dealing with the weight transfer from using the clutch, it is slow, it is a waste of movement and many other reasons.
I have 5,000 miles or more on my 2006 streetbob. Upshifting clutchless probably 75% of the time. No worries yet and last oil analysis returned normal, so I doubt there is much adverse wear to my tranny (Do you do a oil analysis to your oil?)
MNTLVR- Now that is funny. Wife laughed at it as well.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 275
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Clutch or no clutch
ORIGINAL: matkiwi
As a new Harley rider ('07 Bob) I have a habit of changing up without using the clutch from 2nd to 6th gears ... will this cause any damage to the Harley box ?
As a new Harley rider ('07 Bob) I have a habit of changing up without using the clutch from 2nd to 6th gears ... will this cause any damage to the Harley box ?
Good luck with your new Street Bob and please post pics some time!
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 773
Likes: 1
From: NZ but live in Dorset, England
RE: Clutch or no clutch
Cheers Joe ... its only when I'm riding hard that I don't use the clutch ... I didn't understand all of FLSpringerSE's comments but he was right about the flaming !
I guess I'll keep doing clutchless changes some of the time ... when I'm being 'assertive' in my riding ... and I'm not planning on selling my bike anytime soon ... I'll save the clutched changes for town/traffic ... on the whole I ride the bike under 1500 rpm (after all its the relaxed ride I bought it for) and thats where I do use the clutch.
Mat
I guess I'll keep doing clutchless changes some of the time ... when I'm being 'assertive' in my riding ... and I'm not planning on selling my bike anytime soon ... I'll save the clutched changes for town/traffic ... on the whole I ride the bike under 1500 rpm (after all its the relaxed ride I bought it for) and thats where I do use the clutch.
Mat