changing gears without clutch
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,886
From: Newcastle, OK
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Meridian, Idaho
What???? No such animal in a HD transmission! You do have "dogs" tho, and if you shift without yer clutch you may hear them barking at you! Not a good idea but Crotch rocket riders do it all the time with out ill effects! They pre-load the shifter with the toe and just chop the throttle to unload the power input to the gears and "SHABAM"...shift is made!
funny this thread popped up, yesterday on my way home I accidentally rev matched and switched to 6th gear without clutch... I was distracted trying to look at the filter that had fallen off my bike on the fwy that I accidentally switched gears without clutch (Sportbike instinct)... I rev matched and it didnt sound like i messed anything up, so it IS possible but I just wouldnt do it on these HD trannys, on sport bikes their tranny are meant for a beating , HD ... well needs a little bit more lovin =)
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 67
From: Saint Amant, Acadiana
funny this thread popped up, yesterday on my way home I accidentally rev matched and switched to 6th gear without clutch... I was distracted trying to look at the filter that had fallen off my bike on the fwy that I accidentally switched gears without clutch (Sportbike instinct)... I rev matched and it didnt sound like i messed anything up, so it IS possible but I just wouldnt do it on these HD trannys, on sport bikes their tranny are meant for a beating , HD ... well needs a little bit more lovin =)
Kind of hard to explain, maybe I used the wrong term by saying "rev match" but when I clutch less shift I usually give an extra blip on the throttle then as soon as I close throttle or release I change gears... I'm better explaining in person than text so I hope this made sense lol
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 43
From: South Australia
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 67
From: Saint Amant, Acadiana
Alright, lets take an example. The speed of my bike at 4400 RPM is 85 MPH on fourth. I want to switch to fifth. To do it safely for my transmission I must drop RPM to 3800 before I slide in the fifth. I know how to do such a thing in an 18-wheeler ... how do you do it in a motorcycle?