Preload shifter?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 441
Likes: 52
From: Utah
What you're trying to do is use the slack in the drive train to do the same thing as the clutch, namely take pressure off of the shift dogs so they are able to engage the next gear. When you let off the throttle, there is a spit second where you transition from the engine driving the rear wheel to the rear wheel driving the engine. If you have pressure on the shifter already when you do this, it will naturally find a "dead spot" between those two states where there is 0 pressure on the transmission, and the shift will occur at the perfect spot.
Just a guess tho...
Just a guess tho...
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 40
From: Christoval
Um... NO. When executed correctly you don't need to use the clutch to upshift, on my track R1 and R6 I didn't even use the clutch to downshift, the clutch was never touched from the time I rolled off in 1st until I came to a full stop in 1st gear; it's all about learning the proper techniques and understanding how a motorcycle actually works. On my HD's I do use the clutch to up/downshift, but barely, I just break the lever with 2 fingers, but I'm preloading on both upshifts and rev-matched downshifts.
Pre-loading doesn't take much pressure at all, just enough to take up any slop and it certainly doesn't mean you're putting such a load on it that you'll damage anything
Give it a try, you'll be surprised how smooth it is...
This is from Lee Park's Total Control: " Press your foot up with just slightly less force than that needed to engage the next gear. Next, quickly roll off the throttle approximately 25 percent of its twisting range. When this happens, the torque force on the transmission will temporarily unload, and the preloaded shift lever will now snick into the next gear. For regular shifts at less than full throttle, a simultaneous, light stab of the clutch will help ease this process. For full-throttle 'speed shifting,' no clutch is necessary. In fact, it's actually harder on the transmission to use the clutch in this type of situation than to just let the loading forces do the job."
Pre-loading doesn't take much pressure at all, just enough to take up any slop and it certainly doesn't mean you're putting such a load on it that you'll damage anything
Give it a try, you'll be surprised how smooth it is...This is from Lee Park's Total Control: " Press your foot up with just slightly less force than that needed to engage the next gear. Next, quickly roll off the throttle approximately 25 percent of its twisting range. When this happens, the torque force on the transmission will temporarily unload, and the preloaded shift lever will now snick into the next gear. For regular shifts at less than full throttle, a simultaneous, light stab of the clutch will help ease this process. For full-throttle 'speed shifting,' no clutch is necessary. In fact, it's actually harder on the transmission to use the clutch in this type of situation than to just let the loading forces do the job."
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Sep 2, 2015 at 10:58 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,031
From: Carlsbad, CA
Um... NO. When executed correctly you don't need to use the clutch to upshift, on my track R1 and R6 I didn't even use the clutch to downshift, the clutch was never touched from the time I rolled off in 1st until I came to a full stop in 1st gear; it's all about learning the proper techniques and understanding how a motorcycle actually works. On my HD's I do use the clutch to up/downshift, but barely, I just break the lever with 2 fingers, but I'm preloading on both upshifts and rev-matched downshifts.
Pre-loading doesn't take much pressure at all, just enough to take up any slop and it certainly doesn't mean you're putting such a load on it that you'll damage anything Give it a try, you'll be surprised how smooth it is...
This is from Lee Park's Total Control: " Press your foot up with just slightly less force than that needed to engage the next gear. Next, quickly roll off the throttle approximately 25 percent of its twisting range. When this happens, the torque force on the transmission will temporarily unload, and the preloaded shift lever will now snick into the next gear. For regular shifts at less than full throttle, a simultaneous, light stab of the clutch will help ease this process. For full-throttle 'speed shifting,' no clutch is necessary. In fact, it's actually harder on the transmission to use the clutch in this type of situation than to just let the loading forces do the job."
Pre-loading doesn't take much pressure at all, just enough to take up any slop and it certainly doesn't mean you're putting such a load on it that you'll damage anything
Give it a try, you'll be surprised how smooth it is...This is from Lee Park's Total Control: " Press your foot up with just slightly less force than that needed to engage the next gear. Next, quickly roll off the throttle approximately 25 percent of its twisting range. When this happens, the torque force on the transmission will temporarily unload, and the preloaded shift lever will now snick into the next gear. For regular shifts at less than full throttle, a simultaneous, light stab of the clutch will help ease this process. For full-throttle 'speed shifting,' no clutch is necessary. In fact, it's actually harder on the transmission to use the clutch in this type of situation than to just let the loading forces do the job."
But, that's my opinion, your mileage may vary.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
We have sequential shifting transmissions as do some race cars. Totally different shifting transmissions than a traditional car. I learned preload 40 years ago when racing mx, but we don't roll off the throttle, we keep it pinned, just touch the clutch lever and voila.
Last edited by qtrracer; Sep 2, 2015 at 11:07 PM.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
I remember seeing the phrase too and did a HUH? But I just let it slide. Whether is pressure before shifting or shifting without a clutch or to prevent grinding...grinding?...I don't do it.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I have never been into a motorcycle transmission, but I have been into a bunch of manuals on cars. Replaced plenty of shift forks and sliders because people rest their hand on the shifter while cruising. Seems like that would be about the same as preloading your shifter. You are just putting un necessary pressure when it's not needed. I won't be doing it I will just shift the old slow clunky way.
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 87
Likes: 1
From: DFW
I do this on my sportbike all the time when running it hard or on a track day. On the HD I tried it, the bike shifted smoothly, but never continued doing it. I just don't ride it hard enough to need to speed shift.
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