Do you shift without the clutch?
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 1
From: -
Never. what for anyway? I get on a dirt bike you need to keep a firm hand on the handle bar and be as quick as possible, but on a Harley?
Also gearboxes on 4 wheelers (and partially on 18) allow you to go through all the gears via neutral so you can match engine revs to gears speed before inserting it, but on a bike that is possible only from 1st to 2nd....
Also gearboxes on 4 wheelers (and partially on 18) allow you to go through all the gears via neutral so you can match engine revs to gears speed before inserting it, but on a bike that is possible only from 1st to 2nd....
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Once, but not on purpose. I'm just glad when I went 4th to 5th, the speeds were matched up. I learned after that to pull in on the clutch when I wasn't sure if I was in 4th or 5th.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 1
From: Northern Manitoba, Canada
Most of the guys I ride with downshift without the clutch all the time, I have on occasion. It requires the right amount of blip of throttle, then slides in like butter. I always up shift without the clutch when racing or accelerating full out.
No one I know has had any more trouble with transmissions than normal, and we all ride hard most of the time.
No one I know has had any more trouble with transmissions than normal, and we all ride hard most of the time.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 116
From: OKC
I will occasionally downshift from 6th to 5th w/o the clutch. Done this for years on many different bikes (top gear down to next gear) andnever broke anything. But posters are right, not much need to. For me, its just a habit left over from my dirt days.