Do you shift without the clutch?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 2
From: South County, CA.
Not so much anymore, but Back when I first started riding in the Dirt, Very seldom used a clutch except to Start/Stop. Same on my old Honda 750. Nowadays, I usually use the clutch, but have been known to go without it. Never had a problem.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 2
From: Nebraska
OK gents it seems we have some conflicting opinions here on what is what. Some say you can, some say you shouldn't, still others say they will or they might but the won't won't then the rest of you won't will. Which if you think about it means the same as won't won't.
As long as it's there I guess I'll use it, the clutch that is. If it isn't there someday for some reason then I'll try it without using it. Which basically means I will will.
Good day.
As long as it's there I guess I'll use it, the clutch that is. If it isn't there someday for some reason then I'll try it without using it. Which basically means I will will.
Good day.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,128
Likes: 51,461
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
OK gents it seems we have some conflicting opinions here on what is what. Some say you can, some say you shouldn't, still others say they will or they might but the won't won't then the rest of you won't will. Which if you think about it means the same as won't won't.
As long as it's there I guess I'll use it, the clutch that is. If it isn't there someday for some reason then I'll try it without using it. Which basically means I will will.
Good day.
As long as it's there I guess I'll use it, the clutch that is. If it isn't there someday for some reason then I'll try it without using it. Which basically means I will will.
Good day.
Sure you can do it sure it'll work most of the time but there's thing going on inside and parts being worn in an abnormal fashion while your doing it so one day what happens when you miss the sweet spot or hit a pot hole at the wrong moment or whatever and you hear that rude WHACK noise they make when teeth leave the gear ?
Your bike's gent's do as you please I'm just the guy who gets to see & fix them after the " Aw **** " moments , I wouldn't have a clue what I'm talking about here
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 30
From: North Florida
Lets put it this way unless you have more money than sense or the skills and an extra tranny or two on the shelf as spares ( I have 2 complete and one bare box with gears ) do you really want to risk to blowing out a $3000 transmission by playing with it like that ?
Sure you can do it sure it'll work most of the time but there's thing going on inside and parts being worn in an abnormal fashion while your doing it so one day what happens when you miss the sweet spot or hit a pot hole at the wrong moment or whatever and you hear that rude WHACK noise they make when teeth leave the gear ?
Your bike's gent's do as you please I'm just the guy who gets to see & fix them after the " Aw **** " moments , I wouldn't have a clue what I'm talking about here
Sure you can do it sure it'll work most of the time but there's thing going on inside and parts being worn in an abnormal fashion while your doing it so one day what happens when you miss the sweet spot or hit a pot hole at the wrong moment or whatever and you hear that rude WHACK noise they make when teeth leave the gear ?
Your bike's gent's do as you please I'm just the guy who gets to see & fix them after the " Aw **** " moments , I wouldn't have a clue what I'm talking about here
Last edited by Harleycruiser; Oct 26, 2012 at 11:25 PM.
I got into this rev-matching stuff about 10 years ago when I had a 5 speed jetta. It's actually really easy and doesn't do any damage when done properly. So once I figured it out I shifter all my vehicles according to the rev-matching principle.
My 3 jap bikes all seem fine when shifted without the clutch,the Harley to however I came to discover my old nighthawk is almost impossible to find parts for,same with the shadow and venture,so rather than possibly breaking something I cannot replace I just use the clutch now.
As far as the Harley goes now that I've got some actual power going through it I figured the gradual transmission of power to the wheel is better than the shock induced when not using the clutch.
So,op,yes you can shift without the clutch and it may or may not do any damage,it's your bike,and your money,choose wisely grasshopper.
Twizted knows his ****,so if I followed any advice in this thread it would be his. Jmo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
I have done it accidentally, a few times, usually when I am tired. Then my foot gets ahead of my clutch hand by a split second and the pressure to the shifter puts it into 5th, before I engaged the clutch. When it does happen it is smooth as butter, always into 5th gear (5 speed/88).
Its obvious from the post's that more of you spend a lot more time polishing the bikes than working on them.
A lot of b.s statements made on this thread.
The transmission is a CONSTANT MESH/ Dog shifting /drum channeled shifting forks. shift lever justs rotates the drum.
drum moves forks that move the dogs.
no way to grind a gear , or chip teeth . sound you hear on a bad shift is the dogs hitting on the slot in the gear. (shift was too slow)
and there is a Neutral between each gear , just not detented
all the dog needs is a little slack to move out of one gear to the next.
dogs are two sided little thingys between the free gears.
the dog locks the counter shaft to the selected gear.
that can be accomplished with a clutch, or ,or ,or
blip the throttle ..gear is just as happy to change.
those of you that dont understand , or have a feel for "blip"
then by all means use the clutch.
lay off the "urban legends" / what your buddy told ya
A lot of b.s statements made on this thread.
The transmission is a CONSTANT MESH/ Dog shifting /drum channeled shifting forks. shift lever justs rotates the drum.
drum moves forks that move the dogs.
no way to grind a gear , or chip teeth . sound you hear on a bad shift is the dogs hitting on the slot in the gear. (shift was too slow)
and there is a Neutral between each gear , just not detented
all the dog needs is a little slack to move out of one gear to the next.
dogs are two sided little thingys between the free gears.
the dog locks the counter shaft to the selected gear.
that can be accomplished with a clutch, or ,or ,or
blip the throttle ..gear is just as happy to change.
those of you that dont understand , or have a feel for "blip"
then by all means use the clutch.
lay off the "urban legends" / what your buddy told ya
)Jenn
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,128
Likes: 51,461
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I did say to each their own a couple times didn't I ??????????
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 23
From: Heavenlies
From first to second I always use the clutch. From there up I shift a lot of times without the clutch - I leave off the throttle a little bit and it goes right into gear - Same thing for shifting down....
BTW most over the road truckers do the same thing on 9-15speed transmissions - A couple of ours were well over 1 million miles and 70% of the time the driver was shifting up/down without a clutch.
BTW most over the road truckers do the same thing on 9-15speed transmissions - A couple of ours were well over 1 million miles and 70% of the time the driver was shifting up/down without a clutch.