Gear changing an observation

[Engineer]

And have been doing clutchless up and downshifts for a lifetime.
In that time, I have only had one gearbox failure. On the loose 35 years ago on a Husqvarna 400. Gearbox failure on these was notorious. I overtightened a sprocket securing left hand thread. My fault, but not because of the clutchless shifting.

Maybe you need some more mechanical sympathy to learn how to do it without crunching.

Myke

I avoid crunching by using the clutch , I can't see that there is much to be gained from not using the clutch on the way up or down, apart from a few milliseconds so is not really worth the risk imho.

 

[Giles]

If I'm having a play and I'm out for a real hoon with the boys, there might be the odd change up the box without the clutch, but down without the clutch?
nah ... never!

 

[Appman]

I would have expected to detect the slipper clutch operating from the engine note, can't detect a thing though - I don't don't bang rapidly down through the gears and dump the clutch like some numpty power ranger - I'll try it once to see what happens, I would expect to feel a slipper clutch working then

Not noticed a distinctive change in Engine note but there is certainly some tone change as the clutch performs the slipping as as engine speed comes down to match wheel speed dumping the engine braking force.

If your not dumping the clutch too heavily then the effects may be limited, but when you hit a curve with too much speed you can drop down the gears without fear of the rear chattering through the heavy engine braking.

It's worth getting a feel for the benefit it brings especially when things get unexpectedly tight and you need a different gear, even if your not wearing a PR Suit

 

[Mr K]

Dry clutch vs wet clutch?

.... or like me, did you not start blipping the throttle on down changes 'til you had a Remus end can?

 

[Hammam]

I have too much mechanical sympathy to risk no clutch downshifts - clutches are cheaper than gearboxes, especially as it is now at the front of the bike.

In fact clutchless upshifting and downshifting, when done properly, will spare gearbox and clutch.

 

[Hammam]

I avoid crunching by using the clutch , I can't see that there is much to be gained from not using the clutch on the way up or down, apart from a few milliseconds so is not really worth the risk imho.

It's not about a gain in speed - though this IS a fringe benefit - but about sparing both gearbox and clutch. Myke Rocks is right. You'd be surprised how smoothly gears shif up and down withthout the clutch when it's done properly.

 

[Hammam]

I can see that you don't have a clue about much at all.

Yes, that's a specialty of this private club of like-minded jokesters: expressing opinions on a subject without any idea whatsoever what they are talking about, just to ridicule a perfectly valid post. I guess it makes them feel mighty brilliant.

 

[Beemerman59]

My classic Hexhead manages up/down shifts perfectly alright with/without use of the clutch and with/without throttle blipping. Funnily enough so can my K1100. Is it the bike or is it the rider?

 

[Engineer]

Yes, that's a specialty of this private club of like-minded jokesters: expressing opinions on a subject without any idea whatsoever what they are talking about, just to ridicule a perfectly valid post. I guess it makes them feel mighty brilliant.

It goes straight over my head these days - some is just banter, some is just rude and some is just plain ignorance from the uneducated 'know-it-alls' - it's hard to tell what's what a lot of the time but I ain't bovvered, just join in and give as good as you get