shifting without clutch.

I shifted up without clutch on my CBR1000F for 13 years and 75,000 km and I've never had a single problem with my transmission so I can say without a doubt it's perfectly safe unless you're worried about your tranny breaking down in the year 2030 instead of 2031.

 

This is why Honda made the DN-01. Too many ppl with too much time on their hands arguing about shifting. :tongue:

 

Just to add to the weight of experience: My dad bought my VFR new in '98. He put over 70k miles on it, and almost always does the clutchless upshift after 2nd. I've put another 18k on it, also rarely using the clutch on upshifts - no problems with the bike.

Additionally, he's already put over 30k miles on his '07 VFR, using the same technique, with no issues.

The only time I use the clutch for upshifting is when I have a passenger - it seems a bit smoother for them. I think it's that they can hear the engine change when I clutch and prepare for the shift; a clutchless shift can catch them by surprise. And even then I usually don't use the clutch going into 6th gear as it's the most gentle transition.

 

The argument that clutch-less shifting is harder, or that it causes a load shock to the newly selected gear seems stretched or old-school to me. Meaning that, when one uses the clutch, the rider still needs to try to properly match the RPM's to have a smooth shift. Same goes for clutch-less shifting. But one technique I found for clutch-less shifting, have your toe under the shifter applying just slight pressure, and roll the throttle up and then back off. You'll find that the gear will shift naturally and smoothly. The gear won't shift (slight pressure) unless everything internally is ready. This method only seems smooth to me, when shifting after 2nd gear and up. This feeling of how easy it is for gear to shift (when its ready) does less wear and tear then using the clutch. Maybe some of these arguments against clutch-less shifting come from older technology and old school thinking, before the modern hydraulic or slippier clutch designs, i dunno.
Having said all that, if I want to accelerate hard and shift fast, I use the clutch.

 

Just the thought of the gogs grinding their edges off switching from one to the next will make me use the clutch!

 

I Power shift only at higher rpms and speeds. but never between 1st and 2nd, always clutch there and with downshifting.

 

I heard about this a year or so ago...and the first couple times I tried it I found false neutrals.

....but the first time it worked it was like magic :biggrin:

Just a twitch of your wrist and the bike is in the next gear....I find that I speed more when doing that.

Lately...I've noticed when I try it I'm more often then not getting a false neutral. ...and sometimes when it works the shifter will be loose until I roll off the throttle again.

I try sticking to using the clutch around town but when I'm getting on the hwy or just have an open road ahead of me clutchless is great.

 

Interesting how many people go clutchless except for 1st to 2nd. I rarely do it, but when I do, it's often for upshift to 2nd when I'm flogging it off the line. I find it easier (and faster) than using the clutch when shifting at high revs under heavy load. And 1-2 is the most likely culprit. It's also embarrassing to miss it, when you're revving it high. I've never missed a clutchless shift from 1-2.

 

I always use the clutch. Thanks for asking.

 

Just to beat a dead horse to death on this subject, I was talking with one of my track buddies last night about this subject. He uses a Quick Shift setup that's for his Power Commander, I have never used one, but had heard about them and so I looked into it. It's basically a system that connects to the PC with a sensor on the shift lever. It cuts gas as soon as the shifter lever gets some pressure just before you shift, it sounds like a REALLY sweet setup, I might have to consider it for next year.

INAL at all so take this with a complete disclosure, but if this type of shifting would be harmful to the transmission, it seems PC would be liable for lawsuits if someone blew up their tranny. I think that putting on a PC system does not affect the factory warranty, so it seems like clutchless shifting isn't a problem.