clutchless upshifting
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clutchless upshifting
in the latest sportrider magazine there is an article about clutchless upshifting. anyone read it? well to keep it brief and not quote the whole article. it is shifting without the use of the clutch lever. it states it is not detrimental to do this. so what the hell i tried it. it works. give her the throttle, put a little pre-tension on the shifter linkage right before you want the next gear, back off the throttle then upshift when ya want the next gear and wallah your in the next gear. is this really okay to do regularly? any potential problems?
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MotoGP
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,553
From: South Texas
Welcome to synchronized transmissions, newbie. :-)
Problems? Yes, if you get lazy and botch them. You don't have to pull the clutch all the way in to the bar to shift, just partially "fake it". Then if you do botch the shift you are much closer to fully disengaging the clutch and will minimize the mistake.
Problems? Yes, if you get lazy and botch them. You don't have to pull the clutch all the way in to the bar to shift, just partially "fake it". Then if you do botch the shift you are much closer to fully disengaging the clutch and will minimize the mistake.
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MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
teachers always teachin'! 
I've been doing the clutchless upshift for about a year and a half on the track with no illeffect as of yet, much easier mid-corner then clutching it but don't down shift that way!!
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Squid
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 63
I've read an article from a motoring magazine years back regarding sequential transmissions, these are the type of trannies that are used on almost all motorcycles and also found in most road racing cars and rally cars. It said there that it is not damaging for these types of transmissions to be up-shifted without the use of the clutch, also said there that they used these type of trannies for race cars to minimize the time taken to shift from gear to gear.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Rapid City, SD
My problem is that I honestly never really feel the benefit is that great...I don't do track days, and with the wide powerband, have few corners on public roads here that merit the use. I suppose if I did it constantly it would become habit and then be useful, but clutching is so easy and quick, and the other requires me to think..
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World Champion
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 105,287
From: Fulton, MO
I have really only found use for it at the track...and when riding faster than I should be on the street. Yes, it's a quicker shift, but I've only found it works well when WFO. I'd not do it in a corner. YMMV.
At the track I do a semi-clutchless downshift, except for the last gear before the turn, then I sort of feather the clutch while trailbraking.
At the track I do a semi-clutchless downshift, except for the last gear before the turn, then I sort of feather the clutch while trailbraking.
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Superstock
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 358
anything can be shifted clutchless. syncroed or not. up or downshifted. its all a matter of matching RPM and travel speed. years of driving old dump trucks with no power clutch its like pushing a sack of concrete six inches every time u need too shift. so i got in the habit of only useing the clutch to get going from a full stop. ive also raced ATV's for a while. its actually easier to go clutchless when im just tooling around. again up or downshifting, saves the effort of having to grab for the clutch. in hard corners or racing i use the clutch a bit to help ease things together when im too far away from where i need to be at matching speeds. dont ever shift at WOT or dead throttle, even when using the clutch u should always be as close to no load, as possible.
most racers either drop the throttle when they go to shift or have electronic sensors on the bike that as soon as the hit the shifter it actually kills the ignition for a couple beets. this is also how cart series cars work. and ive seen this setup on a couple of atv's in the races. or another famous clutchless shift system is the airshifter, though its usually only used in drag situations.
most racers either drop the throttle when they go to shift or have electronic sensors on the bike that as soon as the hit the shifter it actually kills the ignition for a couple beets. this is also how cart series cars work. and ive seen this setup on a couple of atv's in the races. or another famous clutchless shift system is the airshifter, though its usually only used in drag situations.
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MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
I have really only found use for it at the track...and when riding faster than I should be on the street. Yes, it's a quicker shift, but I've only found it works well when WFO. I'd not do it in a corner. YMMV.
At the track I do a semi-clutchless downshift, except for the last gear before the turn, then I sort of feather the clutch while trailbraking.
At the track I do a semi-clutchless downshift, except for the last gear before the turn, then I sort of feather the clutch while trailbraking.
With practice you can be very smooth and it will not upset the chassis, if you're in a long fast sweeper on the track and run out of RPM's what do you do? The only reason I even tried it was I was told to by expert CCS and AMA racers and it really does work.
yeah you have only crashed twice this year,just kidding man really just wanted to try these new smilies
Where's that damn smilie with the middle fingers at!!! 
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MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
It's kind of a vicous circle......build confidence.......push harder......go faster.....CRASH!! Lose confidence......slow down......build confidence back......go even faster......CRASH AGAIN DAMN IT!!!
glad you took it so well,I thought I was going to have to hide out!!!
see, i have to use a brick wall to hide out. and i have to borrow it !
I'm the king of my domain!! the wife does not tell me what to do!! uhohhh here she comes talk to you guys later I'm grounded
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Squid
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 63
You're right on the money! Same thing happened to me when I slid of the road last year.
Hmm?
SuperBike
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,069
From: San Gabriel Valley
To break the cycle, you need to examine what caused the crash in the first place.
Next time, SH22, bring a chain and ball (the real thing, not a woman) to smack the other riders around...Road Rash style!
Next time, SH22, bring a chain and ball (the real thing, not a woman) to smack the other riders around...Road Rash style!
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MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
Well the 1st one was caused by an asshat who setup too soon for a corner, as much as I wanted to blame myself the more I look at the picture I just can't come to any other conclusion. The 2nd one was caused by thinking about the 1st one so that was my fault for letting it still be in my head. It only took a second or two to look over to see what the guy I passed was doing to get me into the corner too hot. Lesson learned on the 1st one choose a better place to pass, lesson learned on the second one FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!!!!!
Hmm?
SuperBike
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,069
From: San Gabriel Valley
Well the 1st one was caused by an asshat who setup too soon for a corner, as much as I wanted to blame myself the more I look at the picture I just can't come to any other conclusion. The 2nd one was caused by thinking about the 1st one so that was my fault for letting it still be in my head. It only took a second or two to look over to see what the guy I passed was doing to get me into the corner too hot. Lesson learned on the 1st one choose a better place to pass, lesson learned on the second one FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!!!!!
Oh, I'm not aiming this post towards you either by mentioning "chicken." I'm not saying you're a chicken. I was saying you ride a chicken. Hope I didn't **** you off.
Oh, I didn't mean to say I want to give you a golden shower. I'm just saying that I d...
Oh nevermind. :P
Hmm?
SuperBike
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,069
From: San Gabriel Valley
