Kawasaki Concours Forum
Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: anycleavers on August 06, 2011, 10:10:08 AM
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if you upshift, say from 3-4-5-6 gears without using the clutch, does it hurt the clutch/tranny in any way?
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Depends on how smoothly you upshift.
I clutch when at higher/more agressive RPMs, but when being more casual about it, I do the clutchless thing on the upshift in the higher gears (starting with 3-4). I always clutch on the downshift though, as I found the downshifting seemed a little harsh.
Someone once posted that preloading the shifter will cause more wear to your shifter forks, but I'm willing to bet trying to upshift to 7th gear or downshift to 0th gear wears/stresses them MUCH worse than a smooth clutchless shift ever will.
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if you upshift, say from 3-4-5-6 gears without using the clutch, does it hurt the clutch/tranny in any way?
No
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Done properly while unloading the transmission by rolling the throttle off and on quickly doesnt hurt anything. Done improperly while the transmission is under a load does cause premature wear on the shift forks, shift shaft and the engagement dogs on the gears. Done wrong enough times and you will start missing shifts and having the trans pop out of gear when the engagement dogs start wearing down on the outer edge. I raced Kawasaki motorcycles and the trans was the weakest part of the bikes, abuse them enough and they will wear out.
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That's what I've been doing, "unloading" it before I upshift. Good stuff to know, Thanks
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Clutchless upshifts are fairly easy to do properly without damaging the transmission. Clutchless downshifts are not easy to do properly.
I normally upshift and downshift without the clutch on my gsxr. The C14 has transmission ratios that are close enough to permit clutchless downshifting but I use the clutch anyway. I usually give partial clutch when upshifting the C14.
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if you upshift, say from 3-4-5-6 gears without using the clutch, does it hurt the clutch/tranny in any way?
I sure hope not, 49,802 on the odo and countless clutchless shifts, up and down. Want some fun? Preload when in first, hit rev limiter, shifts to second, keep 'er pinned, preload and you're in a place reserved for speed demons ;D
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50k mostly clutchhless and still shifts like a dream
Decades of 10 speed roadranger clutchless didn't hurt either.
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Want some fun? Preload when in first, hit rev limiter, shifts to second, keep 'er pinned, preload and you're in a place reserved for speed demons ;D
_gulp_ Maybe one day. :o
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_gulp_ Maybe one day. :o
Guaranteed to float the front ;D
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Nope.
Done this on every bike I have owned, never had a clutch problem on any of them. Just make sure you unload the tranny, period.
Everyone ride safe, ATGATT.
Greg