icav i can see you've never used a clutch before...i think your under the impression that the clutch is either disengaged or engaged, no in between. well after you get it you'll see thats theres a lot of room to play around with the clutch.

 

Sometimes I use the clutch, sometimes I don't. I use it mostly when I am riding aggressively to keep the power on. If I am just cruising I never use the clutch except to take off. I never power-shift. I don't think it will last too long under that abuse.

You have to use the clutch to take off, or you will detroy your tranny.

 

<< [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] Text First of all...I can't believe you are starting out with a 400!! Thats downright crazy. >>



I started out with a 400ex! It was my first clutch driven quad I have rode. I was a little worried at first that I couldn't do it or not get used to it, but after I got it, I got the hang of it like 5 min. after I got it! But dont go around pinning the throttle due to the break-in process. Its kinda hard to explain, but just put it in neutral, pull in the clutch, (all the way), press down on the gear shifter, (remember, 1 down, 5 up), give it some gas, not alot b/c you'll be laying on your ***, give it about half throttle and slowly let the cluth out. You will feel it grab then the quad will start moving forward, then when your ready, let the clutch all the way out and give it some gas and pull in the clutch and shift it up to 2nd (let off the gas while you do this), then let the clutch out and hit the gas and go and so on and so fourth.

BTW, I hope you guys know that when you shift without your clutch your tearing out your tranny each time you do it! Im going to laugh when you have to order new gears for your quad, and those things are not too cheap, trust me! Whoever told you that its ok to shift without the clutch is a retard. Any idiot would know to pull in the clutch when shifting.....its not rocket science...

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

Ummmm..

I've been doing it since I finished breaking in my 400EX (in 1998).
My friend Josh has been doing it since he got his (1999).

I haven't had a single problem with my engine or tranny, other than valve adjustment.

Jeff is right in one respect, if you don't know how to shift, you better use the clutch, or it will destroy your tranny.

 

Nothing wrong with learning on a 400ex (unless your just too young or too dense!). I know I've said this in another post but I learned to ride on a friend's moded 400ex. no problem! it's not rocket science (as jeffman says)

icav, always use your clutch the way juggalo and jeffman say. they are right on. please let us know if you need to learn how to use the shifter at your left toe too. do you know how to shift up and down with it?

once you learn what you are doing and feel comfortable on your quad you can try shifting without the clutch in higher gears. Don't ever try it for first gear though and don't try it in second until you get the hang of it. to give you an idea, basically as you are cruising along say in third and you want to shift up to fourth you: let go of the throttle completely, shift up and continue throttle. that simple. saves your left hand when you are on varied terrain and have to shift alot. I rarely use the clutch anymore and my friends on older quads don't either. No one I know has had problems because of it.

 

dude what u thinkin. tryin to kill urself get a 200ex or stay wit the 250.

 

I didn't know they made a 200ex....

 

I'm sure he meant 400ex, not 200. Why wouldn't you use the clutch. It's obviously there for a reason and it doesn't take any time or effort. ICAV, just use the clutch and once you get the hang of it and become a more experienced rider, you won't even think about it. It'll be second nature. I don't even pay attention to it anymore, when I shift I just pull in the clutch without even thinking about it. I'm so used to pullin in the clutch that I accidently pull the brake lever on auto clutch quads.

 

my two cents, i ride a two stroke honda 250r. i'll use the clutch to get started and when i'm putting around but when i'm riding hard and racing i'll let off the gas for a second and shift up with out using the clutch. important note!!! let off the gas for a second, or you'll fry your clutch and replace a few gears. i've ridden for three years on my factory honda clutches (which are the best) and not had a problem. i do not recommend this type of shifting unless you are an experienced rider. just use your clutch and you'll be fine. airtime