I just bought a 2000 300EX (love it, by the way). I have ridden several quads before, but never one with a manual tranny.

As I was riding it the other day, getting the hang of pulling the clutch while shifting, I noticed that a couple of times (oops...hey, I'm new at this!) I accidently shifted into a higher gear (say 3rd to 4th) without pulling in the clutch at all. I was surprised to learn that it seemed to go into the next gear without any problem...no "gear grinding" or anything like I expected (like a car would).

So...what's the deal? Why does this work? I'm no mechanic - I know nothing about transmissions and I assume that no-clutch shifting is not good for the bike - but why does it work at all?

Could somebody fill me in?

Casey ***
2000 Honda 300EX
San Angelo, Texas

 

That's the trademark smoothness of a honda tranny.
They are also built very tough, I catch myself doing it every once in a while on my 400ex when riding hard. I had an old Honda 250 dirt bike once and I use to shift it like that all the time. The bike was bulletproof. All the Honda trannys feel the same, well, the ones I have rode anyways. old habits are hard to brake.

 

Is this as bad for the tranny as one would think? I was horrified when I did it to my brand new (literally 10 minutes old) 300EX! Is this really bad for the tranny? I would think so...otherwise, why have a clutch at all?

Or, is is just kinda something to avoid, but not really the "end of the world" if it happens every now and then? I know you get a horrible grinding sound if yoiu shift a car with no clutch...is this not the same thing?

Does anyone know what exactly is happening when I do this, from a mechanical standpoint?

Thanks

 

Oh yes, they will shift without the clutch. Even with power on.

I had a freind who only used the clutch to get his dirt bike rolling, after that he didn't use the clutch while riding under any conditions. He just banged it in. I don't think the transmission ever failed.

However, I always use the clutch except for rare extreme circumstances. I don't believe the transmission would fail, but after repeated abuse I think the rider would FEEL the difference in the shifter action.

 

I have been told that if you downshift without the clutch it does no harm whatsoever to the quad but if you shift up it's not real good on it. However, I have done it many times on my 300EX both on accident and on purpose and have no problem at all with it. I find that in some circumstances like climbing a hill and you need a higher gear, using the clutch will screw you so if that is the case, I just ram it in gear and go.
I dont think it will hurt much if at all.

 

I used to do it all the time on my old Quadsport. I decided to try to break the habit for my new 300ex. I stoped shifting without the clutch. I do it every now adn then when wheelieing and I want to "power shift".

 

as long as you don't do it all the time it won't hurt anything.

 

I have a 97 300ex and I have missed using the clutch several times like when wheeyling if U use the cluthc the front end will fall or you will flip backwards. M little sister also rides the 300ex and she is not good with a clutch or shifting at all we haven't had a problem with the tranny yet. I also have a 250r and I have't had a problem with its tranny yet either. I love the 300ex and have had more fun on it than my 250r and my other qauds.