All the gears in all the bike tranny's i know of are syncromesh . Aside from first gear I dont know of any pro rider that takes the time to use the clutch to shift their machine. Using the clutch takes longer. I never use the clutch on a normal shift up/down cept for first. Ive never broke a gear either. Just ease off the gas for for an instant while shifting and then back on it. I dont even think the pros back off the gas they just bang it when its time.

Plad

 

On many occasians have I herd about bad tranny's because of power shifting. I you ask me it is a Big mistake.

 

I would like some of the very knowledgeable gurus to respond to this one. It has me interested. As for me, I use it just to be safe.

 

Good thread, I think a lot of people want to know the answer to this. C'Mon you gurus! More replies!

 

My thoughts exactly. The guys that feel they have too use the clutch all of the time are the same ones that feel they have too use the oil at the dealership...LOL.

 

'01 Raptor tranny running strong and I don't shift with the clutch all the time. Like they said, the clutch is for taking off, and power manipulation/traction control. You want to go somewhere fast, you let off halfway on the throttle and pop her in when the RPM's are just bout right, same with downshifting, but I do it more for upshifting than downshifting, but I have done both. Like someone mentioned before, on dirt bikes and quads, many pros never use the clutch except when they wanna slip it on purpose. It isn't harder on the clutch not using it, it's easier as it's not opening and closing, relieving it from any slippage whatsoever, so not using the clutch means longer clutch life, and brake life if you downshift using the engine too like in cars/trucks/semi's.... The backpressure is actually good, and recommended when braking in the engine to put backpressure on the rings to seat them better against the cylinder. Do what you want, but try it just to see how it is. Just use the clutch for taking off, that's all I use it for in my Dad's duramax, he's got over 60,000 miles on it now! I wouldn't recommend poppin' 'er in gear off the start unless you have snapped the clutch lever or if the clutch cable snapped or won't work for whatever reason. I'd recommend getting a buddy, or yourself to push your quad and getting it rolling first before popping it in gear to take some stress off by getting some momentum going, that's all you have to remember when not using the clutch, keep the momentum going.

 

Bottom line, it's easier on your drive train to use the clutch. I don't get the big deal. If you don't like to clutch, why did you buy a sport bike in the first place. There are right and wrong ways to do everything and some people can get away with either. You bike was made to be clutched while shifting. If you don't, you only risking your own property.

~HoundDog

 

The pros don't use the clutch because someone else does the wrenching and pays the bills.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] There are no syncros in a roptor tranny that I know of.

 

Bing Bing!! SixsixT hits the nail on the head! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Sure, you CAN power shift. No prob......Does it do damage?.....ask the 03' Predator owners. Most quads/bikes can take the abuse, but all will eventually wear down the shift forks and cause damage. Its just a matter of how hard you want to be on your equipment. Either sell it before it needs repaired(long with some models than others), or be ready to pay the piper..... I don't mind taking the extra 1/10 of a sec. to pull in the lever, but thats just me..........

 

My dealership mechanic has been riding for probably 25 years at least. He says he always "no-clutch" shifted, and has never seen it hurt any of his machines. Obviously you don't do it when going into first gear, but every other gear is fine. Not letting off the gas and shifting probably will hurt it, as I've done both and you can clearly hear it make not so friendly noises.

also, in car transmissions, it actually causes less wear, if you take out the "transition shifter". basically, what this does, is ease the vehicle into other gears by slipping the plates, which actually grinds them down. They created this feature because the bigger engines and tranny's kicked so hard when they were shifting gears that it caused the car to sometimes lose traction.