Yo Ho there,
So I'm fairly new to this bike and it seems to want to short shift really easily. Is this bad for it. Sometimes I don't get the clutch in hardly at all, if any, and it'll shift flawlessly in the higher gears. But am I going to damage my baby?

BTY......This bike rules man.

 

I've heard the engine doesnt like to be power shifted, something about yamaha trying to ease tranny concerns. Sounds like you are having a different experience. My guess is you arent under max load and its easier. In any case there is no reason not to use the clutch and yes you can cause serious problems by not using it.

 

The low end on this machine almost asks to be short shifted

 

I've read that this bike takes to short shifting pretty well. And mine seems to be the same way. Granted i'm not trying it under any heavy pressure but on the flats, in higher RPMs, it slides right in before I can get the clutch all the way in. It still worries me though. I try not to do it.

 

I shift mine up and down without the clutch and it seems to work fine, just blip off the throttle and she slips right in. Only time i use the clutch is on steep hills where the box is under load even when getting off the throttle. Full power shifts definatly require a little clutch or damage is sure to happen on any bike.

BTW, it sounds to me like you think short shifting = shifting without clutch, they are actually two different things, short shifting is changing up through gears quickly at lower RMP without reving the engine out in each gear and has noting to do with using the clutch. Being the torque monster it is the 700 loves to be short shifted with or without clutch [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Im not taking any chances after the 01 Craptor Tranny issues. I clutch as much as possible.

 

I totally agree