Today I rode with a few other raptor guys, they told me that they had to have their clutch replaced which I have heard from many people. THEY said the dealer told them that a raptor has a synchronized tranny and the ONLY time you should use the clutch is pulling out and stopping. This sounds pretty stupid and hard on a tranny to me. Any truth to this?

sounds like their dealer has a crock of $hit. I just read my manual "ALWAYS USE THE CLUTCH TO AVOID TRANSMISSION DAMAGE!"

Go buy any new car with a manual, it has a synchrinezed tranny. Yet they don't say not to use a clutch. The dealer doesn't know what synchronized means is my guess.

Yikes! I'm glad I bought the extended warranty. I hope the clutch is covered. I never had clutch problems on other quads.

If you let go the throttle, you won't have to use the clutch. You do the same thing as the clutch (no torque -that is positive (engine pushing) or negative (wheels running the engine)- on the gearbox while changing), but you do it yourself, you don't use the clutch and with use, you'll see how much you have to release the throttle to get a gear in. But with the clutch, you're sure you'll get the gear in when you want. That's way I rode my 125KX (sold :( ) and never had tranny troubles. With the shee, it's a bit different, even with the clutch, gears are hard to get in...crappy tranny...but I'm getting used to it.
It has for sure nothing to do with synchronization...I don't know how it works, the only I know is that without synchro, you'll have to give revv for the gear to get in (even with the clutch).

The reason a lot of people don't use a clutch is they think their quad will be a "rocket" if they just "jam" each gear in. If they knew how to powershift, they would realize that the RPM's are slightly increasing between gears, helping the engine overcome the different gear ratio.

If done correctly clutchless upshifts Will NOT harm the tranny!!!!!!!!! Any of you who own or have owned Hi-Per. Street bikes should know this. The proper technique is to apply pressure to the shifter while accelerating and when you let of the gas the next gear will fall right in, then turn the throttle back on as soon as you feel the "snick". Learning this is best left for open speed runs when WFO is used. Smoothness and timing of the off then on the gas transition are the keys to making this work. With practice you will use this technique more often than you think. It's an instict for me. My Raptor shifts very smoothly when I use this technique, and with zero problems.

Banzai!!!!!!!

I have been using it for almost 2 years on my 400Ex and no clutch or trammie probs what he says is true you just have to get it down.
PS: grinding is not good.:)