I was wondering if you use your clutch or not when shifting. Personally I only use my cluch going into 1st gear. After that I let up ever so slightly and shift. It's the fastest way I've found to shift and I've never had problem blowing gears or the cluch. What about you?

 

Given the apparent weak trans, if you're doing this with a Raptor, you may be tempting fate! The clutch is there for a reason you know. Whatever...I hope you don't cause yourself undue grief.

 

Whats with the clutch/shifting questions latley? Im starting to lose faith in the atv croud, ya'll dont know how to ride your wheelers or what? (JK) if you have a clutch just use it! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

The amount you use the clutch is based on your riding style. If you're in the trails, and you accelerate fast enough to grab another gear, No, Don't use your clutch. If you need a quick burst of power (coming out of a corner or before a jump), Yes, Grab the clutch lever, rev, and let go. Like you said in your original post, the only time I really ever use my clutch is going into 1st, and into neutral. But, if I am on a track, I use my clutch all the time. Just use your head, then your clutch. Most ATV'S( excluding the Cannon) will not shift at high RPM's, unless the clutch is engaged. If you are drag racing, start in 1st, or 2nd, and you HAVE to use the clutch. So, a good rule of thumb, if your engine is at really high RPM, and you need some quick torque/power, use the clutch. If not, don't touch it, it will do nothing but burn out quicker. Later!!

 

With my Warrior I often did not use the clutch to shift. Now it seems that the shifter takes alot of effort to shift (stiff) I did however let a 16 year old ride it and he was rather hard on the shifter (looked like he stomped on it!) My Raptor doesnt want to shift at all without clutching, but I have never tried to force it. It merely will not slide into gear like the Warrior so I always clutch it. I did have an old Suzuki RM125 that the tranny locked up solid from a no clutch shift. Gears shattered, had to split the cases and replace the tranny gears. It got ugly, but it was old and something or another would break on just about every ride. I'd personally reccomend using the clutch and avoiding the problem. It's just not that tough to pull that little lever.

 

If you wanna screw over your tranny then don't use your clutch. I know people who do this and the bike is so hard to shift now.
however if you are good you can shift just as fast using the clutch compared to without using it. I can drag race better than anyone I know because I learned how to do this. Just practice until you get it I guess, caus eI can't explaun how to do it I just do it.