How do you use your clutch?

[isnowbrd]

This has been posted before, but I think it was pre-hacker attack since I couldn't find it.

I wanted to re-open the topic because of my experience last night coming home from work. I was tired, and focusing my limited attention more on the road and traffic than on what my left hand was doing. I then realized that I shifted from 3rd to 4th before I even pulled in the clutch. I remembered reading about other people that don't use their clutch for upshifts after 1st gear, but I haven't ever tried it myself. As I pulled onto my street, I purposely shifted from 2nd to 3rd without even touching the clutch, and just slightly letting of the throttle. It shifted so smooth I wasn't even sure that I had changed gears! Normally getting into third is kind of rough with my bike.

Instead of pulling into my driveway, I went to a lonely straight country road behind my neighborhood to experiment. I started out slowly and carefully, just going through the gears up to about 60mph, not using the clutch for 3rd through 6th. It felt like the bike was made to operate this way. I couldn't believe it! Then I wanted to try a mock quarter mile run. Once it was in 1st gear, I opened the throttle all the way and brought it to red-line. Then I blipped the throttle slightly closed and popped it into 2nd, and the same for 3rd...then 4th...then I realized I was going 120mph, and decided that was enough.

I couldn't believe how smooth the shifts were! And how quickly you can shift gears in this way. On the way back home I kept it in the lower RPMs that I normally keep it at, and continued to completely ignore the clutch. It doesn't seem to matter what RPM you are at, it always smoothly shifts to the next gear. The only exception being 1st and 2nd gear. You have to use the clutch for 1st, and I think going into 2nd while in the lower RPMs is smoother with the clutch. I haven't tried downshifting yet because I feel like you really need to use the clutch to control that back wheel so it doesn't skid. And it just feels wrong.

Has anyone else had this kind of experience? Is shifting like this bad for my bike even though the transmission complains less than when I use the clutch?

[emperorjordan]

Well, the clutch is there to wear instead of your transmission. I have tried running the 1/8th mile with both clutch and without, and with a little practice I can do it the same either way. So, I always use the clutch.

Racing is a different story though...... but for riding around on the street and most of the time on the dirt, I always use the clutch.

[Psyco Diver 69]

I rarely use my clutch on down shifts and the only time I use my clutch on upshifts is if I'm traction limited areas, but even then I pull it half way. But this is on my dirtbike, On the street I'll probably use my clutch for everything

[Mag7C]

I don't know a whole lot about mechanical stuff, so I figure if it's there I'd better use it.

[blair]

I can't get out of 4th if I don't use the clutch. Most other moves I've done accidentally without clutching, but I wouldn't advise it. It makes the gears take the stress of meshing under full force. Good way to end up with a crankcase full of metal shavings.

[mswarrior]

Gotta love Hydraulic clutches.

[FZrider]

I'm more interested in how and when people use the clutch for reasons other than for shifting gears.

[CentralOzzy]

You wouldn't get away with NOT USING a Clutch on a big Harley!

Ker-Plunk-Ker-Plunk!

[isnowbrd]

You wouldn't get away with NOT USING a Clutch on a big Harley!

Ker-Plunk-Ker-Plunk!

I like how you aren't overly sensitive about your Harley.

[CentralOzzy]

But I do Love them though!