Powershifting

Don't take mechanic advice from me but I've always clutched when I upshifted and just slammed them down. I clutched when upshifting because I felt like I had more control through a corner more than anything else. I had my 08 Yz450 for about 5 years with no issue. I assume you might run into issues when you're wrapping the throttle out and slamming through the gears maybe? I don't know.

I always use the clutch going up and down, just a flick of the clutch as I change up, throttle held wide open and for that split second you lose nothing. I believe it takes the strain off the gearbox and if done properly barely anyone watching even knows you've changed gear. That's what I do anyway.

I don't clutch when up shifting but do clutch downshifting. I feel that it is much harder on the gear box to downshift without the clutch. When up shifting it seems to pop right into gear without much force. But when downshifting it feels as if you are "jamming" it into gear.

Yes it's hard on the shiftforks and dogs. Even the drum to some extent.

I used to have a really bad habit of power shifting... It did results in some pre-mature wear on the transmissions in some of my bikes. Although I never had a failure, one or two weren't very pretty... Since then, I've clutched when upshifting under heavy power, or choose to shift in mid-air quite often.

I think there are times when u can and can't up/downshift without using the clutch....mostly in the pits. I don't know y u would want to "power shift". U have to let off a little to get it into gear and that drops the rpm...better to keep holdin it wide and slap the clutch

^^^ Exactly. You can't be wide open accelerating and just smash it in gear. None of my bikes ever shifted that way. You'll just end up over-reving when it doesn't shift. You either have to let off a little or grab the clutch for a split second which is what I do.

were yall never taught to always use the clutch? lol

Why power shift on a four stroke anyway?

Always just a quick tap of the clutch OR a flick of the wrist to let off the gas is all ive ever done to up shift. Down shifting I rarely if ever touch the clutch but at the same time im not going from 5th gear taped and stomping down to first gear in a bike length either.......I down shift according to the speed im at coming into corners.

Ive had probably.....? .....25 or so bikes since 1990.......not once have I ever had a clutch or gear issue on any of them!
Maybe im just lucky.

Back in the day when I raced fulltime ( '80's / '90's ) I always used to powershift without any problems apart from one time.

1987 Suzuki - mid race the bike just cut out - couldn't work out what was going on until I noticed the carb was no longer attached to the intake manifold. Thinking maybe the clip had snapped - 'till I noticed a gaping hole in the crank cases.

The gearbox blew up when I powershifted and some of it came flying through the top of the cases and ripped the carb clean off the manifold stopping the motor.

Yep. I will either back off the throttle slightly to unload the gearbox for upshifts, or use the clutch. I try to use the clutch all the time on downshifts. There are no synchros to destroy, but it can damage the dogs, and if you use an incredible amount of force on the shifter you can definitely bend a shift fork.

Never used the clutch. Up or down.

I'm actually a clutch junkie. I use it on all my upshifts and "most " of the time on my down shifts. I use it i other areas of the track as well even when I'm not shifting. I use it for almost like a secondary throttle control of some type I guess. These 450's don't need much , if any at all clutch action like that , but there are certain obstacles I'll use it on. I try to use the clutch whenever possibly because sooner or later that tranny is going to stop working if you just slamming gears.

I used to always use the clutch till I started driving shifter carts.

And when the gate drops you just slam your heal down on the shifter..

I don't use the clutch up or down. Pretty much start/stop and for corners only. I rarely even brake tap in the air.

Power shifting does not mean without the clutch. It just means leaving the throttle on. If done correctly with proper timing, power shifting is not hard on the tranny or clutch. In order to do it properly it is important to nip the clutch while hitting your upshift. It is not necessary to use the clutch when downshifting because there is no load on the tranny. Check out the Motocross Clutch, Throttle and Shifting Techniques DVD or Stream for all the info. Watch a free preview and/or order online at; http://www.gsmxs.com/dvds/volume-3/dvd-3-clutch-throttle-clutch-control

This. I am running a cr125 motor in my shifter kart and I use it for standing starts just like moto, but don't use it for upshifting,
just a quick unloading of the throttle while shifting up. No clutch on downshifting. One hold over from moto that I do use is slipping the clutch out of corners if I have misjudged a gear coming out of a corner.

Blip the clutch and your good

Watch Villopoto. The last few SX races they showed the start in super slow mo. Power up shift, no clutch at all.

I'm sure my stock KX gearbox wouldn't tolerate that for a long time.

I use the clutch when ever I can, but most of my bikes are vintage and the clutch is not easy to pull in, so when I get tired and in real rough sections I will not use the clutch, I always let off a little. Like Gary said down shifting no problem not using the clutch.

Goto mtf. One of the number 1 things she ll teach u is to not use the clutch and rear break going into corners n downshift the motor letting the engine braking do all the work. Once u perfect it , its amazing how much faster you ll do your turns. You will break later, stsy straighter going into the turn, and accelerate faster!

ISF your trans and have it cryo treated, never worry about it coming apart again and it shifts like butter wide open no clutch dont even have to think about it.. i also isf and cryo my clutch basket gear, idler, kicker gear, primary gear and balancer gears. frees up the motor a bit and extends oil life as well.