Shifting With the Clutch

UPSman334
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Rock Creek, OH US
4/9/2018 10:36am Edited Date/Time 4/13/2018 3:04am
When you guys are riding, (other than in the pits or for a spin around the block) on a track, do you pull in the clutch when you shift or no?
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Motoxdoc
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11/8/2009
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Steamboat Springs, CO US
4/9/2018 10:40am
Clutch it...every time for me!
bvm111
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7/1/2008
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Las Vegas, NV US
4/9/2018 10:40am
Si... why wouldn't you?
UPSman334
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Rock Creek, OH US
4/9/2018 10:41am
bvm111 wrote:
Si... why wouldn't you?
i do! lol i just heard some guys saying they don’t haha
spacecat
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5/22/2011
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Spencer, OH US
4/9/2018 11:28am
Half the time with downshifts I use the clutch. never up-shifting. never had transmission issues either. not sure if its proper technique or I'm just an old lazy 450 rider.

The Shop

BroFoSho
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742
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9/26/2013
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Tucson, AZ US
4/9/2018 11:31am
I upshift with the clutch but don't use it when downshifting.

6 years on the stock transmission and never had a single issue.
TDeath21
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Somewhere, MO US
4/9/2018 11:33am
Literally have only shifted without the clutch once in my entire life and that was when I broke my clutch lever trail riding.
Skylebones
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2/26/2018
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Marietta, GA US
4/9/2018 11:39am
Always on a down shift, but often I don't use the clutch on an upshift especially on a fast straight. If you time everything right it's as smooth as butter and completely harmless.
1
Motofinne
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FI
4/9/2018 11:42am Edited Date/Time 4/9/2018 12:49pm
I have never ever used the clutch when shifting. Not when down shifting, not when up shifting. I have never ever had clutch issues in my 15+ years of riding.

I'm amazed that people use the clutch when they shift.
motomike137
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4/22/2010
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Fenton, MI US
4/9/2018 11:46am
Almost never have used it. The gearboxes in these bikes are designed to take it. I do lift a little most of the time though.
TXDirt
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Plano, TX US
4/9/2018 11:46am
No clutch when shifting up or down. When up shifting it helps just letting off a bit on the throttle and then up-shift. It makes it easier. If you are really high on the RPM's it harder to get that really clean smooth up-shift. If you just let off a hair and then shift its smooth as butter. And this all happens in a fraction of a second.
4/9/2018 11:52am Edited Date/Time 4/9/2018 11:52am
Only time i use the clutch is when i put it in first gear when taking off otherwise i don't up or down. No abnormal transmission or clutch problems ever.
kb228
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Mansfield, OH US
4/9/2018 11:56am
I nip mine when i shift. Dont pull it in all the way. I havent figured out how to get any of my bikes to powershift without the clutch
4/9/2018 12:11pm
Always down, not often up. The YZ250 tranny is supposedly weak, and I’m not looking to blow a gear.
Marty1028
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Frankfort, IN US
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1394th
4/9/2018 12:14pm
Never, i always blip the throttle and its smooth
kb228
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Mansfield, OH US
4/9/2018 12:29pm
I nip mine when i shift. Dont pull it in all the way. I havent figured out how to get any of my bikes to powershift without the clutch
Stuntman949
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San Clemente, CA US
4/9/2018 12:36pm
TDeath21 wrote:
Literally have only shifted without the clutch once in my entire life and that was when I broke my clutch lever trail riding.
Same. Feels so wrong and lazy to not use the clutch
mikec265
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10/19/2015
Location
Edinboro, PA US
4/9/2018 12:48pm
Sometimes I feel like a clutch. Sometimes I don't.
What's Gary Semics and other credit worthy trainers say to do?
4/9/2018 12:50pm
TDeath21 wrote:
Literally have only shifted without the clutch once in my entire life and that was when I broke my clutch lever trail riding.
Same. Feels so wrong and lazy to not use the clutch
I don't know about wrong but not having to pull a lever a few extra 100 times per ride saves a lot of fatigue and energy. I ride a 13 year old KX250 with original transmission.
Alex.434
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12/12/2016
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Warner Springs, CA US
4/9/2018 12:51pm
Interesting all these answers tend to be black and white 'yes or no'.

Totally situational. Depending on what/where/when/how dictates whether or not I use the clutch. This is across my two-stroke, four-stroke, mx bike, offroad bike, supermoto bike, and roadracing bike. Always situational.
Robgvx
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3681
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GB
4/9/2018 12:56pm
Have never used the clutch to shift since I started racing 41 years ago. Never once broken a tranny.
4/9/2018 12:59pm
Well my dad told me that these bikes are built to power shift to save time, so I never did unless I needed to glide to save energy on a 450...never broke anything
Motofinne
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FI
4/9/2018 1:01pm
Robgvx wrote:
Have never used the clutch to shift since I started racing 41 years ago. Never once broken a tranny.
I'm 23 and like i mentioned in my earlier post. My first manual bike was a KX65 when i was 7 years old. I have never, ever used the clutch when shifting and i have never had transmission problems on my bikes.

I have always been amazed that there are people that use the clutch when shifting.
1
4/9/2018 1:08pm Edited Date/Time 4/9/2018 1:08pm
If no heavy load on the transmission, shift without clutch. With load, clutch.
RM Mike
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Oakhurst, CA US
4/9/2018 1:15pm
TXDirt wrote:
No clutch when shifting up or down. When up shifting it helps just letting off a bit on the throttle and then up-shift. It makes it...
No clutch when shifting up or down. When up shifting it helps just letting off a bit on the throttle and then up-shift. It makes it easier. If you are really high on the RPM's it harder to get that really clean smooth up-shift. If you just let off a hair and then shift its smooth as butter. And this all happens in a fraction of a second.
X2 Never had an issue.
Irwinmoto
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Calamus, IA US
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2428th
4/9/2018 1:18pm
Situational but I would say 80% of the time no clutch. Have never had problems. Been doing it for quite a few years. Did it upshifting alot and then read an article about smooth braking/downshifting into corners without the clutch. Not sure its right but it works well for me.
4/9/2018 1:18pm
On up shifts, I'll keep the throttle wide open, slip the clutch a tad and pull it up in to gear... That's on a 250f
Downshifting, if I'm in the air I don't touch the clutch. I will pull the clutch in when downshifting probably 90% of the time.
aeffertz
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Eau Claire, WI US
4/9/2018 1:24pm
You guys not using the clutch riding 2 or 4 strokes?

I've always used the clutch, either up or down shifting. Seems lazy and harder on the bike not to. Blipping the throttle seems slower than just keeping the throttle pegged and dabbing the clutch.
Nas
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50
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9/14/2017
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GB
4/9/2018 1:33pm
Long time ago when I was riding a 125 2 stroke, I had a professional racer coach me... On the first training we did he told me to shift without clutch (at least up), eventualy I stoped using the clutch for upshifting completely and downshifting without it 90% of the time with throtle in between the downshifts... When you're holding it wide open just shift up. I feel like I was faster even on the 250 4 stroke.

The transmission is suffering, but when I was fighting for a national title in my class, it probably made a diffrence, giving you those tense of a second, that eventually add up.
Robgvx
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GB
4/9/2018 1:39pm
Robgvx wrote:
Have never used the clutch to shift since I started racing 41 years ago. Never once broken a tranny.
Motofinne wrote:
I'm 23 and like i mentioned in my earlier post. My first manual bike was a KX65 when i was 7 years old. I have never...
I'm 23 and like i mentioned in my earlier post. My first manual bike was a KX65 when i was 7 years old. I have never, ever used the clutch when shifting and i have never had transmission problems on my bikes.

I have always been amazed that there are people that use the clutch when shifting.
I know plenty of local amateurs who never cease to amaze me with how little they know, or how wrong they are about certain aspects of the sport.

My theory is that they start racing and understandably know very little. They then pick up (incorrect) advice and knowledge from other relative newcomers at those local racers. They themselves then pass that down the line in due course.

Before you know it, the whole local scene is filled with people who really don’t know what they’re talking about, but are passing this bad info down the line to the next wave of newbies.

I know of one guy who only ever used old engine oil on air filters, because he’d been told that was fine. He couldn’t understand why his motors didn’t last.

I know another schoolboy father who will happily dump money sending his kid’s suspension off to an ‘expert’ who has never seen his kid race, but who he trusts because said suspension expert was recommended by the father of a kid who’s been racing six months longer than his and finishes two places ahead in the junior 85cc schoolboy class.
Motofinne
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FI
4/9/2018 1:48pm
aeffertz wrote:
You guys not using the clutch riding 2 or 4 strokes? I've always used the clutch, either up or down shifting. Seems lazy and harder on...
You guys not using the clutch riding 2 or 4 strokes?

I've always used the clutch, either up or down shifting. Seems lazy and harder on the bike not to. Blipping the throttle seems slower than just keeping the throttle pegged and dabbing the clutch.
Both. But a 450 the last two years.

No need of blipping the throttle when shifting.

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