| Author | Message | ||
     Dummkauf |
I was out riding around today and accidentally discovered that I could up shift if I let off the gas and didn't squeeze the clutch. It seems to go into gear just fine, and the little kick it gives you is kind of fun, but I'm curious if this type of shifting causes any damage, or if I can just continue doing it? | ||
| Maximum |
It's called "Speed Shifting"...you can do it in just about all manual transmission vehicles. I don't know the full story about Speed Shifting, but it is basically matching the engine speed to the transmission gearing speed. I have been told that it is not good for the vehicle and that you shouldn't do it...which makes sense because you are basically forcing it into the next gear. BTW, you can also speed shift while down shifting too (but requires that you rev the engine while forcing it into the lower gear). With all that said, I pretty much always use the clutch when shifting gears! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Done right its not so bad, done wrong your putting your tranny through a world of hurt. I know some Blasters do it regularly. Given the fact that the transmission requires complete engine disassembly for repair, I'd use the clutch. You're giving the tranny just a little bit of cushion. FWIW: Jap bike riders can shift without the clutch without much damage (its even encouraged-but I still say its not kind to the trans), so dont bother asking them this question. | ||
| Berkshire |
When just coasting down easy, clutchless downshifts go very smoothly - at least on *my* Blast they do. It's not something I do very often, but at times hands and back have been hurting, I found I could sit up straight and ride hands free while using rear brake and downshift for smooth gradual slowing. For spirited riding it doesn't make much sense because you need to match rpm and/or slip the clutch. Clutchless upshifting only works if you let off the gas, and since the left hand can flick the clutch faster than the right can untwist & retwist the gas, I don't see a benefit - plus, trying to speed shift *my* Blast is hit & miss, and I don't like missing shifts! | ||
| Fast1075 |
I have tried it on mine....and have found that it is hit or miss....the problem is that the carb reacts slowly to being rolled off (typical C.V. carb)...to shift without the clutch, the dogs on the tranny need to unload (rolling off the throttle)..if they don't unload (nonresponsive sluggish or mistimed engine decelleration) you are basically snatching the dogs apart and forcing the next higher gear set together...this can destroy the shift forks. In dragracing, and as I understand it in some types of road racing...air shifters or electric shifters are not only common, but a real safety issue...(when you get to the 1-2 shift on a fast dragbike the last thing you want to do is pull the clutch in...the front tire is still in the air...you are under a 3-5 Gee load..hand slips off bars...instant full right lock...and if you dont just come off the bike....just wait untill the front wheel comes back down at 80-100 mph)..the trick is they all kill the ignition to cause the needed unloading of the dogs...typically the ignition is killed for 45-60 milliseconds while the air cylinder or solenoid mechanically operates the shifter into the next gear... The bottom line for the clutchless shift question is ....yeah you should use the clutch...the tranny is schitzoid enough to begin with...the 1-2 upshifts are brutal at times...one minute it shifts fine (for a tractor tranny) and the next...gear clash...no rhyme or reason to it.. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Converting to the XB shifter greatly improves shifting. Generally done when converting to rearsets but with a little ingenuity I think it could also work reversed (for standard pegs). | ||
| Styxnpicks |
I can roll off the throttle and shift faster without having to mess with the clutch, the tranny is sequential, all sequential transmissions can shift without the clutch. I always use the clutch for the 1-2. even the 2-3 and 3-4 have been giving me issues and pooping into neutral at times |
