Who uses the clutch to shift?

[KXcam22]

A topic for discussion:  I've been riding and racing dirt and street for 35+ years.  On all of my bikes I have never used the clutch to shift gears.  Power shifting only where you roll off the throttle then gas it as you shift.  I'm curious as to what others do.  Cam.

[Danger4u2]

 I always use the clutch.  I don't race other than a sand drag with my buds.

[hughes]

I always use the clutch.

[Arigato]

I use it when up-shifting but not down.

[alan]

I use it when up-shifting but not down.

Yep, Me too!

[metallicarebal]

Same here, no clutch when upshifting but always when downshifting.

[gowen]

I've never really used the clutch when racing on the track or drag. Mainly the drag, I couldn't afford the loss in .002 in time. It made a difference.

[kxking]

When I am racing I only use the clutch to down-shift. But when just riding around I always use the clutch to shift up and down.

[Timbowe]

When shifting up I usally give the lever a tap not really engauge it, just a token gesture. Allways use it going down through the box.

[doordie]

Problem solved

www.racegadgets.com/index.htm
www.racespec.co.uk/rs_shop_final/en-gb/dept_506.html


Next update for me for sure when everything else is done.

[KXcam22]

Doordie,
  One of those would be cool on a dirtbike.  Air to shift and ground the coil momentarily to unload the gears for the shift - all at the touch of a button.  But seriously Doorde, do you use the clutch to shift on the ice or powershift.  I sound like one of the few who doesn't use the clutch to shift.  No one I raced with used the clutch either. Hmm. Cam.

[FuriouSly]

I use a ASV C-5 perch and medium length lever on the clutch, teflon lube the cable, and shift everything to the top and back down again.  I figure the wear and tear on the tranny (shift forks) is not worth the little effort needed to pull in the clutch lever.  The C-5 perch with quick adjust and fully adjustable lever is so easy to use, its actually better than the Magura Hydraulic with fully adjustable medium length ARC lever that was on my KTM 520MXC. 

Sly

[demographic]

I always use clutch on downshifts but its pretty rare (on my KX that is) to use it on upshifts.
I put a little pressure under the lever and then let off the throttle slightly and it just snicks in nicely.

On my GSXR I use the clutch perhaps a little more but thats cos the gearbox isn't as smooth so I tend to use the clutch between first and second (as the ratios are more widely spaced and I don't want to pull out of a junction and get caught out by the neutral detent on the shift star) then clutchless the rest of the way up to sixth.

Clutch all the way back down though.

To me its actually kinder to the gearbox as if done right its very smooth un upshifts, Cant say as much for downshifts without the clutch though and on the few times I have had to do (snapped clutch cable) them they have always been so clunky that I don't do em unless I have no choice.

[Polar-Bus]

Years ago racing my 125, I never used the clutch shifting up or down. Simply hold it WOT and bang away. On my 250's I started slipping the clutch shifting up, but saw no need for downshifting. My 500 when trying to powershift under a load is VERY notchy, so again I just hold the throttle (NOT wide open!!!!!) but more like 3/4 throttle and slip-n-shift. I don't spend a lot of time shifting anyways (unlike a 125) I simply don't have the room to open up my 500.

[gowen]

Now when I think about it, I never really used the clutch when going into gear either. At least not that often, when I had the extended swingarm, it was not needed.