Clutch use--all the time or sometimes?

jdigga

In researching a difficulty-finding-neutral issue, I came across a thread in another forum. Some of the guys went off on a tangent, in which there are two minor debates:

1) Some keep the bike in gear when stopped while some put it in neutral.

2) Some use the clutch for all shifts while some only use it when downshifting and starting from a stop.

Which is preferable? Does holding the clutch while stopped or not using it to upshift increase wear or the potential for other problems?

royfisk

Its a matter of opinion and you will be hard pressed to get a majority to go either way. I personally use the clutch for starting and stopping only. all other shifts are usually speed shifts. I have been riding for 35 years and am not jamming gears etc. clutch life is fine and only transmission I have ever lost was a harley sportster transmission, and when taken apart three different builders could not find anything wrong with it, but those 900 sportsters transmissions were not one of harleys better ideas. They had dry clutches that never stayed dry and would slip this is where i picked up on only useing the clutch for stop + go, seemed to make the clutch last longer if i didnt use it. I know someone can find arguements for this but it works for me .

jdigga

I find it interesting that it's a matter of opinion/preference as opposed to, say, design. I wouldn't dream of shifting without the clutch in my car because there would be lots of syncro bits all over the place. That a motorcycle's transmission can be shifted without using the clutch is still outside of the box for me. I guess I need to just try doing it more.

royfisk

make it smooth as you can, you should be able to shift without a clutch as smoothly as with, what messes up transmissions is not getting the timing correct and either locking the rear wheel or grinding it into a gear. same is tue with your car but more expensive to learn on if you dont get the timing right.

jfplaying

royfisk is right, timing is everything.If done right shifting up or down can be done without the clutch. I've rode different dirt bikes and street bikes and only used the clutch for starting and stopping. Never lost a tranny yet.

xsjohn

When you wear the dogs mating surface by putting extra work on them you may start popping out of gear. Fixed tons of these problems in the seventies. We actually ground slightly the back surface of the pinions and wheels so they would lock and pull together; this would keep them from wanting to pull apart and bend the shift forks.. Just 10 or 15 thou or so as to stay on the case hardening..

John Underwood

jayel

when i rode dirt bikes i used a kill button to up shift, slight pressure on the shifter -hit the button and it pops right into the next gear, down shifting use the clutch

xsjohn

The harder you are on the trans the sooner it take a s.
John

jimdi · 650Rider Supporter Joined: Oct 27, 2005 Posts: 512

Rule of thumb for any clutch -

When stopped for more than a few seconds - put it in neutral - it saves wear on the throw-out bearing - and the clutch springs.

Always use the clutch to shift - unless you have a tranny that was designed not to always use the clutch.

The 650 was made to use the clutch.

Jim

jdigga

Thanks for the responses, guys. I took the bike on a good 4-hour shakedown cruise on Saturday. I tried shifting without the clutch but, for lack of better descriptors, it didn't feel good. So I'm doing like Jim says--clutch all the time and neutral at stops. Oh, and I figured out the difficulty-finding-neutral issue, at least I think--my clutch cable just needed a little tightening.

The bike had sat for 2 years in a garage before I bought it, so running it for a long time really helped to sort things out and get everything loosened up. Of course, a bunch of issues are rearing their ugly heads, like another oil leak (not the head one from my intro thread), and some kind of clatter (I'm guessing cam chain tensioner?). But I'll post those in the appropriate areas. =)

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650