How Do YOU Use Your Clutch?

**DangerDog** · 05-22-2009, 06:06 PM

Just wanted to stir up this topic and see how people typically use their clutches. I figured some may get some good advice on how to get the most out of that lever over thar on the left bar.

Of course I'm track only, so I'm most curious to see what people do when wringin the piss out of their bikes.

So how do you clutch your bike when upshifting and hauling ass, with or without a quickshifter on board? (Specify if you've got one or not...)

Do you not use a clutch for upshifts except between 1 & 2, and only for downshifts?

Do you fully pull it in all the time, up and down?

Do you maybe pull it half way in, up and down?

Of course this will vary depending on where you're at terrain-wise, mid turn, straight away, using the clutch for engine braking in traffic, etc.

Downshifting is of equal interest.

Do you fully use the clutch pulling it all the way in?

Do you only go half way?

Do you bang 2 or more downshifts per each time you clutch the bike, or do you go one at a time?

Let's hear it!

**Shortyr6** · 05-22-2009, 06:08 PM

interesting topic. now that i think about it, I dont use the clutch very much at all. upshifts are all clutchless and down shifts just pull it in a bit to engage the dogs and gears, and let the slipper take care of the rest.

now the street, i would use it for U-turns, down shifting, and working the friction zone in traffic.

**StoneJ** · 05-22-2009, 06:40 PM

i pull my all the time, up & down.

.

Guess I'll give cluthless up-shift a try

**eyshantech** · 05-22-2009, 06:42 PM

I rarely use my clutch on upshifts, only time I do use it is coming out from a stop.

I try to match engine speed and downshift with the clutch half engaged and quickly blip the throttle a little bit. I try to downshift as smooth as possible. Other than that I have no quickshifter, basically just load the shift pedal and it pretty much shift smoothly.

I'm also running reverse pattern, just feels alot better for me.

**Ultimatesquid** · 05-23-2009, 02:18 AM

I use it all the time it doesn't like to be upshifted without the clutch do I have a problem?

**freeride** · 05-23-2009, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by Shortyr6

interesting topic. now that i think about it, I dont use the clutch very much at all. upshifts are all clutchless and down shifts just pull it in a bit to engage the dogs and gears, and let the slipper take care of the rest.

now the street, i would use it for U-turns, down shifting, and working the friction zone in traffic.

I think thats a really good answer. Not that one answer is better than another in this situation, but just seems like the best way to be IMO.

However, I probably use the lever more than I have to. I pull it in to upshift most of the time. But then again, I'm all street, havent done track yet. I still have a lot of learning to do.

Originally Posted by eyshantech

I rarely use my clutch on upshifts, only time I do use it is coming out from a stop.

I try to match engine speed and downshift with the clutch half engaged and quickly blip the throttle a little bit. I try to downshift as smooth as possible. Other than that I have no quickshifter, basically just load the shift pedal and it pretty much shift smoothly.

I'm also running reverse pattern, just feels alot better for me.

I'm running reverse as well. That is another good topic, who all is running GP shift.

**renegade** · 05-23-2009, 04:49 AM

i rarely use the clutch when i upshift. if i do, i just tap the lever back, just to make sure i get into the next gear without any bobble. for downshifting, i bang and blip each gear. ive tried multiple downshifts w/ one blip, but it felt weird and messes my rhythm up. and since there's no slipper clutch on my 2nd gen, i gotta finesse clutch more to keep the back from getting pissed off.

**metcalfe** · 05-23-2009, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by Ultimatesquid

I use it all the time it doesn't like to be upshifted without the clutch do I have a problem?

there might be something wrong with the bike, or you might not be timing it right.
say you're at full throttle, put some pressure on the shift lever, let of the gas just a bit, say to around 3/4 throttle and just as you're letting off, your foot should just click in the upshift since you're already pre-loading the lever. as soon as it shifts, get back on the gas. the whole process only takes a second at most.
it doesn't have to be done at full throttle, just an example.

As for me, sometimes I use it to upshift, sometimes I don't. I pull it in about half way and only for a split second so it takes the same time for me shift with or without it. For downshifting, nice big blip and a quick release of the lever for every gear while hard on the brakes. Fuck I miss that! my girl has a new ninja 250 and banging through the gears on that thing does nothing for me

**tdonnell** · 05-23-2009, 04:34 PM

I use it most of the time. Only really pull it in half way except when putting her in 1st from neutral. If I'm going balls out I don't use it, just twist off the throttle a bit and pull up to get to the next highest gear. That way feels much smoother to me. I always use it on downshifts, but still only pull it in about half way, that is all that is needed for a smooth transition to me. But you also have to factor in the amount of free play the lever has been adjusted to have to determine at what degree of movement the clutches are ACTUALLY being dis-engaged. Mine is set with about 1/16" of lever movement, on the tight side IMO.

Here is a question I have always wondered, and this thread seems like the appropriate place for it so here it goes:

Does not using the clutch for upshifts cause less wear on the clutch discs? I would imagine so especially for full bore shifting, preventing them from having to harness all that power after not contacting each other. Any opinions?

**nokio** · 05-23-2009, 05:30 PM

the newer ones suck ass in traffic, so i have to half clutch from a light for a good while (a bit past the other side of a big intersection for example) before it has enough power and momentum to let the clutch out fully. other than that, i clutch going up and down commuting, but if im trying to go quickly, i dont clutch up. i had no idea the bike would even enjoy/let you easily shift down without the clutch fully disengaged. im going to try it out next time i ride. i usually just pull it in quickly, give it a little gas and let it snap back out to engine brake on downshifts. still cant match the rpms quite right to make it really smooth, but getting there