Shifting with or without the clutch??? - Ducati.ms

daotoys1 · Sep 16th, 2011, 12:16 pm

I have my first Ducati engined motorcycle. It is a new BIMOTA Tesi 3D LE with a Ducati DS 1100 2 valve engine. The bike comes with a wet clutch, but Im thinking Ill change this to a dry slipper clutch ( or at least put a wet slipper clutch upgrade in the drive line).

My question(s) are regarding the use or non use of the clutch when shifting the transmission gears going either up or down the gears. Im asking because I am not at all familiar with Ducati engines and know nothing about their reliability.

Is is safe to do clutch less gear changes with the Ducati DS 1000/1100 engines???

Im looking for any constructive information about this topic. Any replies are welcomed.

Im not planning of racing the bike, nor will it ever see a track, but it will be used for aggressive paved canyon riding in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where 90% of my riding is done.

I should mention that Im an older rider ( Im 57 and started riding when I was a very young child). I was brought up taught to always use the clutch when shifting both up and down the gears and for bikes built in the 1960s and 1970s this was the norm for almost every type of bike except for racing where clutchless shifts were used with throttle modulations to match the engine speed to the drive line. Doing shifts without the clutch was considered harder on the bike but was worth the risk since in racing the goal is to try and win even at the cost of abusing the bike more.

Im guessing that there will be 2 main camps on this issue; on one side will be the riders who believe that the clutch should always be used, and on the other end of the discussion will be the riders who feel that using the clutch just slows one down.

My aim here is to learn more about what will maximize the reliability of my first Ducati engine. So any help in this regard is welcomed.

thanks

Sport999 · Sep 16th, 2011, 12:25 pm

I'm not altogether sure that the type of motor makes any difference in clutchless shifting. I've been doing it on upshifts only for years on all my bikes and most recently with my new 999. Never had a problem. Slight off throttle and preloading the shifter (but not necessary) makes the shift smooth and quick.

Ignatius_Riley · Sep 16th, 2011, 6:02 pm

Mate....you answered your own question didn't you? Things haven't changed...then and now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by daotoys1

Doing shifts without the clutch was considered harder on the bike but was worth the risk since in racing the goal is to try and win even at the cost of abusing the bike more.......

My aim here is to learn more about what will maximize the reliability of my first Ducati engine. So any help in this regard is welcomed.

thanks

Bollocks...
They still put clutches in bikes don't they? Race bikes even...don't think those boogery engineers just do it to keep the left hand from getting bored do ya? Use it/don't use it. Check your oil screen for shinny magnetic bits at your first oil change...you'll know how it's holding up ...go from there.

Cheers..keep us posted.

GrandpaDuck · Sep 16th, 2011, 11:02 pm

If you're trying to maximize reliability/longevity and not trying to eek out every last 10th on the track, why risk clutchless shifting?

bpracer · Sep 16th, 2011, 11:24 pm

On the street, I almost always use the clutch between 1st and 2nd gear, but other up-shifts, it just depends. I find it easier to up-shift without the clutch when the revs are higher. The slower you shift, the harder it is to do without the clutch. At least that is my observation.

At the track, even with my extremely limited talent, I don't even think about using the clutch for up-shifts. It's a piece of cake.

edit - This applies to both my 848 and my DS1000 powered PSLE.

Tripod · Sep 17th, 2011, 7:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignatius_Riley

Bollocks...
They still put clutches in bikes don't they? Race bikes even

Sure they still put clutches on bikes, it would be pretty hard to get going from a dead stop without one. But I have clutchlessly shifted both up and down for years. I'ts only harder on the bike if you don't know what you are doing.

SP3 · Sep 17th, 2011, 12:37 pm

Usually no clutch after the 1-2 and none back down to 1. Depends on my mood. No slipper.

Kierownik1 · Sep 17th, 2011, 2:11 pm

same here, clutchless upshifts is 100% safe if don properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport999

I'm not altogether sure that the type of motor makes any difference in clutchless shifting. I've been doing it on upshifts only for years on all my bikes and most recently with my new 999. Never had a problem. Slight off throttle and preloading the shifter (but not necessary) makes the shift smooth and quick.

SD 999S · Sep 17th, 2011, 3:04 pm

One of my other bikes is a SV650 with 32,000 miles with countless clutchless upshifts, never any issues.

From what I've read, seen, and experienced I've never known clutchless upshifts to cause any damage or excess wear.

I do use my clutch on upshifts, depends on my mood. I use the clutch on downshifts to rev-match.

SP3 · Sep 17th, 2011, 3:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD 999S

I use the clutch on downshifts to rev-match.

I should have been more specific with my post: I don't use the clutch on downshifts when the pace is low. Cracking the throttle just a bit is all that is needed to match revs in that case. When the pace picks up = clutch on downshifts, yes.