Clutchless shifting - Ducati.ms

Lars · Aug 8th, 2006, 4:00 am

Sometimes when I get the pace up I shift without clutching. Is this abuse to the SS or is it okay.

And by the way, I took my CBX for a spin yesterday, and after a summer of Ducati only I realised that Honda used to make bikes from rubber. With Ducati as teacher I'm now also able to thrash the old Honda to pieces sliding and scraping.

mals900ss · Aug 8th, 2006, 4:32 am

Here is something worth reading..

Throttle Position when clutchless Shifting

Mal

Lars · Aug 8th, 2006, 4:51 am

I have read that thread, but it doesnt say anything about how healty it is to the bike.

mals900ss · Aug 8th, 2006, 5:05 am

Posted by Chuck racer in post 9..

*** One thing I would like to point out about clutchless upshifting, is that if you are good at it you can do it smoothly and not hurt anything. If you aren't, however, you can cause a lot more damage than good learning how on a very expensive motorcycle. ***

So if you are able to do it smoothly and just snick it in... it's fine, if you can't and have trouble or don't understand even the normal 'blip' on the standard downshift thing.. then clutchless shifting is not for you.

Don't get upset or flame me on your skills, I was amazed here a while ago that there were people I thought were experinced track riders who didn't comprehend or use the blip on downshifting. I thought everyone did that, my mistake.

Mal

YellowDuck · Aug 8th, 2006, 7:41 am

For reference, my 2000 750SSie has 27,000 miles on it and I have been shifting it clutchless during all full throttle acceleration (which is a lot of the time - bike only makes 60 hp or so) for the last six years - basically ever since break-in. Transmission is like new.

Mind you, I didn't LEARN clutchless upshifting on this bike....

So yeah, if you know what you are doing, it is harmless. The clutch also shows no signs of wear yet.

Stick · Aug 8th, 2006, 1:50 pm

Save the clutchless shifting for when you're out in east cupcake, and your clutch master cylinder runs low, and you need to get home or where ever.

It happened to me on my 1978 BMW on a vaca-trip, when the clutch cable snapped. I was able to drive it about 80 or so miles to the "closest" dealer for a new cable. I recall NEEDING to stop for a cow-crossing... Starting the bike in 1st gear was a real rush!

AlDeJoria · Aug 12th, 2006, 2:06 am

Like YellowDuc, I'm always going clutchless. And, as mentioned, it's a learned skill. I started on dirtbikes some thirty years ago and rarely use the clutch up or down on any of my dirtbikes. On my Duc, I accelerate hard, but smooth. It gets to where you can do it second nature and never miss. Just takes practice. Just be careful, and really feel whats going on. She'll tell you if it's okay or not.

xseal · Aug 12th, 2006, 9:13 am

Its an easily learned skill, does no harm (actually easier on the clutch) and works better as long as you're accelerating briskly. Fit a power commander and shift cut out for full throttle/no damage upshifting.

jake · Aug 12th, 2006, 8:05 pm

not sure if this helps, ive had a GSX250s 85model, i clocked about 30k on it while i had it. most of the time i shifted with no clutch and it was fine. Gear box had no problems. At the end the engine died, one of the crank shaft bearings cracked it think and i just threw it away. (Costs more to fix it then to buy a new one)

thats my experience