How sharp are your clutching fingers?

[Rookie]

Just got back from the pub, so ...

How sharply do you come off the clutch when you're riding? Obviously when going from neutral to first you need to let it out fairly slowly, but when changing up particularly, how sharp is your action?

During my lesson, the instructor said I was really slamming the clutch out when changing up; and when I thought about it I was. I think it was a side effect of being on a ratty 4 poke 125; I was riding fairly aggressively, in order to get up a decent speed quickly. My instructor told me it wasn't neccessary and I should be lighter with it.

My question is; do you do anything similar, and does it have a detrimental effect on the bike itself or the riding itself?

[Ichy]

[fuzz]

Changing up it would have little effect on the rear wheel, as the the engine slows. Dumping the clutch when changing down could cause the rear to skip.

Use of the clutch when changing up really only changes how smooth the gear change is. When riding solo, I usually change up in about half a second. With pillion, I release the clutch slower and the transition is a bit smoother. Sometimes you can get a jerk if you put the power on quickly, the clutch removes it.

So to answer your question, yes I do, but only when solo.
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[dainesefreak]

Similar thing for me, I let the clutch out slowly and gradually if I'm carrying a pillion, stops the head butting action, and if I'm taking it easy. The bike does tend to change gear more smoothly with quick changes and clutch action though which is generally when I'm giving it some.

[FreshAL]

Changing up I tend not to use the clutch at all.

Changing down, I try to let the clutch out gently, especially with the slippery roads at the moment

[Type_Mo]

I tend not to use the clutch when shifting up
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- Typhoon ?0 - Yamaha DT125R - Aprilia SR125 - Yamaha DT125R - Honda Hornet 600 -

[G]

[Andy C]

yea, when i got the SV i kept looking the wheel and couldnt work out why, i then realised a was dumping the clutch for the last bit and made it lock.

With practise you can be smoth and fast at it without dumping it , and then learn clutchless upshifts
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99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[fuzz]

[Method]

I duno about my clutch hand...

But the g/f says my braking fingers are pretty quick?
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[fuzz]

Right handed then mate
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Bikes: '99 NSR125R, '00 SV650S, K1 GSX-R600, '97 CB500, K3 SV1000S, '16 VFR800

[Method]

[stinkwheel]

Nowhere near as fast as I am on the clutch when the engine makes a funny noise. Comes of having owned an RD series Yamaha. Probably saved me from a crash when the conrod snapped in half on my MZ supermoto while I was doing 85mph round a corner.

I hardly pull the clutch in at all when I am changing gear. No more than halfway under normal conditions, just enough to slip the plates a bit. I only pull it right the way in when I stop.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Jrod]

If I'm just cruising I don't even pull it in, shift up and down clutchless.

[tatters]

I always dump the clucth when changing gears, only slip it when pulling off in first.
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[DukeRed]

Clutchless up and rear wheel skippingness down .
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[SteWhit]

Only when nailing it
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[carlnicholson...]

Clutchless upshifts, if done correctly, save a lot of 'undriven' time, and are therefore perfect if accelerating in a hurry. They need to be done properly though, or the gearbox can be seriously abused.

The trick is, when ready to change up, make sure that you are quite close to the maximum torque of the rev range, quickly turn the throttle back to a little short of closed, (so that no power is being transmitted through the gearbox) and the bike is neither accellerating, nor decellerating, and give the gear lever a good lift up, then quickly, but, progressively open the throttle to put the gear in place and then your away.

Clutchless downshifts can work, but are more difficult, are carry more risk of causing damage to the box. Changing clutchless is all about saving 'undriven' time, so there is nothing to be gained by not using the clutch going down the box.

I would also recommend using the clutch between 1st and 2nd, and then go clutchless after that. The box can easily fall out of second and back into neutral otherwise. I did this on a brand new ZX636R I bought, and will not do it again!
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