using the clutch

[85 250sx]

Is it bad for your matchine if you shift gears while its moving with out using the clutch?

do you guys use the clutch when you drag race?

[Mr. Sandman]

It's called speed shifting and I've done it for years with no problems on my R. I might also add that my original clutch was 15 years old before I replaced it.

[lisnup65]

You can shift without using the clutch, but dont jam it in gear, let it sync itself.

[HaggLE]

It can cause wear on your gearbox. I know that air cooled 250r's can have gearbox problems and i have seen problems in road bike equivelants to 200x's. Obviously Mr Honda would of liked you to use it but he cant make you.

[Wickedfinger]

I use the clutch everytime I shift - its just out of habbit really. While I've been told 10 million times "The only time you really need it is for starting and stopping" and I understand clutches and the mechanics involved in how a clutch works better than most people, I still would recommend using it for every shift, same as you would in a car.

[TimSr]

I rarely use the clutch other than starting and stopping, and have done so for many, many years. More wear on the tranny? Maybe, but Ill bet my clutches last a lot longer, and Im still waiting for a tranny to wear out to compare. As long as you let off the gas like you would to shift an autoclutch, its fine.

I had always heard of speed shifting as shifting with the clutch but without letting off the throttle.

[Wickedfinger]

I had always heard of speed shifting as shifting with the clutch but without letting off the throttle. Me too actually, thats a good point.

[HaggLE]

Using the clutch between gear changes doesnt really wear it out. Its when you have to slip the clutch (like when you take off) is when you wear the clutch.

[nate b]

I usualy dont use mine either, maybe when i'm putting around in the woods.never a problem either, put in 3 clutches in the 17 years i've owned it.

[85 250sx]

ok good to hear because i have been trying to use the clutch when i shift but i always forget since ive only ever owned auto clutches before. and i aslo always let off the gas to shift

whats faster in a drag race? speed shifting where you use the clutch but dont let off the gas or letting off the gas and not useing the clutch ?

[Oldshell4481]

is there a way to make a manual clutch into an auto clutch??

[TimSr]

ok good to hear because i have been trying to use the clutch when i shift but i always forget since ive only ever owned auto clutches before. and i aslo always let off the gas to shift

whats faster in a drag race? speed shifting where you use the clutch but dont let off the gas or letting off the gas and not useing the clutch ?

There is no performance advantage to not using the clutch. It simply saves on unnecessary fatigue and arm pump which becomes real important in real racing (not this straight line on a paved road armchair racing crap). Shifting with teh clutch without letting off the gas is faster in theory, but brings up a lot of control issues that youll learn about when end up on your back, with the paint rubbed off the back of your helmet.