Clutchless Gear Changes?

Hi,

I've just passed my DAS and treated myself to a K4 Sv650s, which I love. When I was doing my DAS the instructor said that after I’d passed not to bother using the clutch changing up the gears, just roll of the throttle and shift up, and I’ve read similar things on the internet and magazines. However, whenever I try to do it when out on the bike I cant physically shift up without the use of the clutch. Is it the bike that is stopping me from doing this or is it my method?
Help would be much appreciated
Cheers

Apply a little upwards pressure to the gear shift while you are on the gas. Then gently roll off the throttle. It should then snick up into the next gear.

[Balky001]

sweepdoggydog, its all in the timing. If you follow scoobs advice you'll find it easier to engage a gear when rolling off. I found my SV a bit stiff for clutchless upshifts when I first started doing them but you'll roll off and shift at the same time after a bit of practise

Does this not cause excess wear and tear somehow?

I do it mostly when I'm tearing along at a fair old lick. Saves a good bit of time and is much easier on the old hand muscles.

No idea about wearing it down, it would nacker it if you do it wrong repeatedly but would take a while to do so. Makes gear changes incredibly quick.

My method being as you'r riding along, ease off on the throttle, so you're not as full on but neither are you de-accelerating. For practise, try doing it when you're maybe 3/5's revs and have the gas so you're at a steady pace. Do it in 3rd or 4th as well, doing it in 1st or 2nd can be very clunky/jerky when you're learning to do it.

Originally Posted by TC3

Does this not cause excess wear and tear somehow?

Not if it's done smoothly... if done right it probably causes less wear (certainly none or as good as none on the clutch). Though it takes time to get that smooth.

Sometimes I do it and sometimes I don't. I wouldn't say it was something you would do all of the time, just when you want to. As said above, it's easier and more beneficial to do when you're really going for it, rather than pootling about at town speeds - it can be harder to do then. Have a try and see how you get on with it.

cheers everyone, i'll give it a go tomorrow when i'm out and about and let you know how i get on!!

Originally Posted by Balky001

. I found my SV a bit stiff for clutchless upshifts when I first started doing them

I found the same thing, I used to do cluthless shifts on my RS125 no problems, but when I tried on the SV I found I prefered using the clutch as the clutchless shift seemed stiff and heavy, after a month or so clutchless shifts weren't a problem. Maybe it just needed to bed in a bit.

I clutchless shift all the time now.

You may often find that going from 1st to 2nd is not that easy. Practice on 2nd->3rd, & 3rd->4th, you'll find that much easier at first.

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Good advice to practice in the mid to higher gears , you'll get thrown about less if you don't get it right. 1st>2nd takes a lot of smoothness to perfect but definitely rewarding - Especially as then you can practice launch and go for 0-60 times using one of those timer things that came free with fast car mag last month i think.