So does doing clutchless changes muck up your box?

There have been threads, some quite recent, about clutchless changes.

Most people have been in favour of them, although not me. I believe that although the box may be fine over a period of time, ultimately you can damage it by using this technique. Fine if you sell the bike before the miles have piled up, but for the new owner it could an expensive problem.

What has prompted this thread is Vineys probs with his box. My old Sv had covered around the same mileage and the change was a smooth as ever.

So how many higher mileage bike owners have had problems and how many haven't, and of those, who clutchless shift? Note higher mileage bike owners only please.

Not looking to stir up a hornets nest, just trying to get proper information.

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.p...ess#post894335

Not evidence though one way or the other.

Hard facts please.

[rictus01]

OK fact, clutchless up or down shifting will notc cause any undue wear on the internal componants if done perfectly, however it will if not not matched to speed /load & revs.

How much wear and how quickly it'll manifest itself, is down to how bad you are at it.

How's that ?

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

Hard facts please.

You won't get any. Subjective. Do what works for you. If you want to use the clutch, then use the clutch. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. You won't get hard facts unless you run a scientific test.

Originally Posted by Scoobs

You won't get any. Subjective. Do what works for you. If you want to use the clutch, then use the clutch. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. You won't get hard facts unless you run a scientific test.

There a few high mileage bikes on here, so if they are post and can tell us the type of change they do and if they have had any problems then at least it is an indicator....... if not conclusive.

Everybody appears to hold clutchless changes as a good thing, saving nanoseconds over using the clutch, and newbies pick up on this, potentially damaging the box (or not).

I totally agree everybody should be able to do a shift clutchless, that is a useful skill.

[rictus01]

Highest mileage engine I had on the SV was 78k, nothing wrong with the box at all, apart for half a dozon track days, never done a clutchless change on the road, but then I'm quick enough (or was) with it.

I know engines an prefer to have the wear componant of gear change as much as possible on the clutch plates, which are cheaper and easier to change.

(Had several other bikes with over 100k on them with out any gearbox problems though)


Cheers Mark.

Well, i ran my bike for a good 20k doing normal changes....

I done a few clutchless changes after reading on here....

Shortly after, my clutch/starter system gound half its teeth off........ Never had any issues with anything like that previously.....

So i'd say, if you fancy "Chancing" your gearbox going bang, do it. If you value the box, use the clutch...... My old mans been riding 35 years odd, he's raced, had a national racing licence (BSB level), and he advises against clutchless changes..... I won't be doing them again..

Agreed-if you want to play with clutchless changes buy a C90. That said I do them infrequently, can't explain when, just when it feels right.
Vague I know...

[mattSV]

My SV1000 has 11000 miles, and my SV650 had about 13000 miles when I sold it - not exactly high milage I admit

I have always clutchless shifted when the revs/mood suit and have had no gearbox issues on either bike.