Clutchless gearchange benefit

Originally Posted by carlos

But how do you pull off in the first place without pulling the mother of all wheelies

if your on hill, once you get rolling, then pop into gear, on flat, start engine in gear

[fizzwheel]

I bet you'd get the same result, by changing down with clutch and getting your corner speed correct with the front brake and holding that lower gear just like you are doing. IMHO its probably the fact that you are using the lower gear to drive you through and out of the corner thats making the bike feel better, not the fact that you are downchannging without the clutch. Also the way you are riding at the moment with less input to the front brake isnt unsettling the front of the bike as much so its giving the suspension and tyres an easier time of dealing with the road surface, which in turn is probably giving you more feedback through the front, which is increasing your confidence which is why you feel like you are ( and probably are ) going through the corners faster.

Please don't think I'm a ridnig god, I'm not. If what you are doing now works for you then cool stick with it.

As always just my opinion.

Originally Posted by RandyO

how does clutchless shifting have anything to do with brake usage

Obviously I'm not being clear enough. As we all know, the SV has damn good engine braking. BECAUSE I changed the point before the corner where I change down gear, instead of braking like I usually do, I was letting the engine do this for me. Because I was in a lower gear for a given corner than I usually am, it at least felt like it was faster overall, and this could be true because the engine wasn't slowing me down as much I as ususally do under normal brakes (my perception of how I rode, nothing factual). THATS where the advantage was.

Fizz, opinions (from gods or otherwise) are ALWAYS welcome. I was merely putting mine forward when I started this thread And I completely agree with what you say about using the clutch to change down, which is why I intend to try it on the way home (same route in reverse).

Time will tell

I tried this last night after reading this post. Scarey...

Certainly gets into gear quicker, but im still not sure not using the clutch to go up the box feels right...

Originally Posted by Daimo

I tried this last night after reading this post. Scarey...

Certainly gets into gear quicker, but im still not sure not using the clutch to go up the box feels right...

You're not matching the revs right then. On my bike* to go upwards, the magic sweet spot is around the 6k rpm mark. To go down, is around the 3.5k rpm mark. Doesn't matter what gear I'm in, it's a seriously smooth transition.

Going up, close the throttle, pull the lever up, open the throttle. It will be a little jerky at first, but that just means you need a finer control over the throttle to match the revs better between the gears.

Going down is the opposite, squeeze the throttle a little, push the lever, close the throttle (if you like). Again, any jerks mean the rev's weren't matched right. Occasionally I still jerk going down, yesterday I didn't, today I did, so I didn't bother trying it again for the entire commute.

*Actual results may vary due to road conditions, wear of the gearbox, age of the bike, the will of the gods, and the phase of the moon. If at all in doubt/concerned, please folks, don't do it! I'd hate to read of someone on the org (or otherwise) being spat off their bike becuase they thought they'd give something a crack that I said I do.

Ride safe folks, and ride your ride.

When shifting up I only ever use the clutch if I'm in traffic or if I have a pillion riding with me. I usually use the clutch to downshift though as it's how I'm comfortable riding.

[northwind]

I clutchless shift because it makes me feel like an l33t racer god. Only half joking, even though the speed difference is pretty negligible it certainly feels faster, and that's just as important to me. Clutchless downshifts are a bit odd, I just find that sometimes I do it without thinking, it just kind of happens... But I very rarely do it consciously.

heres my £2.76 worth ............i have always used the clutch for up & down shifts & will continue to do so.

Nahh, don't want to go down the box...

Tried going up the box at various rpm levels ranging from 5k up to 9k odd..

Feels weird. Works ok, and deffo is quicker, but after knowing 18 odd years (feck me!!!!) of using a clutch, its a little strange....

[TSM]

You could also try half clutching. Just while on the power, blip the clutch in as you change gear. Its a 50/50 compramise, still very fast changes.