The result? You can try to change gears to your heart’s content but to no real avail.Īs it’s only when torque is reduced and load is removed that the gearbox will essentially “unlock” once again. Making this the most difficult of the 3 postures to rub your hands together.ĭuring this phase, gears become locked and are held in position by force (i.e., torque) As the force of the man’s arms in image 3 is much higher than the force of his arms in the other postures. Here are examples of what they look like. Gears and dogsĮach shaft (be it an input or output shaft) contains gears (little cog-looking things) that interlock with neighbouring gears via dogs (small protruding metal blocks) and slots (small holes in neighbouring gears that interlock with dogs). But only when the clutch is engaged (and bridging the two shafts together). When the engine now turns, the clutch and rear wheel turns too, and vice versa.

The result? A “complete” transmission system. Meaning, when the engine turns, the input shaft turns, and vice versa.Ī clutch simply acts as a bridge (for the two shafts) by mechanically joining them together. The input shaft (i.e., another long bar-looking thing) and the engine are mechanically joined together. Meaning that if the rear wheel turns, the output shaft turns, and vice versa. A Brief Explanation – How a Motorcycles Transmission WorksĪn output shaft (i.e., the long metal bar-looking thing) and the rear wheel (including all the components in-between) work together.

Clutch – This component bridges power from the engine over to the transmission systemĪllow me to expand.

Output shaft – Turns at the speed of the rear wheel that is being driven in acceleration or driving in deceleration.

Input shaft – Turns at the speed of the engine and drives the output shaft when the clutch is engaged.

Dog gears – Gears with small protrusions on the face (Gear sizes may vary).

There are four main components incorporated with a clutchless shift. What Engine Components Can A Clutchless Shift damage?Īs the vast majority of modern motorcycles now use ‘ sequential gearboxes‘ that’s exactly what we’ll talk about. Here’s a funny GIF of Cayote providing a practical example of how force (i.e., him running) and load (i.e., the resulting weight on the wall from the force of his running) work in harmony.Īnd if any of this still is still not sinking in, then DO NOT WORRY, as I’ll be breaking down all of the above (in detail) with visual aids in the following few sections. Similar to how pressure is measured, but slightly a little different. And load is a metric that measures the weight of the force when met with resistance. You see… torque is a metric that measures rotational force. Once load is removed, shift to the next gear. Whether you’re using the clutch, or simply rolling off the throttle, achieving a smooth gear change will always require the reduction of torque. On the other hand, using the correct technique to make a clutchless shift is entirely safe to do, and shouldn’t result in any unusual wear of a motorcycle’s sequential transmission system or its associated components. Using an improper technique to make gear changes with no clutch is a surefire way of shortening the lifespan of a transmission system. It can be used for both upshifts and downshifts, and when executed effectively will result in buttery smooth gear shifts and faster acceleration.īut, just how safe is this technique to use on the streets? And how does this style of riding affect the overall health of your transmission? Is clutchless shifting Bad For A Motorcycle’s transmission? It’s essentially the process of changing gears while riding a motorcycle without using the clutch lever.

More on that later… What Is A “clutchless shift” on A Motorcycle?Ī Clutchless shift is practically what it sounds like. It can be the saviour in being able to ride home with a snapped clutch cable, and the secret sauce in assisting you to achieve shorter upshifts with faster lap times.

This is my go-to technique for riding bikes with no quick-shifters, and if I’m being totally honest, is a skill that I believe every rider should have tucked in their toolboxes.Ĭlutchless shifting has been around (in the racing world) for decades. If you haven’t already heard of clutchless shifting, then you’ve been locked in a closet. Is clutchless shifting truly a safe method for regular riders? Or is changing gears without using the clutch a first-class ticket to the “cycle cemetery”? Not safe for street riders but great for motocross Racing/smoother shifts/riding with snapped clutch cableįaster acceleration, hill climbs, jumps + cornering (for motocross) And if you like it, or find it helpful after reading it. Get an idea, then move into the meaty sections. Here’s a quick synopsis of what the entire post covers.

Quickshift v auto blip