[desertrogue]

Sorry guys this may seem a dumb question. I am used to riding harleys.

Which is the best way to shift gears on this GSX S1000 bike?

I noticed that if i pull the clutch lever all the way in, shift up and let it back out I just get a delayed clunky gear change ( which is what I do on a harley)

but if I just tap the shifter in up shift and let out I can change gear almost instantly and little movement required on the clutch lever.

My question is ...is the second way the right way? if so will this be ok for my clutch plates?

 

[Thumper07]

After 30 years of riding mainly sport bikes, I've learned to preload the shifter peg with my foot before squeezing the clutch lever. The shift lever will click into the next gear as soon as enough pressure is applied to the lever and the clutch plates disengage enough. After the shift is made with the foot, quickly and completely release the clutch lever.


I've had Harley's too and Harley guys ride different. They are slow with everything they do. They pull in the clutch lever all the way, wait a second, then shift the clunky transmission, wait another second (maybe rev the motor once or twice) then release the clutch lever and add 1 year to their age. It's a scientifically optimized calculation for getting old

 

[dekker]

Generally speaking I just squeeze the clutch rather than pull it right in.
If accelerating all the way though the gears then no clutch at all, just roll off the throttle a little, slight pressure on the gear lever and in she goes.

 

[Beaker]

My clutch lever was adjusted so the bite was too close to the bar when I got mine.
I used the handlebar adjustment to move it out a bit further and it was much better. It also smoothed out the revs at tickover and stopped it hunting.

 

[Martinsmith]

The way to change gear best is first too second clutch lever in a bit just enough to disengage clutch and then second up no clutch lever pull at all just let the throttle off a bit but back down the gears clutch lever in all the time

 

[Mdala]

Definitely the way to go, only clutch from 1 up to 2, then pre load the shifter, ease the throttle back so the box is not under load, & in like Flynn. A Harley gear box is like a truck compared to todays sport bikes, a little practice & you'll never go back.

 

[leenineplus]

No clutch going up. Clutch used coming down. Always have. No need for quick shifters !!

 

[Stromer]

The way to change gear best is first to second clutch lever in a bit just enough to disengage clutch and then second up no clutch lever pull at all just let the throttle off a bit but back down the gears clutch lever in all the time

No clutch going up. Clutch used coming down. Always have. No need for quick shifters !!

Now this is interesting. I too have escaped the cult of Harley (thank God) with the purchase of my DL650 a year and a half ago and now my GSXS. I have never even attempted a clutchless shift but will give it a go next time on the bike.

So, after second gear, back off on the throttle a bit and just shift? Interesting.

 

[leenineplus]

Now this is interesting. I too have escaped the cult of Harley (thank God) with the purchase of my DL650 a year and a half ago and now my GSXS. I have never even attempted a clutchless shift but will give it a go next time on the bike.

So, after second gear, back off on the throttle a bit and just shift? Interesting.

I do it from 1st onwards. As you go to pull up on the gear change, just throttle off a minute second and then change up. Smooth as a babies bum changing.

 

[Slow Rider]

Hard to believe people don't shift clutchless going up. I can shift so smooth that a person riding on the back will never notice I shifted. I don't completely close the throttle, just enough to engage another gear.

I've never used a quickshifter, but I just can't imagine it being that must faster and smoother than what I can do shifting clutchless.

 

[Gixxus]

Hard to believe people don't shift clutchless going up. I can shift so smooth that a person riding on the back will never notice I shifted. I don't completely close the throttle, just enough to engage another gear.

I've never used a quickshifter, but I just can't imagine it being that must faster and smoother than what I can do shifting clutchless.

Watch some full throttle quick shifter videos and you might change your mind....

 

[Thumper07]

How many miles do you get out of your tranny, Slow Rider? Are you one to keep your bike for 10,000 miles and trade it in, like most people. How then do you know if you're doing any long term damage or not?

A Jap bike should go nearly 70,000 miles without a maintenance problem. I don't think clutchless shifting will achieve this. I have friends who bought used sport bikes and the tranny went after 20k miles. I'm sure it's because the original owner trashed the it. That's why it's not common to see sport bikes with more than 30k miles on them.

A sport bike can be ridden hard while still taking care of it and ensuring it will last tens of thousands of miles without any problems.

 

[LuckyGS]

Originally Posted by Slow Rider View Post
Hard to believe people don't shift clutchless going up. I can shift so smooth that a person riding on the back will never notice I shifted. I don't completely close the throttle, just enough to engage another gear.

I've never used a quickshifter, but I just can't imagine it being that must faster and smoother than what I can do shifting clutchless.

Watch some full throttle quick shifter videos and you might change your mind....

Coming from the drag racing world, I can tell you that there are some people that are VERY GOOD at loading the shift lever, then slightly letting off from full throttle at red line, which allows the trans to go into the next gear.


The gotcha is that the quicker you get off the line, the tougher it is to get your feet on the pegs to make the 1-2 shift, thus the air shifter with a button on the bars.

 

[Slow Rider]

How many miles do you get out of your tranny, Slow Rider? Are you one to keep your bike for 10,000 miles and trade it in, like most people. How then do you know if you're doing any long term damage or not?

A Jap bike should go nearly 70,000 miles without a maintenance problem. I don't think clutchless shifting will achieve this. I have friends who bought used sport bikes and the tranny went after 20k miles. I'm sure it's because the original owner trashed the it. That's why it's not common to see sport bikes with more than 30k miles on them.

A sport bike can be ridden hard while still taking care of it and ensuring it will last tens of thousands of miles without any problems.

I've never had a tranny fail, but I've never put 70k on a bike either. However, over the years I have read articles in motorcycle magazines stating if clutchless upshifting is done correctly it will actually reduce the wear and tear on the tranny. So it's certainly not something I'm going to be concerned about.

 

[trasher]

I had 70k miles on my 2003 Z1000 even it got stolen, which prompted me to get the gixxus. I rode that thing HARD from 20k miles with clutch less up shifts everyday, and the transmission/powerplant never had an issue.

I think the bikes that get ruined in 20k miles have riders learning to wheelie on them and thrashing the clutch, and probably not performing regular maintenance.

 

[17105]

I'm so good, I can match the revs perfectly in every gear, to allow me to shift clutchless on the way down too... even skipping gears if necessary.

 

[ChicagoAJ]

I'm having issues with 5th and 6th gear. It's like they don't exist lately. Happened 5 times on my morning commute of 17 miles today. Going from 5th to 6th there's like a wall that completely blocks 6th, like I'm in 6th trying to keep going. Then after a clutch release it'll shift fine again like nothing ever happened. Between 4th and 5th I get a false neutral.

Just under 5,000 miles on the bike and this started happening very suddenly, almost overnight. I expect some miss-shifts here and there when being lazy or what not, but not this often...

Very annoyed to be taking it to the dealer...

 

[LEAVEITSTOCK]

use clutch all the time thats where all the fun is and thats what its there for,,,,now if at the track drags and want to do my best time ,,,gain a 10th or 2 on someone elses bike im all for that

 

[dqban]

I'm having issues with 5th and 6th gear. It's like they don't exist lately. Happened 5 times on my morning commute of 17 miles today. Going from 5th to 6th there's like a wall that completely blocks 6th, like I'm in 6th trying to keep going. Then after a clutch release it'll shift fine again like nothing ever happened. Between 4th and 5th I get a false neutral.

Just under 5,000 miles on the bike and this started happening very suddenly, almost overnight. I expect some miss-shifts here and there when being lazy or what not, but not this often...

Very annoyed to be taking it to the dealer...

I wonder if your clutch cable is somehow off. I cant say i personally know, but is the tension on a motorcycle cable supposed to change as you increase gears on a motorcycle? If its anything like a bike deraileur then all gears can seemingly work fine until your tallest gear. Thats where the gearing can manifest it problems when the tension in the cable is off (to high or low depending on type of deraileur). If not, I wonder if its related to your clutch.
Just being academic. I would also likely be taking it to the dealer.

 

[scooby61]

I use the clutch all the time I think it's a habit from 2 stroke dirtbikes. But when up shifting quickly I never pull it all the way in its more of a flick of the lever just enough to unload the gearbox a bit at the same time I'm upshifting. I don't see the point in those split seconds of savings to stress the mechanics unless I'm racing or there's some money on the line etc. I've used up several clutches doing track days upshifting clutch less but I've also had my Supersport street bikes clutches last over 30,000 miles. I don't do wheelies ( at least not intentional ones) mostly because replacing fork seals is a pita maybe that's why they last.