Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
Do you clutch every gear?
c-152:
You mean these things have a clutch? - I never use the clutch unless I am stopping or start (and in the obvious situations) in fact thats why I prefer the big 5 because there is none of that needed on a track or the trail like you might have on a 250 or 125. Come to think of it, I never used a clutch on my 250. I have never used the clutch to shift on my streetbikes either. In fact, I occassionly shift my truck without using the clutch (not a suggested practice)
gwcrim:
My 500 does quite well w/out clutching. But the '02 two fiddy seems to like clutch use.
FuriouSly:
Interesting... I guarantee that not clutching your bike causes wear and tear to the transmission. It is impossible for metal parts under load being thrust against each other can do nothing but get worn. Over time the trans will get sloppy and out of tolerances. That is why a clutch is there for you.
Of course your clutch will get less wear and tear. So, would I rather change my clutch or split the cases.... hmmm.
I personally shift everything all the time.. only in emergencies do I not clutch. Look into aftermarket clutch systems to better tailor to your hand ergonomics or strength. Maybe a Hydraulic Magura would do the trick. I have the ASV C5 clutch perch and spring-back lever. You can get a long or short lever and adjust the distance off the grip without getting the cable/lever sloppy and rattling from the engine vibs.
Arm pump sucks but bending a shift fork or losing 5th gear sucks worse. :|
Sly
c-152:
When done the engagement of the gears will not really cause more damage. After many years of riding street bikes and dirtbike, I have never had issues with a transmission. Not to say that I will not had trouble but I never had. I think it comes down to preference. I prefer to simply grab the gear, its faster than clutching and doesn't cause grinding, for me it has nothing to do with worry about clutch wear. As with mainy things riding style can affect the life of your machine. If you do not jump a motorcycle, you will not have to rebuild your suspension as frequently, If you slow down sooner coming into a corner, or will not have to replace brake pads, If you dont work on race starts you will not need to replace the chain as frequently, If you keep enginge rpms far below redline you will increase engine cycles. We do not do these things however because we prefer ride hard so I believe everything is a tradeoff between riding for perfomrance and riding for endurance. I do not doubt that if you had a side by side comparison, the clutched tranny would possible last longer, however I doubt it would be much different.
FuriouSly:
--- Quote ---We do not do these things however because we prefer ride hard so I believe everything is a tradeoff between riding for perfomrance and riding for endurance. I do not doubt that if you had a side by side comparison, the clutched tranny would possible last longer, however I doubt it would be much different. c-152
--- End quote ---
Interesting again... I must ask the masses these questions:
Is chopping/floating the throttle and shifting that much faster in overall performance than pulling in the clutch and shifting?
Do you think that chopping/floating the throttle is easier on the tranny than using the clutch?
Is arm pump and hand fatigue the main reason for not clutching?
Sly
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