Is it safe to upshift without using the clutch on Harley's (Dyna)? I have been doing that quite sometime on my sport bike without any adverse affects. I tried it on my 2010 StreetBob today and it upshifts ok without clutch. Given the excess weight of the bike, is it safe to do this? Or should I use the clutch?

 

Perhaps in the upper gears, but what's the point? I use the clutch. You have a Sportbike anyway. Your American scoot is never gonna be a bullet. If you do make a 200 horsepower monster out of it one day, you had BETTER use the (hopefully highly upgraded) clutch, unless you have a REALLY HIGHLY UPGRADED tranny.

 

correct amount of pressure and speed and it should be no issues at all, surprising how many people think this is an issue when its not, gears at the right speed will mesh fine.

I don't do it much as its so easy to use the clutch, but I have done it with all my bikes over the years just got to remember to be gentle and let it find the right moment.

 

I don't know if there is some reason why hd would tell you not to but
what shadow said is correct.................at the correct rpm you could shift with a feather

 

The transmission is constant mesh. The gear clusters are always together.

The input and output shaft has what are called dogs. Look between 1 and 7 and you will see them. Huge sob's.

They slide back and forth between clusters on the mainshaft and countershaft when you change gears.

You shouldn't have any trouble.

 

why would you not want to use the cluch?

 

Certainly not a wear factor. Big trucks go millions of miles and clutch replacement is expensive. Good reason for them to shift clutchless.

Our HD clutches almost never wear out, and are easy to replace.

 

I sometimes don't use the clutch when my girl is on the back and I have my hand on her...no big deal.

 

I often do this from 3-4 & 4-5, because I usually keep my left hand on my wife's or G/f's leg. I just put some pressure on the shifter, back off the throttle a little bit at the right moment, and it pops right in.

 

Mine shifts fine without the clutch. I haven't done it from 1st to second, only from 2nd to third and up. Just a little pre load on the shifter and jig the throttle back a bit and right back to full throttle. Very quick and smooth shifts.