I've ridden with guys who don't use the clutch if they are rolling. Did it on metrics and in their cars too.
These were the same guys that had transmission noises and problems, and wore out chains and sprockets more often than I did. I was riding more because my bikes weren't torn down.

Their fork seals usually were leaking and their rear tires were usually bald. Its all about your attitude and how you treat your stuff.

 

Never thought about shifting w/o the clutch. What's the purpose or benefit of doing this? The risks?

 

Not to beat a dead horse but... you did say "I have always shifted my metric junk". Junk being the operative word here. We aint ridin big rigs dude use the clutch and take care of that expensive tranny.

 

Clutchless shifting is not recommended for any clutched transmission, big rigs included! Does it happen and can it happen, yah,,,,,,but not a one of the builders of these transmissions would recommend it. The clutch is there to facilitate smooth meshing of the gears and an impact free engagement of the drive line. Use it for the longevity of your driveline.

 

Back in the days of the Indian Woodsman, we used to just stomp the gear lever with the throttle wide open. They were set up with 1st gear was up, and the rest were down. Made it real easy to shift without the clutch. I have gotten older, (69), and don't do that no mo.

 

Ive shifted gears in trucks in the past without the clutch , if you can feather the throttle and find the sweet spot its not a problem.Takes some time but if you know your truck its helpful in saving wear on the clutch just dont force it in.

 

With a good magnetic drain plug probably won't hurt anything.....until one of the dogs snaps off a gear and gets wedged between a gear pair. The clutch is there to take the torque load off the gears and aid in shifting. Yea, it will go from gear to gear without it (more easily when input shaft speed matches output shaft speed = syncronized) but you will accelerate wear and tear when the gear change is "forced". I ride off road too, I still use the clutch to shift when I can reach it (99% of the time), unless the front end is up.

Tech23

 

Sounds kind of like guys not using both brakes.

 

[QUOTE=Led Zeppelin;6199814]Sounds kind of like guys not using both brakes.[/QUOTE]

Theres two brakes???????........

 

two brakes...no way, I looked on both sides of my wheel and there was only one. All jokes aside my advice would be that since there IS a clutch you can use it if you want, or not.
If you borrow my ride I ask that you do use the clutch, sometimes I don't myself but then again it is my ride. John