hi, i bougt a 400ex and the clutch is easy to use now that i am used to it, but my step dad now drives it all the time and he doesnt use the clutch at all, he just shifts and says if u dont use the clutch u dont wear it out, the shifting now is louder and stuff, but what happens to your bike, gears or clutch if u dont use it, ?

It can still be hard on the clutch and now you're putting a lot more strain on your transmission components.

Can you do it and get away with it, sure. But you'll shorten the life of the transmission.

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Raptor

Clutch plates and springs-about $100.00 (or less)and an hour or so to install.

New tranny-you don't want to know how much $$$

The clutch is a wearable item. Just like brakes, tires, chain/sprockets, etc. Eventually they wear out and need upgrading. Unless you are always feathering and otherwise abusing the clutch, it should last for years. Unless your stepdad has enough cash to throw at a tranny rebuild, maybe he should start using the clutch.

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Yamahaulin' in NY!

I do this regularly.
You will wear on the gears where they contact the shifting forks ever so slightly.
I've never had a mechanical problem from doing this in years of riding.
I feel it has no effect on clutch wear.
If a rider understands rpm's, gears, and their meshing, clutchless shifting can be fine.
To just jam gears and do the grind, certainly is not right.

I shift my Freightliner w/o the clutch too.

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88 framed 2-fiddy-R 300cc's
2000 GNC 40+ class 5N
2001 GNC 40+ class 9N
2004 GNC 40+ class 9N
A few fast LT-80's
Father of the "11" time National Champion and worlds fastest woman ATV racer.
Survivor of the 12 hours of ATV America '04 and '05!!
TT RULES!!

First........your truck is much different, as it has a clutch which always spins(and also has a clutch brake). I also don't use the clutch(or just lightly push it, to take the pressure off)......in the truck


On my predator, you MUST always use it. People have blown the trannys out of the preds by not using the clutch. I know, its a polaris....but just shows ya.

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03' Predator, WB Pipe, Twin Air Clamp On, Nicholas Cycle Race Modified Carb, Niicholas Cycle Race Port and Flowed Head, Wiseco 12.5:1 piston, PMR Rear Bumper, HPD Front Bumper, Gunner Tether Cord, Rath Racing Vicous Pegs, Rath Racing headlight covers, HPD steering dampener, JetBlast air scoops, HPD triple rate springs, Fox rezzies, Lightened 30lbs, Lowered 2 Inches, 2-25 fin inline coolers.

86' 250R frame with 650 crotchrocket engine

It's not hard to use the clutch in the first place, so why not? It will make a much smoother gear change also...

Z

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'92 Suzuki LT250r

.20 ovr
FMF Exhaust
Cherrybomb
K&N
Rims
Some more too....
[Lakota.... Gone but never forgotten]

Tell him to use the clutch. It's not that hard and it's there for a reason.

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2006 Honda 400EX
1998 Yamaha Timberwolf

it also depends on the year of the quad the newer quads you sould use the clutch the resault in not using could be that you destroy the clutch pads and spings where the clutch will lock up and you wont be able to get it out of gear.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
06 yfz 450
06 raptor 350
06 raptor 50

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06 yfz450 50th se
06 raptor 350
06 raptor 50 stroking 100cc
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ride it you stole it cause your mom said you cant use it

If a rider understands rpm's, gears, and their meshing, clutchless shifting can be fine.

that is the key sentence, his step dad probably doesnt understand that stuff otherwise he would encourage his step son (who also probably doesnt understand that stuff) to use the clutch

it doesnt matter if it is a honda, powershifting (shifting without clutch) is bad and harmful.... my friend sold his crf230 because his bike wouldnt shift into 2nd anymore without kicking the shifter really hard.... i just hope he doesnt break his crf250r's tranny too

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Jacob
06 DS250
-nerf bars
-Can Am "DS" bumper
-Custom 9.5" Footpegs
-coming: eventually, probly next summer/spring, Durablue +4 Axle, Dynojet Jet Kit

http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/crazy1291/
http://www.youtube.com/quadracerds250

i have a question, can any of you shift through the gears while riding wheelies and if so do you use the clutch. i'm an automotive tech and have been for several years and their is such a thing as not using a clutch in a manual transmission. how many of you have had your trannys apart and can you tell me if it is that much different than that of an automotive type tranny. i'll tell you that thier made of the same components. if you try to force the tranny into the next gear you could bend a shift fork or grind your syncronizer assemble. but if you have the motor at the right rpm with slight pressure on the shifter it will go right to next gear flawlessly. i've had several fourwheelers and not had a singal problem with any of them shifting wrong. on my 400ex if you wrap out each gear and apply slight pressure on the shifter as you let off it will easily go to the next gear. i've yet to notice a problem with it shifting. oh yea bradracer18, just like in a truck the clutch in any atv or dirtbike spins at the same speed as the engine, what do you think connects the two together.

sorry for the long post

how could you people sit here and tell me that power shifting is ok if it was ok then what was the point of putting a stupid clutch on the machine anyways to me if its there y not use it. it makes it more fun for me to use it. i think anyway and anyone that says power shifting is ok must be completely out of their minds or don't know a thing about ATV's

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2003 Blaster (razr tires,fattymoto header,fmf power core 2 exhaust,fmf carb jets,k&n air filter,6 pack grab bar,nerf bars,aftermarket front bumper

its not good to not use it enless ur raceing... but like it was said its upt there for a reason .... use it!!!! and about shifting while weelien once u find ur ballance point u can cluch/shift while holding a weelie