Topic: powershifting and damage

[cmorgan47]

ok, so i've read enough books claiming that powershifting is actually less stressfull on the gearbox when properly performed.  as it is i barely "hint" to my clutch that i want to shift and it's quite smooth.  any thoughts on this?

[dusterdude]

properly done i would agree,i just wonder how many get torn up tyrin to do it properly

[cmorgan47]

to elaborate on propperly.

get RPMs where they like to be...ie, above 5k
preload shifter by lifting till i feel resistance
drop throttle
hint at clutch....sqeeze it just a tiny bit-
lift shifter
roll back on throttle



very smooth.
just slides right into gear.

never tried downshifting, seems like a bad idea

[Pinhead]

Yeah, downshifting is rough on them. You can't get the RPM's just right (at least I can't). I usually don't downshift until I'm almost completely stopped and then drop down 4 gears into 1st.

[cmorgan47]

interesting article on powershifting, how much clutch to use, and transmissions in general.

towards the bottom, he warns against preloading.
lots to digest.

[Rocking-M]

Downshifting is easy, blip the throttle and do it, it'll rev match itself.

I do it with 2 fingers on the front brake and the other two on the throttle.
And this with one throttle cable

[nickjtc]

interesting article on powershifting, how much clutch to use, and transmissions in general.

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting it.

[JP]

It has been my experience that it is hard to ruin a honda tranny.  Upshifting is as easy as trying it out to get a feel for the smoothest method and speed- then stick with it.  I'm with Rocking-M on the method- blip and shift.  The only time it is necessary is during hard exceleration (any other time you're just dicking around), so you're already at-or close to- WOT so just back off a hair and shift.....smoothe.

When downshifting you should always use your clutch and you should always down shift one gear at a time.  Although you may never tear up a tranny by downshifting all at once, the recommended method is to always do it gear by gear.  If you are racing, though, you will find yourself too tired to pull in the clutch or at an awkward angle, in this case-just bang through!  I once raced an entire moto with a broken clutch cable and I never once truly worried if my tranny would pull through.  Gotta love the Honda's!
JP

[cmorgan47]

(any other time you're just dicking around),

too true

[Uncle Ernie]

Mr Pinhead, I would like to take this opportunity to point out that one should always be in a gear that would easily facilitate evasive action. If, for instance, you're moving at 25mph in 4th gear, it will be far more difficult to gas and go than if you were in 2nd gear.  Also, You may find that it's easier to downshift in general at the proper times, than to wait until the last 10 feet before the stop sign.  With time and practice, you will get a pretty good feel for matching revs while downshifting. It's not really that hard. 
Likewise, it's good to know your power range and try to be sort of in the middle of that, too.  For instance, my 400 won't even budge below 3K. It does a leisurly lope around 4500 rpm.