clutch shifting

[midlifemoto]

just getting back into riding after a 20 year break from it...got a 2006 KDX200....back when I was racing mx in the mid 70's - mid 80's we never used the clutch to shift up or down, just bang away at the gears...don't ever recall having a gearbox failure either...is this ok on my bike? I've been hitting the local mx tracks and it feels weird to use the clutch everytime but I don't want to blow the thing up, thanks

 

[Sandman 2.0]

just getting back into riding after a 20 year break from it...got a 2006 KDX200....back when I was racing mx in the mid 70's - mid 80's we never used the clutch to shift up or down, just bang away at the gears...don't ever recall having a gearbox failure either...is this ok on my bike? I've been hitting the local mx tracks and it feels weird to use the clutch everytime but I don't want to blow the thing up, thanks

It probably won't if you back off the throttle when you shift. I have a CR250 and a KDX. My KDX doesn't seem to shift that smooth without the clutch so I use it on that bike most of the time. My CR250 shifts like butter without it so I almost never use it on that bike. The KDX has a wider ratio trans than a MX bike so that may be what makes it a lot notchier with clutchless shifts. I've been riding since the 70's and never used the clutch on my MX bikes. Never had a trans failure either. Shifting dogs always looked perfect when I rebuilt the engines so I'd say if it really doesn't seem to hurt anything. This is much debated subject but my last copy of MX action mag had a blurb on this in Q&A stating most MX racers seldom use the clutch except to power out of corners. Most hold the throttle wide open and shift without the clutch..... For whatever it's worth.

 

[Someone]

I use the clutch to start and stop, that's about it.