Do you need to use the clutch when upshifting a motorcycle?
4 Answers
Motorcycle upshifting requires the use of the clutch. Introduction to shifting gears while riding a motorcycle: It mainly depends on the current vehicle condition. If it is an upshifting process, gear changes can be achieved entirely by controlling the throttle. However, if it is a downshifting process, the clutch must be used. Otherwise, at the very least, there will be a noticeable jerk, and in severe cases, gear grinding may occur. Therefore, the operation varies depending on the driving conditions. Introduction to the motorcycle clutch: The motorcycle clutch is a buffer device in the power transmission process. Its main function is to transmit and cut off power transmission. Under normal circumstances, the clutch must be used when starting the vehicle or shifting gears, as this ensures a smoother shifting process.
I've been riding motorcycles for over a decade, and I used to struggle with this when I first started learning. You must pull in the clutch to upshift—it's not like a bicycle. A motorcycle's transmission needs the power disconnected to shift gears, otherwise, the gears will clunk and grind, which is heartbreaking. Especially when the engine is cold, you need to pull the clutch all the way in; shifting becomes smoother once the engine warms up. At a red light, you definitely need to pull in the clutch to upshift, or the bike might suddenly lurch forward—don’t ask how I know. Veteran riders might occasionally rev-match upshift without the clutch, but that’s because they’ve mastered their bike’s behavior. Beginners should never try this—the cost of repairing the transmission could cover half a year’s worth of fuel.
Shift up with clutch? It depends! For regular commuter bikes, you must use the clutch, especially on small-displacement bikes—without fully disengaging the clutch, the gear lever won’t budge. But in racing, when riding big bikes, you can clutchless upshift during straight-line acceleration by leveraging the RPM difference: momentarily ease off the throttle while kicking the gear lever, letting the quick-shifter auto-blip the throttle. However, don’t risk it in daily riding—streets aren’t tracks, and sudden jerks could make the rear wheel slip, leading to a crash, which isn’t fun. If you’re on a semi-automatic bike (like a Cub), it’s even simpler—no clutch lever, just step on the gear pedal directly.
The principle of motorcycle upshifting is simple: the rotating gear of the engine needs to engage with the stationary transmission gear, which requires the clutch to disengage the power. Imagine trying to shift gears while forcefully stepping on the spinning foot pedal—it would definitely jam. I've seen many cases in my repair work where beginners forcefully stomp on the gear lever, causing the shift fork to deform, resulting in repair costs exceeding thousands. Nowadays, some high-end models come equipped with electronic quick shifters, allowing upshifts even during cornering without pulling the clutch, but for regular motorcycles, it's safest to always use the clutch properly. The habit of half-pulling the clutch at red lights is even more dangerous, as it can easily burn out the clutch plates.
