Quote:
Originally Posted by humfrz
In my previous post I mentioned "timing is everything". Here is a challenge for you. Cruise out to a country road (by that time your car's transmission will be warmed up). Get going in 1st gear, at about 2-3,000 rpms, let off the gas and shift into 2nd gear (WITHOUT using the clutch). Do the same from 2-3 and 3-4.
When you get the timing right, the shifts will be smooth and effortless, without using the clutch. Yep, it takes a bit of practice.
Now, after you "learn" the timing, when you throw the clutch into the mix, shifting is a piece of cake - 
humfrz |
Ok humfrz, I went out and tried it today, on a quiet backroad outside of town. I took 1st gear up to 3k rpms, let off the gas, and pulled the stick down as the drivetrain unloaded. I popped it into neutral real easily, but I couldn't pull it all the way down into 2nd. I tried it in one fast motion, but it kept getting stopped in neutral. I tried about 5 times before trying it from 2nd to 3rd. that one felt closer to going in, but no dice. Is it bad for the transmission to keep trying? I want to get it! I believe you that the timing required to do it would make me a lot better at handling the gears.
Shifting motorcycles with no clutch like that was easy peasy, the gears just click up and down. In the car, it feels like it's too far from 1st to 2nd and the shift lever gets the door slammed shut before making it all the way to 2nd.