on a 2003 harley do you have to use the clutch to down shift?

Answer 1

Do you have to to get the bike to shift gears ? Or, do you have to to get the bike to shift gears without putting undue stress on your gear box and belt drive.

You CAN shift gears pretty easily without the clutch. Accelerate to your normal shift point, ease off the throttle and shift. The only difference between doing it that way and doing it the correct way is squeezing the clutch lever. The "inconvenience" of using your clutch will be insignificant compared to the expense of having to replace your $200 drive belt and $3000 transmission if you decide to not use it.

Answer 2

I have rid in many years all Harley's 2000 Heritage soft tail and now a 2003 100Th anniv Road King and would recommend down shifting with your clutch the newer transmission are constant mesh gears and you could damage shift fork or seal.

Answer 3

I would recommend it on any bike as it messes up the schronizers when you don't use it. the clutch allows the engine to slow down and the schronizing gears to to mesh with the main drive gears properly. Not clutching you are slamming the planetary gears together wearing down the teeth and risking breaking them

Answer 4

you don't need the clutch to up shift or down shift just know how to control your bike.........why is someone who rides a harley asking this.....???????? you should know how to ride or go back to a toy.....lol

Answer 5

You don't have to use the clutch to down-shift or up-shift but you'll trash your tranny pretty quickly like that.

Answer 6

I'll put it this way. You don't need the brakes to stop a bike, you can always just lay it down, but that isn't very good for it either now is it.

Answer 7

No but you should unless you can time it properly.

Answer 8

ittl downshift without it, but you have to get it just right or you f**k it up.

Answer 9

yes you should

Answer 10

u "should" but u dont have to.