Quieter Shifting

[otter]

I've racked up 1000km on the new Voyager and am enjoying her more and more every day. I played around with shifting technique and found that gently preloading the shifter makes a huge difference. 1-2 and 2-3 will never be quiet but... here's the difference.

Slow shifting: Off throttle, squeeze clutch all the way back, heel on shifter, off clutch and on throttle. All slow and deliberate.

1-2 POW!
2-3 CLUNK!
3-4 clunk
4-5 clunk
5-6 clunk

Pre-Load shifting: Rest Heel lightly on shifter, back off throttle slightly /squeeze clutch slightly/more pressure on shifter (this bit is timed fairly quickly), off clutch on throttle.

1-2 CLUNK
2-3 clunk
3-4 snick
4-5 click
5-6 quiet click

I found that I really had to brush up on my shifting technique, but it's made a world of difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIhycth8msU

Now, this being said, if you're ham-footed on the preload, you're going to burn and otherwise wreck your shift forks. So be gentle.

[HwyRider]

You'll get use to the noise and won't even notice it after a while.

[OldSchool]

I can only speak for the Nomad but I can shift through the entire gear spectrum with only a click, even 1 to 2. Not bragging just learned a way to decelerate, pull in clutch and press the shift lever all at the right time. Never tried it on a Vaquero or a Voyager.

[Cerberus]

I let off the throttle a little as i'm pulling the clutch sharply, firm shift with heel and i'm rolling on the gas. I tend to shift very quickly (clutch in and out immediately) and have never noticed any noise....might be why my mileage stinks to high heaven though.

[Ipack]

I find keeping the rpm on the low side makes for softer shifts . I as well never grab full clutch throw unless I'm accelerating harder than normal . Make your shifts in one fluid motion and you'll hardly notice them .

[hlknvlcn60]

The 1700's have real heavy duty "industrial-like" transmissions in them. My Vaquero has given me no problems shifting whatsoever and most of the time when upshifting I barely have to pull the clutch lever in, just a little. Just a good firm pull on the shifter or firm step on the heel and good to go.

[SpecialEd]

I rarely use the clutch for up-shifts. Learned to shift on my mean streak by applying a pre-load to the shifter, burp the throttle slightly and pop it into gear. Works great on my vaquero. Hardly any clunk nose and makes for a super fast shift especially when getting on it! ;-)