To have transmission backcut that is the question

Hey guys, I need everybody's experiences with undercut transmissions. I have a 77 kz 1000 A1 that i currently have the cases split to install a new tsubaki cam chain. I am on the fence as to weather i should have my tranny back cut. I'm rebuilding the top end 1075 kit, head rebuilt. It's a street bike, nothing radical. I will twist the old throttle now and again, but no racing per say. I have heard through the grape vine that when the tranny is undercut that you have to be more precise with the shifts, and that they are typically less enjoyable to ride on the street. This may or may not be true. Opinions, I wanna hear um.
Thanks everybody.

if your riding mostly on the street i wouldn't spend the money my self if your engaugement dogs are in good shape then go with what you got if you road racing or drag racing then by all means do it but for the street its really not needed

Are there any disadvantages for a street bike to have the tranny backcut?

lots of very hard ridden bikes survive without backcut transmisions

Oppie, I had the gears in my GS1100 race bike back cut in both directions thru 3rd gear, after a lazy shift rounded dogs & left me free-wheeling. & can think of no down-side except expense. That said... lazy shifing & incomplete shifts under power are the biggest causes of rounded dogs/bent shift forks (the reason for popping out of gear) unless present gears are worn/abused, or you plan on racing/wheeling, stock would be my rec, luck G

Any shops other than APE that backcut?

fast by gast is really good if you really need it done

gane wrote:

Oppie, I had the gears in my GS1100 race bike back cut in both directions thru 3rd gear, after a lazy shift rounded dogs & left me free-wheeling. & can think of no down-side except expense. That said... lazy shifing & incomplete shifts under power are the biggest causes of rounded dogs/bent shift forks (the reason for popping out of gear) unless present gears are worn/abused, or you plan on racing/wheeling, stock would be my rec, luck G

Good info here Gane.
I have mine cut. it gives me piece of mind when i am slamming through the gears. there is no down side for the street, only the cost.
i think all new bikes in the sport category have back cut tranny's now.
Not a necessity, just nice to have , especially if the dogs are worn a bit.
but like Gane said. u should make sure the trany is in good order.

I must admit I'm a 'lazy' shifter. I tend to barely pull in the clutch lever while putting upward pressure on the shift lever so it goes in quickly - but you cannot do that with undercut gears. You have to be much more positive rolling off the throttle and pulling the clutch in.

Jeff.Saunders wrote:

I must admit I'm a 'lazy' shifter. I tend to barely pull in the clutch lever while putting upward pressure on the shift lever so it goes in quickly - but you cannot do that with undercut gears. You have to be much more positive rolling off the throttle and pulling the clutch in.

I have not found that to be the case. sometimes i dont even use the clutch, when riding in a casual manor.
I would think that it should go in easier? since the gears are cut on an angle, they get pulled together automaticaly.
Makes sence to me anyways.

Hi Mark, the undercutting stops the transmission from coming OUT of the current gear easily - that's the issue - you have to roll off the throttle a little more, and pull the clutch lever in a little more to release the dogs.

If you only ride one bike, it may not be as much of an issue, but switching between stock Z1's and the turbo'd KZ with the undercut trans was trying - you had to think about the shifting far more than my tired old brain could handle...