Riding Style Question

i dont use the brakes not on the sv any way, (apart from if i need to) i just let off the throttle and cruse down to the speed limit kicking down once i get to about 3000rpm

I'm another subscriber to the roadcraft systematic approach, although it has recently been suggested to me that the order of the steps in the system is important - speed and position should be adjusted before selecting the correct gear to allow you to accelerate after clearing the hazard. I don't do that at the moment though, preferring to shed gears alongside using the brakes.

I think the issue you're having might just be in the blip-downshift technique, as anything that has a reasonable amount of power can give you problems if you get a mismatch between wheel speed and engine speed.

This seems like a lot of talk for not a big problem?

Maybe I'm not understanding the question.

IMO either option is fine and depends on how quickly you are scrubbing off speed.

If you are braking hard enough that you are dropping from 5th gear speed to 2nd gear speed faster than you can disengage and re-engage the clutch between each gear, then I see no problem in disengaging, block changing down 3 gears at once then re-engaging to match the right engine speed to the road speed. I do it regularly.

If you've left yourself more time and distance to slow down, then change down one gear at a time, use some engine braking, blip the throttle if you find that works for you, but you don't have to, the clutch will do it's job just the same.

I only blip when I'm feeling in the mood to do so, or when I have a pillion to smooth out the down change and prevent banging of helmets.

Obviously if your block changing you need to know your bike revs vs ratios vs speed, well enough to match engine speed to road speed so you don't lock the rear wheel when you re-engage the clutch, but that should become automatic with mileage.

i find that blipping the throttle is great for stopping the back from locking when changing down fast

Ps i couldn't resist the urge not to click

Originally Posted by barwel1992

i find that blipping the throttle is great for stopping the back from locking when changing down fast

Ps i couldn't resist the urge not to click

If I'm slowing down that quick I use the brakes and just match gears to road speed, I find that much more controlled and keeps the bike more settled on it's suspension, but then I'm a fat b*****d.

Not using brakes to slow down is not advised by the I A M senior examiner who came to our group to answer any questions we had about what he expected from our associates, main reason is that it's always a good idea to let people following know that you are slowing down. So using a combination of gear changes and brakes is the safest way to go, especially when riding a twin such as the sv which has far more engine braking than an inline four.

Daryl.

I am a late shifter who allows the revs to drop right off initially shifting in a block to take the right gear for whatever when I need it.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by darylB

Not using brakes to slow down is not advised by the I A M senior examiner main reason is that it's always a good idea to let people following know that you are slowing down..

I spent a four hundred mile trip with an IAM person not so long ago. I reckon if there was owt wrong with my technique of not using brakes much, would have been picked up on...if indeed it is not advised to do so. BUT I ride a vtwin so engine braking use is second nature.

As for letting people know you are braking, if your levers and brakes are good, you can flicker them without even making a difference to actual braking....I only do this when some pillock is right up my backside BTW

People are offering up ways to do it, and they all will work, but really it depends on what you want to do.

If you want to ride fast you will be braking hard for corners. You'll pull the brakes on smoothly but firmly and go down the gears, rev-matching, with the brakes still applied, then ease off them before you turn or as you turn.

You can kid yourself that just smoothly using engine braking is riding fast, or braking to the required speed and then kicking down the gears before you turn is riding fast, but it's not

Thankfully we don't all want to much less have to, much less are able to, ride truly fast. And those that do don't ride fast all the time.

Do it in whichever way gives you the most confidence.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

And therein I imagine lies your problem.

Forward planning, observation, you shouldnt suddenyl find yourself ( unless its an emergency ) having to go from 70 to 30mph....

I've always gone down one gear at a time. But thats just my riding style. You might find a blip of the throttle on the down change smooth things out i.e to go from 6th to 5th like this

Gear = 6th

Clutch in, blip throttle, change down to 5th all in one fluid smooth motion

Clutch out and 5th gear engaged

Be smooth and progressive with the controls, i.e. dont go making sharp brake applications. The bike will respond much better that way and you'l find it stops, steers and accelerates better.

IMHO.

i bin trying to learn to blip, keep letting the clutch out to early and jerking, lol