gear changes, please offer your pearls of wisdom

[keith_d]

Cage or bike, the same rules apply. Blip the throttle on the downshifts to bring the revs up before letting the clutch back in. I just need a bit more dexterity so I can keep the brakes full on at the same time.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

... If he ain't comfy in his own riding, then maybe he should get out more and do his own thing, rather than putting himself in a sticky situation and trying to scare (or not scare) his Mrs.

I have never taken a pillion, as I do not wish to injure myself nor anyone else trying...

Agree with your first point and same here with the second point

[Viney]

Originally Posted by AndyBrad

Hello,

The other day i had yc on the back of my bike (2 mins ) and he commented on how poor my gear changing was. Now i thought i wasn’t too hot but after spending the last few days thinking about it im actually pretty appalling!! One comment was about matching revs to the gear and the other was not keeping the clutch in during downchanges else ill step the back out! Now heres how bad it is. I actually thought that the back end stepping out was part of how the bike handles. Basically on slowing down to a corner (lets say im at 7k in 3rd gear) ill pull the clutch in, then select the gear and feather the clutch out. Unfortunately in this time the engine speed has dropped a fair bit and as the clutch comes out the rear wheel is fighting for grip. Im then back on the throttle and flooring it through the corner. If im honest i find it lots of fun... However im wanting to smooth things out a little so i can hopefully improve my riding. So how can i get the downchange right. Is there a technique or is it just practice. Ive been having a go but ive not sussed it out properly yet as sometimes its silky smooth and then others (when i blip the throttle and let the clutch out at higher revs) the bike lurches forward.

So tips on a postcard folks

Andy, this is going to be harsh so prepare yourself. If you cant change gear or 'feel' if your gear changing is right, then i would ask yourself if riding a bike is for you! I have never ever thought about how i change gear, i just do it. I understand that you want to be better, but asking other how to do it isnt going to help. You will either, come off tying to think about how to change gear; screw it all up; or just get better with expirence. Rid ein london, i reckon i change gear about 100 times or so on each journey into work!! I have not got it right to drop gear without the clutch(Not recommended)

[ophic]

Originally Posted by keith_d

Cage or bike, the same rules apply. Blip the throttle on the downshifts to bring the revs up before letting the clutch back in. I just need a bit more dexterity so I can keep the brakes full on at the same time.

unfortunately impossible under braking with most cars due to the pedal set-up. Unless downshifting for power, then yes I blip.

Originally Posted by ophic

yes but that's not what this thread is about.

well i thought it was on about gear changes.....

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by blueto

well i thought it was on about gear changes.....

Andy wants to smooth his regular gear changes before learning to do smooth clutchless changes. If you search there should be a fair bit on here about clutchless changes.

Originally Posted by Viney

, then i would ask yourself if riding a bike is for you! I understand that you want to be better, but asking other how to do it isnt going to help.

So if at first you don't succeed just don't bother trying and give it up altogether? I would've thought admitting to yourself that your riding isn't too cracky is a good start in itself, taking advice is surely the only way of improving? Or am I barking up the wrong tree

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

So if at first you don't succeed just don't bother trying and give it up altogether? I would've thought admitting to yourself that your riding isn't too cracky is a good start in itself, taking advice is surely the only way of improving? Or am I barking up the wrong tree

I agree with viney to the extent that it is just a feel thing, but if andy can master gear changes it really wouldn't suprise me. The amount I learn every single time I ride my bike is amazing. If your decisive and confident with them and get that feel for it and get right say once then you can just build on it from there. Ophics description of the blip is good.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Viney

Andy, this is going to be harsh so prepare yourself. If you cant change gear or 'feel' if your gear changing is right, then i would ask yourself if riding a bike is for you! I have never ever thought about how i change gear, i just do it. I understand that you want to be better, but asking other how to do it isnt going to help. You will either, come off tying to think about how to change gear; screw it all up; or just get better with expirence. Rid ein london, i reckon i change gear about 100 times or so on each journey into work!! I have not got it right to drop gear without the clutch(Not recommended)

Andy rides just fine.

I had my dad to learn from when I was a learner, and yes throttle blipping was one of those things we covered, and one of the things I found hard to begin with. Lots of people ride just fine without doing it at all. The highway code doesn't mention it, nor does it feature in the driving test.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by ophic

I've been known to downshift right up to the redline to use engine braking into a corner. Not particularly good practice, but fun nonetheless - and it does demonstrate that you can get even high rpm downshifts very smooth.

It's fine practice, just don't over rev it or you may find valves and pistons making friends

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

But if the back end's sliding out a lot then his burd will notice and he will no doubt scare her a tad and she will think all bikes do that. It is a good idea to be completely comfortable with your own riding before "subjecting" someone else to it

Back end sliding around will also slow you down a fair bit. But, 2 up it takes a lot more abuse to make it slide to the point where you need to be braking fairly heavily with the front too. so instead of the slide she will just get knocked about.

BUT, the way you are making it slide is not the "proper" way with sheer amount of braking, it is just with the impact of the drivetrain spinning the engine up. This is not good for chains and rips tyres to buggery.