Proper Down-shift method
#2
Yes, he's right. You need to just blip the throttle a bit so that the engine rpm's increase slightly to match what they're going to be when you downshift. That way, the rear tire doesn't slip. If you don't blip the throttle, then when you downshift, you should feel the rear tire grab a bit as it forces the engine to increase the rpms. Normally this isn't to bad, but if you do it leaned over or when you have a decreased traction, you're going to slide. Practice the blip! :-)
Chavez.
Chavez.
#3
Only if your riding a Harley..
I dont see a need to rev the engine up before you down shift. Its certainly not needed in my opinion.
Is he talking about clutchless shifts? If he is, I wouldnt suggest downshifting clutchless. It can be done, but you stand a greater risk of bending a shift fork, not to mention the sudden loss of traction to the rear wheel with the sudden gear change. The clutch allows the rear tire to gradually gain traction. Clutchless upshifts are fine, but I would use the clutch on a downshift.
I dont see a need to rev the engine up before you down shift. Its certainly not needed in my opinion.
Is he talking about clutchless shifts? If he is, I wouldnt suggest downshifting clutchless. It can be done, but you stand a greater risk of bending a shift fork, not to mention the sudden loss of traction to the rear wheel with the sudden gear change. The clutch allows the rear tire to gradually gain traction. Clutchless upshifts are fine, but I would use the clutch on a downshift.
Last edited by justasquid; 04-24-2009 at 12:16 AM.
#4
When I downshift, I'll drop the RPM (close the throttle), pull the clutch in while shifting to the lower gear, then raise the RPM back up while releasing the clutch so that the RPM match with those of the lower gear. Basically blipping the throttle. I do this while upshifting too, and have noticed much smoother gear change transitions.
There's been a couple of times while decelerating hard that I've experienced wheel hop as a result of not revving the engine enough prior to releasing the clutch while downshifting (from higher speeds). It definitely pulls your attention away from the desired task, lol.
The thing I'm trying to work on now is applying the brakes while simultaneously blipping the throttle, which is kind of a difficult technique to adopt.
There's been a couple of times while decelerating hard that I've experienced wheel hop as a result of not revving the engine enough prior to releasing the clutch while downshifting (from higher speeds). It definitely pulls your attention away from the desired task, lol.
The thing I'm trying to work on now is applying the brakes while simultaneously blipping the throttle, which is kind of a difficult technique to adopt.
Last edited by Incognito; 04-24-2009 at 01:21 AM.
#5
I rev match on my downshifts about half the time. At slower speeds and during slower decelerations it's less imperative than when slowing quickly for a turn or hazard. At slower speeds I will just downshift and let off the clutch slowly. But when you are traveling quick and have to slow quick doing this could result in the aforementioned wheel slippage which I have experienced light amounts of while experimenting.
To rev match is easy, once you figure out the right amount to blip the throttle that is.... but something I have noticed is that the downshift should be as quick as possible to achieve more accurate rev match. The rpm's drop quick and that clutch grabs quickly. Good luck.
To rev match is easy, once you figure out the right amount to blip the throttle that is.... but something I have noticed is that the downshift should be as quick as possible to achieve more accurate rev match. The rpm's drop quick and that clutch grabs quickly. Good luck.
#7
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And yeah, to the OP, like others have said, clutch, shift, blip throttle while releasing the clutch to slide it into the lower gear smoothly.
Last edited by Hangfire; 04-24-2009 at 01:43 PM.
#8
#9