I took my 1974 Moto Guzzi Stornello for a ride the other day, it was last registered in 1988 - so I haven't ridden it for a few years. It has a right foot gearchange, down for up...and I don't toe it up for downshifts, it has a heel and toe lever, so I heel downshifts. I did about 30km on my ride and never got my feet mixed up the whole ride, just clicked into my Stornello mindset and rode the bike as I used to.
So today I'm back on my R65 after a few days off work, the bike I ride everyday...well, 5 days a week anyway. I seem OK with upshifts, but changing down for corners my brake pedal goes hard with no response, and I'm floundering around with my right foot trying to downshift with my heel...there is nothing there.
From 1970 to 1988 I rode mostly right shift down for up, but there were a few Triumphs where I had to go up for up....I've ridden more Triumphs than I've owned...and one I owned had a reversed lever, so down for up. There were a few Japanese bikes in there, but after 1988 I've only ridden bikes with a left foot gearchange. I've spent more time riding with a left foot change than right foot change - so how come after 30 minutes my mind reverts to something I haven't done for decades ?
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