Race shift pattern

[Les]

This is probably a stupid question, but a mate and I were trying to work out why the shift pattern on race bikes are upside down compared to standard road bikes. We assume that it's for practical reasons specific to racing like easier shifting while tucked, etc. Or is it just one of those "traditional" things?

[kickingzebra]

Try changing up a gear coming out of a left hand sweeper. Also changing up at stupid speeds on standard position, you can feel the aerodynamics doing funny things on your left foot, if you leave it hooked under the gear lever to change up.

In saying that, I've never tried it yet, but am thinking about it.

[Motu]

It DID used to be the standard shift pattern,nearly all the British and Euro bikes of the '50's and '60's (except for Triumph) had the down for up pattern.But sometime in the very early '70's the US laid down some laws saying where the controls on a motorcycle went and what they were to do - ever since we have had a left shift with up for up.So much for freedom of choice.....but the racers know better and Kalifornia has no control on the race track.

[emaN]

recently changed mine over; main reason being i was getting tendon/ligament pains as soon as i rode off..seems to have helped a bit.

only had a couple of 'false changes' so far; one was as we left the Navigator in front of the Tga crew... muppet!

yet to find out about upchanging coming out of a l/h corner.

[sAsLEX]

Its easier race style I reckon as your pushing down on up changes so makes clutchless changes easier, and on down changin your generally sitting up and positioning for the corner so its easy to row down through the gears pulling up

[N4CR]

Any ideas on how to convert zxr250c's to the racing config?

[sAsLEX]

Any ideas on how to convert zxr250c's to the racing config?

Look at where the gear lever goes on to the gear box spline shafty thing, should be either on top or below(the split in the ring that you tighten with a bolt/screwthing, now take it off and put it on the other way, so now the split in the ring should be on the opposite side to what it was. Now that isnt hard!

[Maido]

I think a few top riders still use road shift, the most notable being biaggi (who??!!) I heard neil hodgson does also but not confirmed.

What is grand is when you have been working on road bikes all week at work, then head out on your race bike in the weekend the first shift is always interesting!!!

Another one i enjoy is swapping from an old english bike to jappa, good times changing gears with the brakes!!!

[vtec]

Yep, changing up a gear while you are coming out of a (lefthand) sweeper with your pegs nearly on the ground with your weight right over means that there is no room underneath the lever for your foot to go without scraping the ground. I'm still running with standard up for up shifting on my CBR250RR, but could definitely see advantages in down for up, I'm just a bit worried about buggering it up while getting used to it. I'll have to change by next season though. Also, the speed of your upshifts are much more important than the quickness of your downshifts, and it is easier to press down with your foot than to lift up. I don't do clutchless shifting, but you do need more force to do it, and pressing down can provide a lot more force. Downshifting however there is no real need to rush it, and you definitely don't do it without the clutch, so pulling up will be able to provide ample speed and force required for downshifting.

[N4CR]

Yeah I have stuffed my left boot changing while cranked over quite a few times :(
bloody 250's always have to be at peak power/rpm :ar15:

[vtec]

Although N4CR, I'd say they've got a more useable power curve than the twostrokes, I'm happy anywhere between 12,000rpm and 18,000rpm. And even happier the closer i can keep it to 15-16,000rpm. So it's only a few corners where I have to change up with my left boot on the ground. Most notably coming up from the hair pin on the old taupo circuit, there's a couple of full throttle corners before the front straight, and I have to short shift it before the corner, so that I can leave it in the same gear while swinging the bike over, while the revs shoot up.

[sAsLEX]

but you do need more force to do it,

not really, it should just slip in real easy if your doing it right! I place pressure on the lever before intending to change up then a slight backing off on the throttle and the next gear jsut engages nicely, not too much pressure at all

[Toast]

not really, it should just slip in real easy if your doing it right! I place pressure on the lever before intending to change up then a slight backing off on the throttle and the next gear jsut engages nicely, not too much pressure at all

+1

If done right, it should be at least as smooth as a decent clutched change. If you're using a lot of force, you're not quite doin it right, so ask your resident know-it-all how to do it :)

[Les]

I had heard this but didn't know if it was true. Like the old Brit shift being on the right hand side of the bike too I guess. I remember having a blat on an old Calthorpe 500 but it didn't take me long to get used to it.
As far as what has been explained re. the racing side of things, that all makes sense. Thanks people for the explanation:-)

[sAsLEX]

As far as what has been explained re. the racing side of things, that all makes sense. Thanks people for the explanation:-)

Also easier when doing stand up wheelies down the MW to just stand on the lever rather than get your foot under!






so someone told me

[Motu]

Another one i enjoy is swapping from an old english bike to jappa, good times changing gears with the brakes!!!

I never had any problems shifting to left or right foot change,up for first or down for first - but after 20 years of solely left foot down for first it might be different today,or it might be such a change I would remember easily.At one point 1980/81 my 4 motorcycles all had right shift up for first.....that would be perfect for me.

[Edbear]

In saying that, I've never tried it yet, but am thinking about it.



What? Changing up...?:innocent:

[F5 Dave]

If you only ride your racebike then you can talk about theoretical advantages.

If you have other bikes then either you have to change them all over -or you have to spend attention to which way you change. Even if it is a little attn it is still attn not used on other things, nickels & dimes as Keith Code would probably espouse (I think they are some form of currency). The point being you have a limited amount of attention. My H was reverse for a while, got used to it. But always had to be in the back of my mind.

I ride dirtbikes as well & it is a task to change them over.

I’d rather not have to think abut it, I see it as far less of a disadvantage than accidentally slipping up & changing the wrong way, maybe while heeling into a corner.

Kevin Schwantz ran std roadbike pattern. I always figured when I’m better than him I’ll change over.

[sAsLEX]

I ride dirtbikes as well & it is a task to change them over.


Only a couple of mins at most on most

[cowpoos]

If you only ride your racebike then you can talk about theoretical advantages.

If you have other bikes then either you have to change them all over -or you have to spend attention to which way you change. Even if it is a little attn it is still attn not used on other things, nickels & dimes as Keith Code would probably espouse (I think they are some form of currency). The point being you have a limited amount of attention. My H was reverse for a while, got used to it. But always had to be in the back of my mind.

I ride dirtbikes as well & it is a task to change them over.

I’d rather not have to think abut it, I see it as far less of a disadvantage than accidentally slipping up & changing the wrong way, maybe while heeling into a corner.

Kevin Schwantz ran std roadbike pattern. I always figured when I’m better than him I’ll change over.
+1

8 pies

[Toast]

+1

8 pies

You can't lean that far anyway...

[cowpoos]

You can't lean that far anyway...
I don't need too....ta kick your ghey honda's arse boi!!!!

[Toast]

I don't need too....ta kick your ghey honda's arse boi!!!!

Actually my Honda's pegs will probably be on the deck before you're in need of a race shift...but I'll be bloody comfy...and I'll pull out a feast of chow mein chicken from my underseat at the next stop...then you'll be jealous of the allround practicality of the Honda :D

[kickingzebra]

What? Changing up...?:innocent:

There is no need to! I can do the legal speed limit in first!!...:doobey:

[cowpoos]

Actually my Honda's pegs will probably be on the deck before you're in need of a race shift...but I'll be bloody comfy...and I'll pull out a feast of chow mein chicken from my underseat at the next stop...then you'll be jealous of the allround practicality of the Honda :D
nah...I probally won't be....

[FROSTY]

Ive ridden mella yella and black ice with normal and reverse shift.
I spend too much time on the road on all sorts of bikes to get my head around reverse shift

[Motu]

Depends on where your head is - I used to often ride behind my wife,that way she could set the pace on her T150 Trident,and I would try to keep up on my 600 SS Norton.But all I could hear was the howling Trident,and as I spent a fair bit of time on it myself,I'd mentaly make the gearchanges for the Trident...wrong for the Norton!!

[Crasherfromwayback]

This is probably a stupid question, but a mate and I were trying to work out why the shift pattern on race bikes are upside down compared to standard road bikes. We assume that it's for practical reasons specific to racing like easier shifting while tucked, etc. Or is it just one of those "traditional" things?
The 'traditional' reason is like some have said, it's near impossible to get your foot under a gear lever when cranked over on the left side....a-la Manfeild long track coming back out onto the old track....GP tracks generally have corners that open out, so you're often shifting up as you are on your way out.
It's no biggie to get used to.....it's also (I find) quicker to upshift when you're stomping down on the lever, compared to lifting it up.
If you try it, maybe this will help....when I'm hard on the gas, I say to myself...."Time to get down" (shifting up...), when I come into a corner, I think whoa....."Slow up...!" changing down.
Well....works for me anyway!

I ride all sorts of bikes every day, but you soon find you can swap from one pattern to the other no sweat!

[sugilite]

Doohn had a good one for remembering the reverse pattern.
Heads up, change up. Heads down, change down.

I had a session on a ZXR750 Superbike years back that used the reverse shift. I had no problem with it.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Doohn had a good one for remembering the reverse pattern.
Heads up, change up. Heads down, change down.

I had a session on a ZXR750 Superbike years back that used the reverse shift. I had no problem with it.
And was he not THE man?
How's tricks Bruva?

[twinshock750]

Race pattern.

if you do it, get on the bike, and sdtart riding, think about each gear change for a while, don't try to press on, but use a bit of anticpation of what yoyur next gear change will be - usually you can on the track...and put your foot in theright place for it.

I found I got better gear changes on the exit of RIGHT HANDERS with a race pattern as I was hanging off and had a problem getting foot under lever.

Works a treat now - wouldn't go back.