How many fingers do you brake with?

[sAsLEX]

I find if I use all four for braking I cant modulate the throttle correctly so the outside two fingers grip that to blip when downchanging.

[Lee Rusty]

I find if I use all four for braking I cant modulate the throttle correctly so the outside two fingers grip that to blip when downchanging.

Do you blip throttle when down changing - bike gearbox does not need it.
THat was an extremely old fashioned idea to bring G/box shafts up to same speed - not needed and in fact just send fuel up to God - and he dont pay for it.

note this post has been edited by writer

Edited as sychromesh was not the correct term to use, I teach truck driving and used incorrect terrminology.

[Ixion]

Do you blip throttle when down changing - bike gearbox does not need it.
THat was an extremely old fashioned idea when there was no sychromesh to bring G/box shafts up to same speed - not needed and in fact just send fuel up to God - and he dont pay for it.

I have never seen (or even heard of ) a synchromesh motorcycle gearbox. Harleys, maybe?. And I do have a very vague memory of Scott offering one on one of the Squirrels. Dogs, all the way on everyone I've opened.

[Sniper]

I have never seen (or even heard of ) a synchromesh motorcycle gearbox. Harleys, maybe?. And I do have a very vague memory of Scott offering one on one of the Squirrels. Dogs, all the way on everyone I've opened.

Thats the general idea on all Bike gearboxes isnt it?

[Ixion]

Thats the general idea on all Bike gearboxes isnt it?

All that I've personally encountered, though I wouldn't rule out some manufacturer having put a synchro box into a cruiser.

[Lee Rusty]

see my original statement - I have edited it to correct.

used wrong terminology - I teach truck driving as well as bikes and used the wrong explaination. Must be getting old.

However there is still no need to blip throttle to change down - with some exceptions on very old machinery

[sAsLEX]

so come flying in to corner, say a second gear corner, at fifth gear speeds brake dont worrry about blipping/throttling just mash down three gears and drop the clutch?!? To me this would lock the rear with the engine not spinning at the required revs the rear tyre would be going alot slower than it should be?!?

maybe my blipping was not the correct term

[Mr Skid]

so come flying in to corner, say a second gear corner, at fifth gear speeds brake dont worrry about blipping/throttling just mash down three gears and drop the clutch?!? To me this would lock the rear with the engine not spinning at the required revs the rear tyre would be going alot slower than it should be?!?

Works for me!

[Ixion]

Works for me!

Works for the gravel specialist !

[Mr Skid]

Works for the gravel specialist !

Well, maybe not on my surface of choice..

[James Deuce]

so come flying in to corner, say a second gear corner, at fifth gear speeds brake dont worrry about blipping/throttling just mash down three gears and drop the clutch?!? To me this would lock the rear with the engine not spinning at the required revs the rear tyre would be going alot slower than it should be?!?

maybe my blipping was not the correct term

And that is why I blip the throttle on the downchange. It is especially necessary with a high compression twin, and I find that progress is much smoother without transmitting the shock of suddenly increasing revs through the entire drive train. I'd go through chain, sprockets, cush drive rubbers, and gear selector forks on a regular basis if I didn't show SOME mechanical sympathy. First time I went from 2nd to 1st on the TRX on a slippery surface downhill I got a big shock as my arse overtook my nose. Big handful on downchanges to match revs from that point on.

[scroter]

see my original statement - I have edited it to correct.

used wrong terminology - I teach truck driving as well as bikes and used the wrong explaination. Must be getting old.

However there is still no need to blip throttle to change down - with some exceptions on very old machinery

what do you mean by blipping the throttle?

im pretty sure its just to lift the revs to somewhere near where they should be for the gear your selecting, it stops rear wheel hop/lockup on bikes without slipper clutchs etc, and enables gear selection on non-synchromesh gearboxs like road rangers. hell i even do it in the truck just to smooth out the gear changes and thats a synchro box.

are you confusing it with blipping the throttle when you change up?

i would really like to hear your views on this as a driving instructor, is there something ive missed?