Blipping, tell me why I am wrong

[CookMySock]

You don't really have time to blip on the track. You are much too busy mentally calculating if it's worth pushing this braking marker just another metre so your opponent can't get past you, to spend time thinking about how long your clutch will last if you blip or not - let the clutch adjustment handle the over-rev. When it's time to change down you want it done ASAP so you can get back to the task at hand, and this is the magic of the slipper clutch - get the downchanges sorted as soon as you are on the brakes so you can concentrate on the corner.

Blipping is purely cosmetic in my opinion, unless you have unresolved mechanical issues, and probably you should resolve them. Hey but its fun! Try the short blap for a quick downchange, or the double blap-blap, or the longer blarrrrp-vroooomcracklepop for the drawn-out downchange! All essential biker skills really.

Steve

[Fatjim]

This is interesting because when I watch the MotoGP and from the bike cam, it doesn't sound like they are 'blipping' the throttle on downchanges. If anything, it sounds more like they 'hold' the throttle at high revs to match engine and wheel speed. Watching the rev counter seems to confirm this.

I've noticed with my racing that as I got faster and brake later, I don't have time to blip the throttle between downshifts (I don't seem to need to because they are very fast downchanges and the revs don't have time to drop), and also, when blipping the throttle, I found that my fingers were releasing the front brake a little each time.

So now it is all a lot more rapid. Brake hard and downchange quick with no blipping. I do use clutch control and slip it a little if in a slightly lower gear to avoid lock up at a couple of corners.

I always blip on the road.

I gotta be with you on this. Although I don't go track riding.

Racing, you let the slipper do most the work. But on the road, blipping is smoother. The Ape slipper is a bit harsh, and I still get lookups, especially downhill, so I tend to blip.

[CookMySock]

Racing, you let the slipper do most the work. But on the road, blipping is smoother. The Ape slipper is a bit harsh, and I still get lookups, especially downhill, so I tend to blip.

Not adjustable?

Steve

[Ocean1]

Can you tell if these guys are?

Inneresting, Haga did a few times, mostly not. More confusing is that he seemed to do it significantly differently on subsequent passes through the same corner. Probably "decisions" driven by things going on there he can feel and we can't see...

Both maintained what I'd say sounded like a fairly constant engine braking through the braking and tip-in bits. Doubt that was all down to the slippers, I'd say there'd be some good clutch work in there too.

Also inneresting is how late they are on the gas comming out, well past the apex. That's definitely a sub-optimal technique on the Buell.

[cowboyz]

As a rule I try not to be too dogmatic, however much that appears to be a KB thing. To those who don't blip though, may I respectfully suggest you learn to ride your bike properly. Or buy an automatic?

I dont blip. Im thinking of heading down to AA to resit my licence. Maybe I should just ride faster ..............

Either you lot are riding a hell of a lot quicker than me on public roads or all riding Suzukis with really shit gearboxs!!!

Im thinking its the latter.

Every text I have ever read that covered changing down mentions the importance of matching the engine revs to your speed. The method of doing this is to "blip" the throttle as you change down.

I have here Sport Riding Techniques by Ienatch, Smooth Riding the Pridmore Way, and Performance Riding Techniques by Ibbott, among others, all those mentioned cover the importance of smooth down changes, and all describe the correct technique as requiring a blip of the throttle.

Sitting at the end of the main straight at Phillip Island you still hear Rossi and Co going blip blip too, slipper clutches and all.

OK, so a few guys on KB say they're all wrong? I don't think so Tim.

Interesting to note that the discussion is road riding and all the examples come from track riding.

I ride on the gearbox ALOT.. (Helps having a quality Kawasaki gearbox... obviously not recommended if you own a suzuki) but I use it to accelerate/brake/corner and clutch control is WAY more important than revving the crapout of your bike to get attention (oops... I mean .'blipping')

What I use in excess clutch wear ill save in the big end rebuild I wont have to do.

[Nutter34]

I do both... On a more mellow ride, or with a passenger, I blip. When the ride gets a bit quicker, I may or may not blip. It depends on the situation. Neither really takes more or less attention when you are used to it.

As for slipper clutches, they are just a gizmo doing exactly what your left hand could be doing. The only difference is with one, you can pretty much dump the lever and let the gizmo keep the wheel turning for you.

As for some of the other points made regarding racers... If memory serves, Troy Bayliss never used the clutch for shifting down. Also, don't the GP guys have auto blip features linked to the gear shifter, along with decompression systems? A development which came about from 2-stroke guys converting to 4-strokes, trying to reduce compression etc. Maybe not quite on topic but related somewhat to the discussion.

[Headbanger]

Just meditated on the concept...

Rather then just take the opposing position I'll elaborate.

Having not actively monitored my blipping I'd say that sometimes I do, Sometimes I don't, and sometimes I'd be making all sorts of micro adjustments to revs, travel speed,and clutch as I change gears.

But there are definitely many situations/instances where its not required and no blipping takes place.

Meh, Just done a few hundred clicks, Main roads, back roads and some horrible shit that barely qualifies as a road, Didn't blip a single time, Just numerous beautiful gear changes and a silky smooth transference of power to the road.

Muhahahahahaha

[sinned]

Meh, Just done a few hundred clicks, Main roads, back roads and some horrible shit that barely qualifies as a road, Didn't blip a single time, Just numerous beautiful gear changes and a silky smooth transference of power to the road.

Muhahahahahaha

"-- numerous beautiful gear changes and a silky smooth transference of power --" and because it is a beautiful motorcycle.

[Coldrider]

You have never used engine braking?

Wow, Just wow.

I use engine braking by throttling on and off in any given gear, but do not actively change down a gear and use rear wheel speed to drive against engine compression to achieve rear wheel braking. All gear changes up and down are done on accelerating (open) throttle so need to blip.

I had to complete 3 laps of non brake use laps on a trackday where gear down changing was used to decelarate only.

[Coldrider]

I dont blip. Im thinking of heading down to AA to resit my licence. Maybe I should just ride faster ..............





Im thinking its the latter.

Yes definately ZX9 advantage.

[Coldrider]

double wow

(finding it hard to comprehend actually)

bet you chew brake pads

One front set at 35,000 kms, rear brake never touched except in WOF times.
What do you slow down for?

[AllanB]

Watching the NZ GP on TV. Some are blipping some are not.

And some that have been are not .........

[Mom]

Watching the NZ GP on TV. Some are blipping some are not.

And some that have been are not .........

So what are you trying to say here? You do when you need to, you dont when you dont, sometimes you do when you dont need to, sometimes you dont when you do need to, ocasionally you do it all the time, then you might not do it at all one day, or some people do it when others do and some do it when others dont, or sometimes you do it without even realising you have done it...

I am going for a lay down

[Headbanger]

And some that have been are not .........

They must have read this thread between races......

[Corse1]

Blip is it. I was taught to do it - you get a different result depending on the bike you ride. My V-twin loved it. I still blip on the GSXR, so yip! I blip! Bring on the blips

Yep the speed triple gearbox does not need a blipped throttle unless changing down from high rev's .....needing to slow down in a hurry.
But the Ducati (big vee twin) loves it and is clunky without the blipping.

I have always been a blipper but I been feeling like a bit of a dork doing on the triple when it seems unecessary