Race shift pattern

**Les** · 16th July 2006, 13:00

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** · 16th July 2006, 13:20

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** · 16th July 2006, 14:24

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** · 17th July 2006, 10:13

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** · 17th July 2006, 10:23

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** · 17th July 2006, 11:04

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

**sAsLEX** · 17th July 2006, 11:06

Originally Posted by N4CR

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** · 17th July 2006, 11:07

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** · 17th July 2006, 11:15

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** · 17th July 2006, 11:18

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

**vtec** · 17th July 2006, 11:30

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** · 17th July 2006, 17:11

Originally Posted by vtec

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** · 17th July 2006, 18:59

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

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** · 17th July 2006, 20:58

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:-)