Changing down

[Biggles]

We all know Harley riders give their throttles a good twist for every down change.
But we also know their gear boxes were supplied by Massey-Ferguson, Hastings-Deering or John Deere, depending on the year and model.

What do you have to say about the subject?   

[West Aussie Glen]

So automatic that I will have to go for a ride to see what I do.
Taught to blip when in the car on the track when I did my CAMS license

[Marcus]

No... unless there is a reason which I'm unaware, then it's just showboating for the sake of showboating

[StinkyPete]

I blip on some down-changes, particularly if the engine revs or speed is high, but if drifting up to a red traffic light or a stop, I usually don't.  Like Glen, it's a bity automatic for me, as I was always taught to blip and double-declutch when driving a manual car, and I often still do it without thinking.

It's interesting that the engineers who design cars will say that double-declutch is not necessary, mechanics will say that it is unnecessary, but driving instructors (in my day) would recommend it, and bashed it into us.

[Bikebear]

Is it possible to cancel a vote? My touch screen was a bit sensitive and recorded a vote when I scrolled.

[saaz]

I would blip most of the time to match the next gears road speed to what I am doing. Less strain on the gearbox and drive components.  Now if I had a slipper clutch I might just bang on down the gears.

[Brock]

Is it possible to cancel a vote?

You can now remove your vote if you made a wrong move.

[alans1100]

In days gone bye when non-syncho boxes were the norm double clutching/blipping on down changing was a necessity. Most cars since the 40's had at least syncho between 3rd and 2nd (e.g. Holden).

Most motorcycle gear boxes are constant mesh so there's no real need to blip on down changing if your're slowing down and using engine braking (I just release the clutch a little slower). On the other hand, down changing to go up a hill a slight blip of the throttle would be the norm, at least for me.

[Biggles]

Good answers. 
References to double-declutching reflects the age demographic in here.   
Also the reference to the dear old Holden column change that had three gears and synchomesh only between second and third brought back memories.  One vehicle I drove in my youth was a WW2 Blitz truck (converted to a mobile crane for timber handling).  It had the ancient and many blessed crash gearbox that forgave nothing.
Pleased to see Alan's perceptive observation that bikes have constant mesh gears, so really, the only reason to rev is for saaz's point- it reduces the load on the gearbox and clutch.

[Streak]

agreed with Biggles, i was brought up to do what saaz said, just to simply reduce stress 

[Brock]

You need to change down???????.

 

[Biggles]

You need to change down???????.

 

The STs actually will move off from stationary in top gear if you work them hard enough.  The ST13 readily departs in 2^nd and doesn't flinch at 3^rd.

So you're stuck in which gear, Brock?

[alans1100]

You need to change down???????.

 

The STs actually will move off from stationary in top gear if you work them hard enough.  The ST13 readily departs in 2^nd and doesn't flinch at 3^rd.

So you're stuck in which gear, Brock?

I've had few seniors moments where I've taken off in 2nd. It's ok with the bike on its own but its happened when towing the trailer once or twice as well,  did I put that much in the trailer?

[Yorkie]

I only find a need to blip if changing down a gear to overtake, keeps the revs up.

[Biggles]

I only find a need to blip if changing down a gear to overtake, keeps the revs up.

That's a very good point.  Otherwise there's a brief sag unless you are bringing up the revs as you let the clutch out.
My clutch in/out time frame is so brief I think I use the latter technique.

[royst1100]

my pipes ohhh my pipes sound great when I change down. the bigger grips also I loose small amount of clutch movement but ohhh those pipes sound great   

[DaleMcLean]

my pipes ohhh my pipes sound great when I change down. the bigger grips also I loose small amount of clutch movement but ohhh those pipes sound great   

MY sentiments exactly  , Dont have the grip trouble though.

Yes all bikes have constant mesh gears (even 35 year old Ducati's  ) BUT the blip helps reduce shock loads on the rest of the drivetrain, in my case the cush drive between rear sprocket and wheel 

[saaz]

I agree bliping the throttle is not needed to change gears these days, but in the case of the STs it reduces shock lods on the cush drive, splines and drive shaft.  Probably does not matter much if you only keep the bike for 150,000kms or so    but I look on a longer time frame 

[Couch]

No..........I never do!   I bring up the revs as I let the clutch out and my gear changes are smooth whether changing up or down. I've had a motor vehicle licence for 55 years and driven many hundreds of thousand of kls during that period, many of them in manual change vehicles, I still drive a manual change Honda Civic Sport, and I've never had a drive train or clutch problem in any vehicle I've owned. I will admit that in the early years it was necessary to double clutch and rev the FJ Holden when dropping back to first as well as a few other vehicles that never had syncro on first, but I've never felt the need to do so with syncro on all gears. I don't knock anyone who does, but, the question was asked, and I for one don't!!

[Couch]

 

my pipes ohhh my pipes sound great when I change down. the bigger grips also I loose small amount of clutch movement but ohhh those pipes sound great   

[Shiney]

I also do it quite often

I started doing it when I first started riding due to the reasons mentioned above,
but now I also do it because the pipes sound awesome

[Couch]

Hmmmm............now, if I had Delkevics ........hmmmm!

I also do it quite often

I started doing it when I first started riding due to the reasons mentioned above,
but now I also do it because the pipes sound awesome

[Diesel]

Apparently... you should blip.....     


http://motorbikewriter.com/learn-blip-throttle/?ct=t(Newsletter_10_05_16)

[Marcus]

Apparently... you should blip.....     


http://motorbikewriter.com/learn-blip-throttle/?ct=t(Newsletter_10_05_16)

Is that what all the cool kids are doing?

[Diesel]

Yep. And so am I.