Doesn't everyone rev match when down shifting?

[notbike]

So I've discovered that there's a few different ways to downshift and that I don't know how to downshift properly without rev matching. Naturally I want to understand how this works because it's bugging me, I always seem to fuck it up and the bike dramatically slows down if I don't rev match. (Downshifting too early? Do I have to wait for the revs to drop lower first or something?)

I remember my downshifts were really sloppy when I first started riding a couple of months ago, and then I discovered rev matching and it worked perfectly for me ever since and I've never used any other method for downshifting, which is why I'm confused about this.

But I was told you can downshift without rev matching, and my friend who also started riding recently doesn't understand rev-matching and "downshifts normally" (so we're opposites?) - but really, I have no idea what a normal down shift is because I've never consciously done it. Do you let the clutch out slowly? Wouldn't that just make you lose your speed though? I don't get it, am I being retarded? Someone explain this to me please XD

Also, should I just stick to rev matching, I mean I'm of course way more comfortable with it because it's become a reflex now, but is there any disadvantage to downshifting that way?

Also while on the subject of changing gears, when I did my cbt back in february we were riding these suzuki vanvans.. I can't remember if I was just really shit at riding or if it was the bike itself, but when I was shifting up and releasing the clutch the bike was very jerky if I dumped the clutch too fast, whereas on my own bike I can dump the clutch as fast as I want (sometimes I dont even use the clutch) and there's no jerkiness. Dunno what that was about either, so if anyone knows..?

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Although poor in quality this excellent video explains blipping the throttle on downshifts. It's short so maybe watch it twice.
It's a skill worth having.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ABNrYzqJgI

Clutchless upshifts are an excellent way to accelerate quickly and smoothly. I often use the clutch from 1st to 2nd and the rest clutchless.
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[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[ScaredyCat]

[Teflon-Mike]

You CANNOT change gear without rev-matching.

If YOU don't match the engine revs to road-speed in the new gear on the throttle back wheel will.

It HAS to happen. you have a transmission, reduced crank revs, measured in 1000's of revolutions a minute, to wheel revs measured in 100's of revolutions a minute; you halve or double the ratio, the crank revs have to go up or down for the same road-speed.

If you dont 'blip' or at least 'tweek' the twist grip to get that change in crank revs when you shift, then back wheel will lift or drop the engine revs as you feed in the clutch... bang the clutch in, deny the transmission that compliance as back wheel brakes or drives the crank up to new speed; then slip is going to happen between tyre and road...

Carry on doing a throttle tweek or blip... its the 'best' place for matching to happen.
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[Kickstart]

[RhynoCZ]

I blip it since the GPz, it's cool, makes downshifting smooth and bike stable + I get the satisfactory feeling of knowing it's good for the bike. I do it so much I once even did it in a car.
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[MC]

Not everywhere/one recommends blipping the throttle, and far as I'm aware it's done more for rear stability than anything else.
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[Kickstart]

[RhynoCZ]

[notbike]

I see, that clears things up then and I know I'm doing it right. I've got into the habit of blipping the throttle every time I downshift so it's all good.

Trevor I would actually like to go back and ride another suzuki how I ride my yammy and see if they are "snatchy" as you put it. I dump the clutch on every upshift with my yammy and I get no snatch or drag feeling at all, its totally smooth. Never ridden a honda.

MC in what instance would you rather not blip the throttle then? I think when I've downshifted too late and the revs drop low I don't blip it, but otherwise I always do it. I mean, in that instance I'd just skip a few gears when I see that shifting one gear at a time wouldn't really work and blipping the throttle for that seems absolutely necessary.

Interesting stuff.

[MC]

I think it depends on the bike, my MT-03 had a lively rear so there was a point, the CBF1000 on the other hand has so little engine braking and is so docile I've never felt the need to.

[groovylee]

Because it's the proper way to do it (in a car at least) and a bit of a lost art. They don't even teach double de-clutching on your driving lessons any more
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[Doomsnite]

I thought that was just for old cars which don't have syncros. No need to do it anymore.
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[MC]

^ this




F'ing old people




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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I do it if I can be bothered, or when pressing on. Personally on track I like to control the engine braking with the clutch, maybe I'm just weird though.
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[Kickstart]

[RhynoCZ]

^ This.

+ It's just cool, isn't it?
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[mentalboy]

I was taught to double de-clutch when I took my HGV Class 1 lessons, comes in handy sometimes.

Another fun skill is changing gear without using the clutch. You'll soon get used to throttle blipping!
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[Pete.]

[rideslikean00...]

What's the name for that technique where you blip the throttle, hold the clutch, "preload" the gear (i.e. hold it up), cruise for a bit and then gently release the clutch and apply throttle when necessary? I mean I assume it has an element of rev matching in it because it can make for really smooth changes and it certainly beats holding on the throttle, dumping the clutch and having the engine rev like crazy before dropping back to where it should be, but I don't know what it's called... yet.
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[Mark_F]

[talkToTheHat]

Isn't the van van engine related to that of the GZ/GZ/GN? Nice gearbox on the gz, easy clutchless upshifts, downshifts you could be clumsy, not blip the throttle and let the clutch out quite quickly and it wouldn't upset the bike. Was never taught to blip the throttle, just let the clutch out slowly. Then I got an XV535, rode it home with a freshly shined seat, nylon trousers, in a deluge, downshift for first set of traffic lights, haven't got the feel of the clutch yet, and that's my balls on the tank. Soon learnt to be gentle with the clutch as the one thing the bike did really well was engine braking. Taught to brake with all four fingers, so learing how to blip on the downshift was a hard road, but ultimately a much less painful one.

[RhynoCZ]

[RhynoCZ]