Downshifting technique

[loply]

Hi folks,

Just looking for some advice on shifting down on track.

I've been trackdaying/racing an SV650 the last 2 years and it's something I've struggled with. I'm going fairly well with middle of the pack laptimes at club meetings.

I always was taught to blip the throttle and release the clutch between every gear, so if I'm going down 3 gears I'll quickly do this three times:-

• Pull clutch lever
• Blip throttle
• Hit gear lever
• Release clutch lever
[Repeat x2 more times]

It sounds longwinded but in reality you can do it quickly... but I'm finding when I go faster this takes too much concentration and can cause me to very the brake lever pressure when I rotate the throttle tube, meaning I only get 'full' braking after I've finished shifting. If I go in too hot I end up struggling to get it all done in time.

What does everybody else do? I'm thinking about learning to just hold the clutch in, drop all 3 gears then release the clutch smoothly with some throttle... It's hard to change habbits though.

No slipper clutch fitted. I do sometimes get a squirmy rear end going on but not too bad usually.

Would appreciate any comments.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[recman]

Are you consciously performing a four stage process every time you change down?
I usually clutch in, downshift while giving it a flick of throttle at the same time then clutch out.
I've not been on a track though.

[Old Git Racing]

Example - On Park Straight at Cadwell. 6th gear, pull clutch in at your braking point, bang it down 4 gears to 2nd as quick as you can blipping with each change. Let clutch out carefully,i.e. don't just let it go unless you are Sam Lowes and have a slipper clutch. Bet you if you do this your braking point will be less.
If you're trying to do good times on a trackday or racing you have to be aggressive, its not the road coming up to a pelican crossing.
Word of caution, you're doing quite a lot of things here at the same time - getting the braking a late ass poss, banging it down the right number of gears, blipping whilst braking and just keeping the back wheel hovering off the road, remembering to not just let the clutch go, making sure you do the line and the apex, being aware of other nutters coming up the inside who are either better or worse than you at this.
It's not as easy as many think to get it just right, The ones who do it without mistakes every corner lap after lap win or are the fastest.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[loply]

Old Git, so are you saying you hold the clutch lever in for the whole time, only releasing it once you reach the final gear?

Yet you still blip the throttle for every gear you go down?
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[Pjay]

I'd brake down hard if dropping a few gears and just throttle up before releasing the clutch.
Doing it through each gear would be shifting the centre of gravity about too many times for my liking.

[.Bishbash.]

[Old Git Racing]

Yes I'm saying hold the clutch in and drop 4 gears blipping it. There is a certain amount of drag even with the clutch in so you need to blip it, makes the gears go in easier.
If you're doing it right you don't have time to let the clutch out with every down change.
Go on you tube and find some races from Mallory going up to the hairpin, particularly 2 strokes, 5 rapid fire blips from top to bottom gear, clutch in.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[.Bishbash.]

I have never heard that technique before, certainly haven't tried it. Is this specific to V-Twins, or all bikes?
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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

[loply]

Thanks old git, I'll probably give that a try next time. Something to think about.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[TbirdX]

2 stroke motocross method...

throttle full open...brake,throttle full closed, clutch in, stamp down gears until you hit the right gear for exit speed, when exit speed reached, dump clutch and throttle full open.

Mechanical sympathy not a big thing in motocross
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VFR800X - TTR250

[.Bishbash.]

Seriously, someone please tell me how that even makes sense....Educate immediately
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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

[G]

[Blue_SV650S]

On a 2-smoke MX there isn't really any engine breaking to be had/make advantage of, so taking it out of the equation totally makes sense.

As for on the track with a large 4t, then one should be on the power until the instant of hitting the brakes for a corner. Then frantic clutch in banging down the box with a blip and some slippage/partial engage for each gear.

Balance the throttle if long sweeper, back on the gas and 'squirt' out if not.

Job done!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.