bought Ducati with quickshift, not used before, any advice?

[philcray]

Just bought myself an 18 reg Ducati 821 Monster from Staffordshire Triumph with 500 miles on it, due to be delivered next week. I had an email chat with the original owner who was very helpful and mentioned the bike had a quickshift fitted (which the garage hadn't mentioned so that was an unexpected bonus) along with a few other nice to have bits inc Rizoma bar end mirrors, rad & eng guard and Ducati tank pad..

It is the official Ducati quickshift and is an up & down shift. I have not used one before and seen mixed advice online, my understanding is that you keep the throttle open and just change gear without using the clutch, same as flappy paddles on a car.

Does this work the same going up and down the gearbox, does it need higher revs to work best, is using the clutch generally a better solution if you mainly pootle around like Reginald Molehusband?

Going down the gearbox, does it blip the throttle or again is it best to use clutch at low revs?

Obviously I will get the idea when I get the bike but any up front tips would be useful!

Edited by philcray on Thursday 31st October 11:16

[jjones]

Off the power for downshifts, on the power for upshift.

[dukeboy749r]

It may well be smoother if you use the clutch from 2nd into 1st - you will need to anyway to get into neutral.

I tried a version on a Triumph Tiger 1200 - for me it was far smoother than the equivalent on a BMW GS, even from 2nd to 1st, or indeed the other way around.

[Jazoli]

Use the clutch when setting off and coming to a rest, for the rest of the time you don't need it, you will find the sweet spot for up and down changes, just experiment a little, you won't break it.

[dibblecorse]

I'd check with the dealer that its still on there, not unknown for that stuff to be spotted, taken off and sold separately, especially as no mention of it on the ad .... same for the Rizoma bits ....

[philcray]

dibblecorse said:

I'd check with the dealer that its still on there, not unknown for that stuff to be spotted, taken off and sold separately, especially as no mention of it on the ad .... same for the Rizoma bits ....

Definitely all still on, I specifically mentioned them to make sure.... but you have concerned me so will double check...!

[Dodd90]

I would say use clutch from 1st to 2nd as it can be quite clunky unless you are fully tapped. Otherwise use the quick shifter everywhere else

[MrOrange]

philcray said:

It is the official Ducati quickshift and is an up & down shift. I have not used one before and seen mixed advice online, my understanding is that you keep the throttle open and just change gear without using the clutch, same as flappy paddles on a car.

Obviously I will get the idea when I get the bike but any up front tips would be useful!

Edited by philcray on Thursday 31st October 11:16

I've had a 1299 for 4 years + and I set off using the clutch and everywhere else just bang it up and down the box (including going down into 1st), regardless of rpm/throttle position - it does all the rev matching. When pootling around town I leave it in 1st or 2nd and just use the rear brake to modulate the power/speed. Works brilliantly IMHO.

[TommyBuoy]

I've got a monster with the Up/Down shifter.

You need some throttle to shift up, no throttle to shift down.

Main thing is to be positive with the action, firm and quick and it'll be fine.

As some others have said, can be clunky at low rpm and / or low speed.

[Zakalwe]

It won’t let you shift unless you’re doing the right thing with the throttle, ie tapping up while coasting won’t physically work, you need to be opening it up and the more gas you’re giving it the better it’ll work

[Tango13]

Dodd90 said:

I would say use clutch from 1st to 2nd as it can be quite clunky unless you are fully tapped. Otherwise use the quick shifter everywhere else

Definitely this /\

I was watching the BSB at Cadwell park earlier in the year and as the bikes were exiting the chicane and going 1st to 2nd you could see the rear suspension and tyre on some of the bikes unload enough to throw the rear tyre clear of the track.

[philcray]

Monster arrived today so went for a quick spin on it, great fun and big step up from the KTM

As mentioned the bike has a quickshifter, when I got back home it was quite fiddly to select neutral once the bike was stationary. On the road I had just popped it into Neutral when cruising to a stop and this was fine. It also gave a "-" for gear position rather than a "N" on occasion although it was in neutral when i (cautiously) let out the clutch.

Any thoughts on this appreciated.

Also when I first set off on the bike I used the clutch without thinking and got a few false neutrals, between 3rd and 4th and 4th & 5th I think. I was riding very gently as getting used to it but presumably you can use the clutch as normal should you wish?

Again any feedback appreciated.

[Krikkit]

I occasionally get false neutrals on my 796 if I'm not positive enough with the shift lever, usually when my feet are cold.

It's also a bit tricky getting into neutral at a standstill, usually trying to get up from first is easiest, but I try and do it on the move now.