down shifting

[chrissarjeant]

Hi . I need help / advice when changing down gears alot of riders blip throttle to make a smooth change , I have been trying this on the road and it s ok but tomorrow I am at oulton and I need to try to blip throttle and brake and change at the same time . I like to use track days to learn and would appreciate any help or tips anyone can give .Also do you use 4 or2 fingers for braking.Thanks Chris

[Bike Ace]

A little blip of gas on the down change will do two things. Obviously you are raising the engine speed to make up for the difference between the higher gear and the lower gear to make the downshift smoother, you don't have to get it exact, because your clutch will absorb a little if you don't get it right(particularly if you have a slipper clutch). Even with reducing road speed, due to braking, you are taking a slight risk by not blipping the throttle to raise the engine speed as, just going down a gear could cause the rear wheel to lock up, even momentarily, that will make the tyre slide. Take it nice and easy, be smooth and feed the clutch back in without 'flicking' it. Feed it. Listen/feel the motor as the road speed reduces and you go down the'box.

As for fingers, it's totally up to you and what works. On track I ride with the thottle hand (bit weird this!) with the middle two fingers on the brake lever and the index and pinkie on the twistgrip... told you it was weird.. ahem.. but it works for me. That way I'm in control of both throttle and brake and can distribute even pressure/force on the lever and still have throttle control using the other two digits and my palm.

Practice, don't rush it, be smooth. You can add speed once you get the basic techniques. Ask one of the instructors on your track day, if they are any good they'll spend time with you getting you comfortable whatever you level of riding is.

Let us know how you get on.

[black-k1]

As Bike Ace has said, being smooth is the key. While learning/practicing the technique it is much better to be a little slower and get it right than to rush it and get it wrong.

Do I use 2 or 4 fingers – well, just to be difficult, I use 3! My little finger is off the throttle but I tend not to use it on the brake lever. I find I have better control without the little finger stretching to the lever. I also find that while I can brake with two fingers the hand becomes a little tired after a while where three fingers reduces the overall effort.

Let us know what works for you.

[tim2100]

I use three fingers also. I keep my index finger on the throttle. that way I keep control fo throttle at the same time as braking.

[chrissarjeant]

Brilliant had a great day except for rain on last two sessions,practised blipping and braking with 1,2and 3 fingers and found it varied depending on the corner as to what felt best.Also asked other riders if they use the back brake and this seems to be split 50/50 ,with some saying they have never used the back on the track or road.Thanks for advice

[black-k1]

Good to hear you had a great day and well done on the effort to find out what best suited you for braking and blipping the throttle.

As regards rear brake, have a read of this thread

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=240117&f=74&h=0&

then give the little brake test described a go and see what works for you.

[chrissarjeant]

Just read it ,think ill go and have a play and experiment once I have put all the mirrors back on etc.Thanks

[sjtscott]

tim2100 said:

I use three fingers also. I keep my index finger on the throttle. that way I keep control fo throttle at the same time as braking.

Snap! Riding around london for 6 years means that you generally always need you brakes covered.. so more than practiced at throttle and brake control at the same time.