Bike engined cars: semi-auto or fully manual??

[msisleman]

Hi, I am currently designing the manual gear change system on my Universitys SAE Formula Student racing car. It is a spaceframe open wheeled chassis with a CBR 600 powerplant. I need to work out which direction is best with regards to gear change.

As part of my research, I'd like to ask everyone on here which gear change system do you prefer on a bike engined car:

Semi-auto electronic with buttons on wheel and spark cut (or similar) system.

Manual mechanical gear change with sequential stick and foot operated clutch.

Thanks a lot for helping, and if anyone wants to add any thing or help me out further please feel free!

Cheers,

Craig.

[Jubal]

I'm just fitting a halfway house to mine. Retaining the gearstick but using ignition cut for flat, clutchless upshift and automated throttle blip for clutchless downshifts. www.trickshifter.com

[Alex@POD]

Jubal said:

I'm just fitting a halfway house to mine. Retaining the gearstick but using ignition cut for flat, clutchless upshift and automated throttle blip for clutchless downshifts. www.trickshifter.com

If I had a choice I'd go with that, because I would prefer the driving experience. But in your case it would depend on what would make the car faster, or the project more interesting, wouldn't it?

However as long as it is manual with a stick i'll be happy, if it's clutchless it's just a bonus.

[Kiwi XTR2]

I've got a Pro-Shift with paddles.

Not sure I'd call it a semi-auto though? There are no smarts in it which will change gears, in certain pre-set conditions, without paddle input.