[dave...]

I've looked at many threads already but for some reason I just haven't gotten the hang of blipping downshifts yet. Perhaps my technique is off?

So if I have this right, I should simultaneously (if not, then what order?):

1. Pull in clutch lever
2. Downshift
3. "Blip" the throttle to about 1-1.5k RPM higher

And then

4. Release the clutch lever.

Is this right?

As far as what "blipping" actually means and the timing of the clutch lever release, should I:

A. quickly increase the throttle 1-1.5k RPM, release/return the throttle back down, and THEN release the clutch lever as the throttle has already begun going down.

OR

B. quickly increase the throttle 1-1.5k RPM, and THEN release the clutch lever at the height of the throttle raise essentially beginning the return of the throttle while in gear.

?

I thought the correct method was A but I feel incredibly slow or my timing is off compared to some videos I've seen which actually looks like maybe its method B.

Example:

 

[ShawnMc_K1]

It's weird at first but after u do it for awhile u will never downshift without lol.


Sent from my Motorcycle iPhone app

 

[Minibull]

IMO, as hard as it sounds, try not to think about it too much...

Dont think in terms of "1k to 1.5k rpms". Just clutch in, gear down, quick blip and let the clutch out pretty much together.

Also, letting the clutch slip a bit when releasing can smooth things out a bit more if you happen to blip too much, or too little.



It took me a while to figure out, just give it some time and keep trying :thumbup

 

[fastboatster]

i have another problem here, however. when I downshift and brake not so hard, it works just fine, but when I brake hard and hold on to the gas tank with my knees, when I'm trying to move my leg to press on gear shift lever, I lose the grip, start sliding onto the tank and sometimes downshift gets botched because of this. what do I do to tackle this problem?

 

[milhouse]

try adjusting your shift lever maybe? You shouldn't have to move your whole leg to shift just your ankle. As far as getting blipping the throttle down, repetition is my best advice. Just keep doing it and eventually you will get it smooth and it wil become second nature.

 

[kwaka10r]

The sequence is:

1) Clutch in.
2) Blip throttle.
3) Down change.
4) Clutch out.

You'll get the hang of it. If you rev too high or too low it will clunck going in to the lower gear. Get it matched right and it will drop in smoothly.

 

[MikeDVB]

It just takes practice. If you don't match it up right you'll have one of two things happen:
1. Jerkiness
2. Extra wear on the clutch

It's one of those things that just takes a lot of practice to master. Ideally you match your RPM to the speed at which you will be in the lower gear at the speed your wheel is currently turning.

It took me a while to master it in my car back when I was learning to heel-toe but on the motorcycle (after having mastered the car years upon years ago) it took me a week or two to get it down pat.

 

[GReese87]

try adjusting your shift lever maybe? You shouldn't have to move your whole leg to shift just your ankle. As far as getting blipping the throttle down, repetition is my best advice. Just keep doing it and eventually you will get it smooth and it wil become second nature.

Yes I agree its like everything else practice makes perfect...I've done this with my old bike and the bike I have now but still once in a while will mess up n give just a little too much or a little too less throttle...u will always mess up here and there because its hard to b perfect 100% of the time...IMO its the better u know your bike the better u will b at it ex. Clutch release, how fast the idles go up when u blip the throttle, etc. Every bike is different so u just gotta get the hang of it by practice...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Motorcycle.com App

 

[Spitz04]

The reason for it is to get the engine into the rpm range that the downshift would speed the engine up to approximatly. Its just for a seemless downshift. On my cruiser I do it on the street for a smoother ride, on my trackbike I dont bother with it, under full braking I like feathering the clutch on a downshift and utilizing the engine braking it can give me. Plus I dont like screwing with my right hand trying to twist the throttle and brake hard all at the same time, at least with the stock throttle. I have a quick turn now that may make it a little easier to do it now.

Ps- doign it in a parking lot probably isnt the best place to get the feel for doing it. Works better the faster you go (TRACK!)

 

[cainyboy]

As minibull said, don't think about the sequence, just do it. How do you normally change down? do whatever is the norm for you but just add a blip.

Imagine you sneezed and for that split second opened the throttle, it should be no more than that.

My sequence:
1 clutch in
2 blip and change down
3 clutch out

This shows it well, watch his throttle:

 

[dave...]

But what does "blip" mean? Clutch in, raise throttle to rev match + hold throttle, clutch out + off throttle... or clutch in, raise throttle and off throttle, clutch out trying to match revs as it drops?

 

[gixxerbaxter]

im pretty sure it's clutch out once your revs are on their way down

 

[tribulation138]

been doing this technique for a while. And I naturally alter the amount of blipping on throttle according to my engine sound. I dont even need to look at my tachometer. In my experience too, blipping on the throttle when down hill shifting is a little different than on flat land.

I think everybody does it alittle different.

 

[cainyboy]

But what does "blip" mean? Clutch in, raise throttle to rev match + hold throttle, clutch out + off throttle... or clutch in, raise throttle and off throttle, clutch out trying to match revs as it drops?

Blipping the throttle is a quick snap of the wrist, open then close.

Clutch in, blip the release clutch.

Right, You know sometimes when you change down you get a 'jerk'? thats because the gearbox quickly forces up the engine revs, the point of rev matching is to get the engine somewhere near the revs that the gearbox is going to try to force it upto.

It doesn't matter if your quick twist on-off the throttle raises the revs by only 4-500 RPM as long as it is closer to the revs when you change down, it helps eliminates that 'jerk'. In racing it is used as the back wheel can sometimes lock-up as they very quickly drop down a few gears so they have to get the revs to match at each drop down to help eliminate the gearbox and engine trying to fight each other.

So once again.

Clutch
Quick snap open and close of throttle
Release clutch.

It gets easier with practice and you don't have to be dead on just somewhere near with the matching.

 

[yup]

since i saw this thread yesterday i've been practicing. i'm getting the hang of it but wondering how you guys are braking while doing this? (if you do)

the front brake should be out of the question... which means the only brake to use during blipping downshifts would be rear?

if so, do you keep the rear brake steady/static? do you adjust brake pressure at any point?

ofc, if you don't brake while doing this, the question doesn't rly apply to you.

it's always fun learning new shit n feels so... "right" when it happens lol

 

[!ThatGuy!]

You can use the front brake while blipping. It just takes time to get used to it. Its hard to explain, but you kind of put enough pressure on the brake lever to pull it in to the desired braking capacity, yet softly enough to allow your fingers on the brake lever to "slide" while you blip the throttle. Like I said hard to explain, but thats basically how you do it. So yes, you can use front brake while blipping......

.....More experienced guys correct me if im wrong.

 

[tribulation138]

i apply front brake, release front brake, blip throttle and down shift, apply front brake again.. using the rear brake the whole time.

 

[yup]

i apply front brake, release front brake, blip throttle and down shift, apply front brake again.. using the rear brake the whole time.

interesting... this makes more sense to me than grabbing front while blipping. it just seems counter intuitive and might be more trouble than needed. then again, if it came down to a point where i NEEDED front + rear braking matching the revs on the blipped downshifts would be the last thing on my mind lol.

thanks for the inputs :thumbup

 

[Minibull]

You can use the front brake while blipping. It just takes time to get used to it. Its hard to explain, but you kind of put enough pressure on the brake lever to pull it in to the desired braking capacity, yet softly enough to allow your fingers on the brake lever to "slide" while you blip the throttle. Like I said hard to explain, but thats basically how you do it. So yes, you can use front brake while blipping......

.....More experienced guys correct me if im wrong.

No, that seems pretty much right to me. I used to use my middle and ring finger on the brake, which made me always grab the brake harder when blipping. Reason for that is I would have to tighten my grip to get my index finger to hold onto the throttle.
I have got myself using the index and middle now, and it is a lot easier. Keep the two fingers kinda relaxed and they move with the rest of my hand when blipping, so my brakes stay constant.

On the open road I only use the front brake for entering corners, only use the rear brake sometimes to "steady" things going into a corner.
In town I pretty much only use the rear brake. Use a lot of engine braking too, so I only have to brake the last few metres-ish.

 

[fastboatster]

so I see this thread didn't die. yeah, blipping without braking is easy, however, I'm still having a problem with it when braking. as i said earlier, if I brake hard and holding onto the tank with my knees, when I slightly move my left leg to press down on the lever, I start to slide forward. adjusted my gear shift lever height, tried a few positions, better but still not there. apparently, I have to kick down on the lever using just a movement in my ankle, right? possibly, rearsets could help me, but at this point where I think I'm done with both my 'zuks, i don't feel like to invest in them