1200 GS Quickshifter Issue

[kevm]

I have a small issue-ette with my 2019 GS1200 with the quickshifter. It may be just me being hamfisted/footed. It’s hard to explain but I’ll try. It happens with manual (clutch in, throttle closed) and clutchless (clutch out, throttle closed) changes. It doesn’t seem to happen in quickshifter mode.

What happens is when I open the throttle after a shift there is very occasionally a miss/hesitation. I think what I’m doing is getting ready for the next upshift by putting a little upward pressure on the gear lever at about the same time I open the throttle after the previous one. Could this slight pressure be enough to make the quickshifter cut the power but not change gear? If I consciously keep my toe off the gear lever between changes it doesn’t happen, nor does it when I use full quickshifter mode.

Since it was still under warranty I took it to the dealer, who checked it, did a software update, test rode it and found nothing wrong (thanks Alan Jeffries Rotherham; very helpful dealer).

Something else that makes me think it’s something I’m doing is that the dealer loaned me a GS850 with a quickshifter for a couple of days while they were checking it and I managed to get that to do the same thing twice. It never happened on my S1000XR though. Any thoughts/similar experiences? Hopefully a change in riding style is all that's needed.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Hang on a minute

Are you closing the throttle when using the quickshifter ?

If so dont close the throttle even slightly
Keep it pinned

 

[kevm]

Hang on a minute

Are you closing the throttle when using the quickshifter ?

If so dont close the throttle even slightly
Keep it pinned

I sometimes don't want to ride with the throttle pinned. I also sometimes want to use the clutch. As I said, I know how to make it work; I'm just curious to know what's happening.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I sometimes don't want to ride with the throttle pinned. I also sometimes want to use the clutch. As I said, I know how to make it work; I'm just curious to know what's happening.

Simple
want to use the clutch to change gear then shut the throttle
quickshifter - dont back off the throttle even a little bit
if you mix the 2 principles up neither work correctly

But the shift lever is quites sensitive to upward pressure and will cause a stutter as it ( IIRC) retards the timing to allow the shift so making it think you are about to shift up will possible cause the stutter

Does that make sense

 

[hatzyian]

Up shifts, don't close the throttle
Down shifts, close the throttle

 

[Mr Bean]

With my 1250 (same with my 1200), just make sure you're under acceleration - even slight and it will change up smoothly. When downshifting, throttle closed and on the brakes, rather than just using the gears. Works every time for me.

 

[Flipfly]

Don’t mistake not shutting the throttle as having it pinned to the stop.

Literally as you are accelerating just prod the lever, can be done with a whiff of throttle or pinned wide open, as long as you don’t roll off it should change smoothly (except 1-2).

To change down, roll off the throttle completely, to get used to it, practice by letting go of the throttle completely.

 

[Mr Bean]

Don’t mistake not shutting the throttle as having it pinned to the stop.

Literally as you are accelerating just prod the lever, can be done with a whiff of throttle or pinned wide open, as long as you don’t roll off it should change smoothly (except 1-2).

To change down, roll off the throttle completely, to get used to it, practice by letting go of the throttle completely.

Exactly, some believe that you need to be 'nailing it' going up the box - you don't. On a moderate throttle mine will switch from 1 - 2 smoothly too.

 

[Hann]

Banging on the gear lever when accelerating hard will give a rapid upshift but tends to be a bit abrupt in the midrange engine speed range giving a bit of a `lurch` into the next gear, if you are simply accelerating `normally` through the `box but want to use the quickshifter i find that reducing throttle to a `neutral` setting after reaching the desired speed and then backing off a smidge whilst simultaneously applying pressure to the gear lever will give a near-imperceptable upshift (a similar technique as you would on a bike without a quickshifter, really).
It`s like a game to me to get the shifts as smooth as possible - especially when i have Mrs Hann on the back to avoid the possibility of pillion-to-rider helmet contact and to achieve a seamless a gearchange as possible to ensure maximum comfort and passenger satisfaction.....

 

[kevm]

Simple
want to use the clutch to change gear then shut the throttle
quickshifter - dont back off the throttle even a little bit
if you mix the 2 principles up neither work correctly

But the shift lever is quites sensitive to upward pressure and will cause a stutter as it ( IIRC) retards the timing to allow the shift so making it think you are about to shift up will possible cause the stutter

Does that make sense

Yup,that's what I thought too.

Thanks for the replies; still getting used to it I suppose. I'll get there, just need more practice ...

 

[the woodster]

Another technique that can make the QS smoother is to apply 'preload' to the shifter before moving it through the gate to make the shift. This can take a bit of practice but has worked for me.

 

[bosnjo]

Another technique that can make the QS smoother is to apply 'preload' to the shifter before moving it through the gate to make the shift. This can take a bit of practice but has worked for me.

I thought you can only preload non-quick shifter and if you preload quick shifter it will shift instead of accepting the preload.

 

[Ottocycle]

Downshifting on mine doesn’t seem to work if the throttle is fully closed - it needs to be open a smidge and then is fine. Open too far and it doesn’t work, closed and it doesn’t work. Does it need adjusting?

 

[bosnjo]

Downshifting on mine doesn’t seem to work if the throttle is fully closed - it needs to be open a smidge and then is fine. Open too far and it doesn’t work, closed and it doesn’t work. Does it need adjusting?

No, that's the way sequential gearboxes work.

 

[Mr Bean]

No, that's the way sequential gearboxes work.

It's the opposite of my current and previous GS.

This is what the manual says:

Shift assistance is not available in the following situations:

With clutch lever pulled. shift lever not in its initial position

Upshifts with the throttle valve closed (coasting overrun) and when decelerating.

When shifting down with the throttle valve open or when accelerating.

And:

When braking and downshifting (throttle valve closed), engine speed is adjusted by blipping the throttle.

 

[longdog]

You only need a quick shifter if you want to arrive at your favourite cafe or juice bar 0.02 seconds faster! Fecking quickshifters, my arse!

 

[bosnjo]

You only need a quick shifter if you want to arrive at your favourite cafe or juice bar 0.02 seconds faster! Fecking quickshifters, my arse!

Yes.
Mine doesn't have quickshifter as I didn't want it when I was ordering a new bike. By just adjusting my throttle position and using shifter pedal preload, I can replicate quickshifter with my foot, just out of fun, upshifting and downshifting.
But as I said, it's just for fun. I have never needed quckshifter and when I learned to ride, 40 years ago, there was no such a gadget...

 

[jefformston]

Yes.
Mine doesn't have quickshifter as I didn't want it when I was ordering a new bike. By just adjusting my throttle position and using shifter pedal preload, I can replicate quickshifter with my foot, just out of fun, upshifting and downshifting.
But as I said, it's just for fun. I have never needed quckshifter and when I learned to ride, 40 years ago, there was no such a gadget...

I suspect most of us can do that but it’s not the same as using a quick shifter. I was sceptical of QS after 40 + years of riding but decided to give it a try. Whilst it’s fun to use it when accelerating hard the biggest benefit is when just riding normally and being able to change up and down without needing to use the clutch. On a long day in the mountains no tired left hand from constant gear changes. Certainly changed my view. Mind you I did buy a KTM so maybe their’s is better

 

[CPJS]

I suspect most of us can do that but it’s not the same as using a quick shifter. I was sceptical of QS after 40 + years of riding but decided to give it a try. Whilst it’s fun to use it when accelerating hard the biggest benefit is when just riding normally and being able to change up and down without needing to use the clutch. On a long day in the mountains no tired left hand from constant gear changes. Certainly changed my view. Mind you I did buy a KTM so maybe their’s is better

According to my ex GS owning friends they are, much better.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

According to my ex GS owning friends they are, much better.

The finest quick shifter of them all is on the S1000XR

It is sublime

I have had them on a GSA a KTM and 2 Ducatis and none come close to the one on the XR i had