Gear changing an observation

[Engineer]

Since getting my LC I have found that my gear changing technique has changed. In the past I have almost always 'blipped' the throttle on down changes to match the engine speed to road speed and generally worked my way down the box gear by gear.

On the new bike the situation has reversed and I nearly always just slow the bike and changed down without 'blipping' it just feels more natural with this bike - when slowing for junctions I tend to 'block' change down far more often than I ever did with my twin-cam or 2005 1200.

There is something about the torque, the way the motor spins up and down and the new clutch that negates the need for 'blipping' in order to keep things smooooooth.

The slipper clutch has never come into play either - anyone else noticed this with the new bike???

 

[Giles]

I think this is a serious post

On some of the smoother 4 cyl bikes, you can get a beautiful smooth block change with a sustained rev gear change. It's very much a car technique. (In a car, something like 4th to 2nd, clutch down, and throttle increased whilst clutch is down to meet 2nd gear revs, clutch back up - to get it galaxy chocolate and completely seamless is actually harder than it sounds.. If yer good at it, yer passenger shouldn't even know you've taken a gear!)

On yer bike, typically it'd be something like an empty roundabout. 5th to 3rd, but keep the revs on as you pull the clutch in - click .. click .. seamlessly out. it always suited the smoother motors better than the twins (which as you rightly say, tend to like blip .. blip ..).

Try yer luck ..

 

[Engineer]

I think this is a serious post

On some of the smoother 4 cyl bikes, you can get a beautiful smooth block change with a sustained rev gear change. It's very much a car technique. (In a car, something like 4th to 2nd, clutch down, and throttle increased whilst clutch is down to meet 2nd gear revs, clutch back up - to get it galaxy chocolate and completely seamless is actually harder than it sounds.. If yer good at it, yer passenger shouldn't even know you've taken a gear!)

On yer bike, typically it'd be something like an empty roundabout. 5th to 3rd, but keep the revs on as you pull the clutch in - click .. click .. seamlessly out. it always suited the smoother motors better than the twins (which as you rightly say, tend to like blip .. blip ..).

Try yer luck ..

Yes it was a serious question - I think that I have just naturally fallen into this technique without thinking because of the much smoother LC motor - this way just feels right, but felt wrong on the old engine. It makes gear changing faster and smoother - it is easy to go from say 6th to 3rd or even 5th to second.

 

[Giles]

8 weeks to wait for me ....

 

[Yellow Peril]

Since getting my LC I have found that my gear changing technique has changed. In the past I have almost always 'blipped' the throttle on down changes to match the engine speed to road speed and generally worked my way down the box gear by gear.

On the new bike the situation has reversed and I nearly always just slow the bike and changed down without 'blipping' it just feels more natural with this bike - when slowing for junctions I tend to 'block' change down far more often than I ever did with my twin-cam or 2005 1200.

There is something about the torque, the way the motor spins up and down and the new clutch that negates the need for 'blipping' in order to keep things smooooooth.

The slipper clutch has never come into play either - anyone else noticed this with the new bike???

Has it changed the way you too? what utter twiddle

 

[Flipfly]

Has it changed the way you too? what utter twiddle

I'll add a Twaddle to your Twiddle

I couldn't tell you how I change gear other than I pull the clutch in and click the lever and the gearbox fairies do the rest.

 

[DrFarkoff]

I'll add a Twaddle to your Twiddle

I couldn't tell you how I change gear other than I pull the clutch in and click the lever and the gearbox fairies do the rest.

You've been allowed in again Then LOL

I thought you'd been flushed from the WC section

 

[Humbug]

You've been allowed in again Then LOL

I thought you'd been flushed from the WC section

Nah. He got stuck in the U bend.

 

[Engineer]

Has it changed the way you too? what utter twiddle

I can see that you don't have a clue about much at all.

 

[jonnyp]

I can see that you don't have a clue about much at all.

+1

I double shift up and down (do it a lot in the car too) was difficult on my old 1200 but the LC seems much happier!!

 

[Engineer]

+1

I double shift up and down (do it a lot in the car too) was difficult on my old 1200 but the LC seems much happier!!

Exactly I tend not to double shift-up but do 'block' down changes all the time with this bike - just feels natural on the new bike but not on the old one.

 

[DrFarkoff]

Nah. He got stuck in the U bend.

From Rumours I've heard he wouldn't have made into the Pan or Do I have my brothers the wrong way round?

 

[Lord Snooty]

You've been allowed in again Then LOL

I thought you'd been flushed from the WC section

Nah, he's like that floater that no matter how many times you flush it stubbornly refuses to disappear

 

[Flipfly]

Nah, he's like that floater that no matter how many times you flush it stubbornly refuses to disappear

Calm down chicken or I'll have to remind you and everyone else about your dodgy leather waistcoat.............ooooops

 

[Appman]

The slipper clutch has never come into play either - anyone else noticed this with the new bike???

What are you expecting from it? The fact you no longer "blip" the throttle to spin things, but are simply downshifting would indicate that the Slipper is doing it's job in the background when needed.

I have found that actually blipping the throttle can make things a little clunky on gear change, so have simply been letting the slipper catch things when downshifting at speed.

 

[Myke Rocks]

You just confirmed my worst suspicions

On the new bike the situation has reversed and I nearly always just slow the bike and changed down without 'blipping' it just feels more natural with this bike - when slowing for junctions I tend to 'block' change down far more often than I ever did with my twin-cam or 2005 1200.

Another generation of BMWs with an extremely close ratio gearset.
Not too may gears, just too close together for road as opposed to track use.
When you need to block change, it tells you everything
On previous bikes the 5 and a half speed gearbox was an abortion. A 3 speed gearbox with first, 3rd and 6th would have done the same thing.
Here we go again, with a first too high and and a 6th too low (for economy)
If you are circuit racing or track days, the ratios are superb, but I do not ride across Europe in such a manner.

Myke

 

[Engineer]

What are you expecting from it? The fact you no longer "blip" the throttle to spin things, but are simply downshifting would indicate that the Slipper is doing it's job in the background when needed.

I have found that actually blipping the throttle can make things a little clunky on gear change, so have simply been letting the slipper catch things when downshifting at speed.

I would have expected to detect the slipper clutch operating from the engine note, can't detect a thing though - I don't don't bang rapidly down through the gears and dump the clutch like some numpty power ranger - I'll try it once to see what happens, I would expect to feel a slipper clutch working then

 

[Bendy toy]

Try a downshift with NO clutch. With closed throttle gently press on the gear lever a tiny throttle blip (just enough to unload the gears) and the next lower gear snicks in.

The mention of three speeds reminds me why cant we have had an epicyclic box with 5 or 7 gears? They are more efficient than twin shafts and dont need helical gears or super precision shifters so it cant be manufacturing costs.

 

[Engineer]

Try a downshift with NO clutch. With closed throttle gently press on the gear lever a tiny throttle blip (just enough to unload the gears) and the next lower gear snicks in.

The mention of three speeds reminds me why cant we have had an epicyclic box with 5 or 7 gears? They are more efficient than twin shafts and dont need helical gears or super precision shifters so it cant be manufacturing costs.

I have too much mechanical sympathy to risk no clutch downshifts - clutches are cheaper than gearboxes, especially as it is now at the front of the bike.

 

[Myke Rocks]

I am 65 years old

I have too much mechanical sympathy to risk no clutch downshifts - clutches are cheaper than gearboxes, especially as it is now at the front of the bike.

And have been doing clutchless up and downshifts for a lifetime.
In that time, I have only had one gearbox failure. On the loose 35 years ago on a Husqvarna 400. Gearbox failure on these was notorious. I overtightened a sprocket securing left hand thread. My fault, but not because of the clutchless shifting.

Maybe you need some more mechanical sympathy to learn how to do it without crunching.

Myke