Braking while downshifting/Blipping the throttle: Difference between revisions
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The fundamentals are that each gear is a different gear ratio. Let’s make up some numbers for illustration purposes. Pretend that 3rd gear at 10,000 rpm is 50 mph, and 4th gear 50 mph is 8000 rpm. So, we're riding along in 4th gear. We slow to 50mph and shift down. If we don't do anything, just slam it into 3rd gear, the engine has to rev up to 10,000 rpm. The rear wheel pushes the engine, basically. If the differential in revs is too great, the rear tire can chirp and the bike can dance about. | The fundamentals are that each gear is a different gear ratio. Let’s make up some numbers for illustration purposes. Pretend that 3rd gear at 10,000 rpm is 50 mph, and 4th gear 50 mph is 8000 rpm. So, we're riding along in 4th gear. We slow to 50mph and shift down. If we don't do anything, just slam it into 3rd gear, the engine has to rev up to 10,000 rpm. The rear wheel pushes the engine, basically. If the differential in revs is too great, the rear tire can chirp and the bike can dance about. | ||
What we are trying to do is blip enough so that the engine will spin the rear tire at the same speed the rear tire is rolling along the ground. Get it right and it will be smooth. Too small or no blip and you could lose traction. This is a problem at higher rpms in particular. Slowly decelerating isn't the same thing. So, when slowing down quickly you can either feather the clutch | What we are trying to do is blip enough so that the engine will spin the rear tire at the same speed the rear tire is rolling along the ground. Get it right and it will be smooth. Too small or no blip and you could lose traction. This is a problem at higher rpms in particular. Slowly decelerating isn't the same thing. So, when slowing down quickly you can either feather the clutch or blip the throttle to match the rpms. | ||
====How to blip==== | ====How to blip==== | ||
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Obviously, this is a technique that needs to be practiced on a lonely stretch of asphalt, or as lonely and straight as you can find. A good way to practice the blip technique is at times when you don't need to apply the brake (mostly because trying to practice blipping and applying the front brake at the same time is tricky). For example, while on the highway or open road you can attempt to keep your speed constant but downshift a gear or two using the blip technique, then shift back up. Your RPMs will change, but the goal is to keep your speed constant and smooth. After perfecting this, you can practice combining it with the front brake. | Obviously, this is a technique that needs to be practiced on a lonely stretch of asphalt, or as lonely and straight as you can find. A good way to practice the blip technique is at times when you don't need to apply the brake (mostly because trying to practice blipping and applying the front brake at the same time is tricky). For example, while on the highway or open road you can attempt to keep your speed constant but downshift a gear or two using the blip technique, then shift back up. Your RPMs will change, but the goal is to keep your speed constant and smooth. After perfecting this, you can practice combining it with the front brake. | ||
'''More information''' at the [http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/146_0402_shift_blip_throttle/index.html Sport Rider] website. Note in the last paragraph that even some good racers don't use this technique. You'll have to let the clutch out smoothly and gradually if you don't blip. | |||
====Notes from the Voice of Experience==== | ====Notes from the Voice of Experience==== | ||
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The way you do this is: While downshifting through the gears, hit the throttle hard and then let off (very quickly) just at the instant you release the clutch. You'll want to give it enough throttle to raise the rpms by about 1,500-2000. If you do this in quick succession while going through the gears (downshifting) it will become a rhythmic second-nature habit that occurs simultaneously to braking. Once this is perfected, it's possible to brake hard into a turn (before the turn) and downshift, while at the same time avoiding any rear wheel slide. This works best in the lower gears, where it's possible to quickly downshift through three or four gears much quicker than the bike slows down. | The way you do this is: While downshifting through the gears, hit the throttle hard and then let off (very quickly) just at the instant you release the clutch. You'll want to give it enough throttle to raise the rpms by about 1,500-2000. If you do this in quick succession while going through the gears (downshifting) it will become a rhythmic second-nature habit that occurs simultaneously to braking. Once this is perfected, it's possible to brake hard into a turn (before the turn) and downshift, while at the same time avoiding any rear wheel slide. This works best in the lower gears, where it's possible to quickly downshift through three or four gears much quicker than the bike slows down. | ||