WHY GP shift pattern???

[GLantern]

Did you shift w/clutch or without clutch? I used to catch false neutrals with standard shift too until I learned to go clutchless. Once you learn that, it's super smooth and fast. In fact, I can't even imagine a false neutral from clutchless upshifts because you put pressure on the shift lever, then quickly chop the throttle. Since you already have the pressure there, it pops into gear everytime.

I'm personally still working on the whole clutchless thing but i find downshifting without a clutch can be very touchy on my bike.  Upshifting on the other hand isn't much of a problem but i am still an advocate of the clutch at the moment.  ANd i feel a lot of regular riders are the same way.

[fasterblkduc]

I don't think i was clear enough i'm not talking about midcorner, you shouldn't be shifting midcorner no matter what.  I'm talking about the drive out of the corner.  After the apex it is much easier to just tap down on the shifter in my personal experience when i am slammed back into my seat from acceleration.  When i had standard shift trying to pull my body back up to wedge my foot under would upset the chassis.  And when i'm driving out of that corner going from 60 upto 110 in the blink of an eye and still maybe a little bit leaned over i'd rather keep everything as stable as possible.

I know in a perfect world you should not be shifting till the bike is perfectly stood up straight, if you hit the corner correctly.  But we are not all perfect riders as i stated previously nor do we have the $$ to set up the gearing perfectly for every track or street situation.  From a standard riders perspective i feel having a gp shift after the apex of a corner would make it easier on the rider and the bike.

But like you said it is preference and i am talking only about one example, even though it is the whole reason i switched to gp shift.

Gotcha...the most common explanation that I hear over and over is people saying that it's so you can shift up while fully leaned over without scraping your toes....this is a very bad habit. You are explaining something totally different than what most people say.

[Cloner]

Gotcha...the most common explanation that I hear over and over is people saying that it's so you can shift up while fully leaned over without scraping your toes....this is a very bad habit. You are explaining something totally different than what most people say.

I'm with you on this one, Fasterblkduc.  I've refrained from commenting after I made my opinion on the subject known (standard WORKS better for me), but I've always found the full lean shift arguement lame beyond comment.  I figure anyone who uses that stance has never actually ridden hard enough to know what he's talking about, so I don't bother to rebut.

As to your clutchless downshift thought, I, too, have considered this and I've tried it out in casual riding.  It doesn't work very well for me.  I figure it's because the dogs on the gears are undercut, so when upshifting they engage positively, but on downshift there's no "ramp" to help force the two gears, rotating at vastly different speeds, to mesh.  YMMV.

As to the shifting whilst leaned point of view, I find this to be a common event.  I don't mean shifting at or near the apex, but at many racetracks (and tight to semitight roads) it's not uncommon to shift whilst still at a fair angle of lean.  I don't know about you guys, but my bikes have fairly narrow ratioed transmissions and can run through a full gear in under 50 yards, especially in the lower gears.  Therefore, it's not uncommon to run out of steam a few dozen yards off the corner apex, inducing a need to shift.  Often, especially in the situation of a loosening double apex or a chain of linked same-handed corners, I'll shift up, and maybe even back down, whilst still canted.  Think of Roebling Road and the 7-8-9 complex...all right handers with very little time on the fat part of the tire.....yet 9 is much faster than 7-8.  Here at Sandia, turns 3 and 4 are left handers with 3 a 2nd gear turn and 4 is 3rd or 4th gear (depending on the bike)...yet the bike never gets quite vertical between them.  No choice but to shift leaned, but not at full lean.  Standard shift has never been a problem for me. 

I've tried GP.  In fact, I have a 250 Aermacchi that is "reverse shift" (though it came that way....no change on my part) and I can't easily change it. (no room to flip the mechanism on either end).  I ride it that way.  I prefer standard.  OH...and speaking of oops....not only is the Aermacchi the only bike I currently own with "reverse shift", but it also shifts on the right.  That'll drive a man to  .

[Cider]

I tried it and switched back.  It wasn't bad, but I didn't see any big advantage to it.  Plus, most bikes are street-shift, and it's easier for me to switch bikes if I stick to one style.  BTW, I never use the clutch for upshifts on the track.

As somebody noted, Schwantz doesn't use GP shift, and I believe he said Mladin doesn't either (I could be mis-remembering, though).  Also, Ienatsch said it's more useful for 2-stroke bikes with a tiny powerband.

[derby]

As somebody noted, Schwantz doesn't use GP shift, and I believe he said Mladin doesn't either (I could be mis-remembering, though).  Also, Ienatsch said it's more useful for 2-stroke bikes with a tiny powerband.

mladin doesn't because of an ankle injury (ultralight accident that almost ended his career).

[DoubleEagle]

I have ridden my 1098 R which is race setup with the Full ( open ) Termignoni Exhaust and DP ECU ,but have ridden it 5062 miles on the street only.

I try and ride it hard on the back roads in the " Hills " and " Forests "  of Southern , Ohio where I can pretty much ride as fast as I feel comfortable.

What I do is down shift as I approach a corner an let the engine break for me and if need be add some front break just enough to hit the corner at a speed that will allow me to get thru it and carry enough rpms to where I reach the apex and can roll on the the throttle hard so I'm not in a position to need to shift any time during a corner.

Corners are to me all set up by line and down shifting into the right gear which will allow me with some help from the front brake to go ahead and blast out of the apex .

Dolph      

[MendoDave]

Well as for me, Ive been shifting with a standard shift since age 12 and the pattern is set.

[kingbaby]

Up shifted (up) from age 4-35, went GP for 5 yrs., back to "standard" on my first 1098 7K, now 16K on my 1098S set up GP for the past 6K.  Only times I've screwed up has been leaving the garage in 2nd gear & 1 highway patrol OH SHIT!
I have 3 other bikes in the garage all set up standard & I don't even think about it, I just know which bike I'm on.  They are all so different that you can't forget any part of the bike...including how to shift it.

Ride your ride, and make decisions that suit you and no one else. 

[DoubleEagle]

Up shifted (up) from age 4-35, went GP for 5 yrs., back to "standard" on my first 1098 7K, now 16K on my 1098S set up GP for the past 6K.  Only times I've screwed up has been leaving the garage in 2nd gear & 1 highway patrol OH SHIT!
I have 3 other bikes in the garage all set up standard & I don't even think about it, I just know which bike I'm on.  They are all so different that you can't forget any part of the bike...including how to shift it.

Ride your ride, and make decisions that suit you and no one else. 

kingbaby, your last statement pretty well sums it up.

Dolph     

[vwboomer]

all set up standard & I don't even think about it, I just know which bike I'm on.  They are all so different that you can't forget any part of the bike...including how to shift it.

Ride your ride, and make decisions that suit you and no one else. 

I think that's why I have no problem switching from the GasGas to the Duc and back again. The riding position is so different that I don't even have to think about which way to shift.

[KRJ]

   Yeah, suicide shift with a mousetrap clutch to right foot shift ,left brake , to left shift{both patterns} right brake, to Jawa one shift and no brakes, Oh shit!! what am I RIDING?? Good point King...

[Speeddog]

Well as for me, Ive been shifting with a standard shift since age 12 and the pattern is set.

Me too. 

[enzo]

Since switching to GP shift, I have gotten so much ass.

[grandpa nate]

boogers sticky

[fasterblkduc]

Since switching to GP shift, I have gotten so much ass.

High Five!