braking

[Smix]

:}:}:} @ Crazy Train!!!!


I think I need to use the clutch in moderation then as I only lock the rear wheel when I'm changing down if I'm also braking. Probably shouldn't ride the way I do, then it wouldn't happen!!


Centaur - :k

 

[fatboystew5]

Now I'm confused, easily done i know, but why is it necessary to change down if you are travelling at high speed?? Some say that blipping is important if you ride at high speeds, but I really dont see a need for it and think it must stem from ye olde machines. I honestly believe that it is unnecessary on todays machines.


If you is doing say... 180mph, why would you want to change down?? its the last thing I would think about doing!!! And I'm the CRAZY train!!

If you need to slow in a hurry, then surely just using the clutch in moderation will slow the bike quick without a lockup. So the only use I can think of is as stated, it might sound nice. And there is no shame in not blipping, in fact, I am going to be the founder of the anti-blipping society!! So blip off you blipping blippers.man8um

Think you have missed the point Crazy! Firstly,

If you need to slow in a hurry, then surely just using the clutch in moderation will slow the bike quick without a lockup

My clutch doesn't slow me down - its the other lever mate!!

Anyway, say you are pressing on riding a lovely smooth clear road in the Isle of Man at, say, 120ish and you see a couple of bends coming up that you need to slow to around 70 or 80 for. Lets assume you were in 4th or 5th at the time, you will probably want 3rd for the corners (or 2nd if you are a complete nutter...) so what do you do? You don't back off, pull the clutch in, bang down 2 gears while braking with your foot then let the clutch out do you? If you did you are most likely to lock the rear wheel as the clutch engages!

So, you approach at 120 or whatever, apply bit of both brakes, pull in the clutch, drop your 1 or 2 gears as required but just before you ease out the clutch you either give the throttle a good blip or open the throttle to get the revs to around 6 or 7 thou (and hold it there) then ease the clutch out - 3rd will engage smoothly as you ease off the rear brake, lean for the corners and power out of the bend in 3rd. Lovely!

True, if you are in town and the engine is in the lower 3rd of its range then you don't need it as much, normally because as you change to a lower gear your road speed has dropped therefore the revs required for the lower gear are minimal.

When was the last time you did 180mph and weren't sitting in a plane anyway? :neenaw:

 

[Centaur]

Nice description FBS

Really enjoyed that corner!

 

[Smix]

Anyway, say you are pressing on riding a lovely smooth clear road in the Isle of Man at, say, 120ish and you see a couple of bends coming up that you need to slow to around 70 or 80 for. Lets assume you were in 4th or 5th at the time, you will probably want 3rd for the corners (or 2nd if you are a complete nutter...) so what do you do? You don't back off, pull the clutch in, bang down 2 gears while braking with your foot then let the clutch out do you? If you did you are most likely to lock the rear wheel as the clutch engages!

thats it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! must learn to be more reserved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :} :} :} :neenaw:

 

[D.S.]

thats it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! must learn to be more reserved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :} :} :} :neenaw:

Alternatively, break less and learn to carry more corner speed!

 

[Allan]

At last someones hit the nail...

Reading all the posts I'm surpirsed its taken this long for someone to venture onto the possability that Smix might be changing down more than one gear at a time and then dumping the clutch.

This WILL lock the back for a few seconds, with or without brakes.

Smix me old flower, try braking down to the speed you need - ie 60 down to 30 and selecting the gear you need for that speed (ie from 6th to 3rd?), and SLOWLY letting the clutch out. No need to blip, it will gently mesh and wont lock the back up. Keep yer foot off the back brake and use the front only, this will also help avoid putting extra braking on the rear wheel when the clutch is in.

Alternativly, come down the box one gear at at time and get used to how the revs alter before jumping more than one gear.

Trial and error....

But altimately, bliping does make for smoother changes and better riding, both for the bike and a pillion if carrying one. Plus is sounds good.

Buzz.

 

[Smix]

DS - definitely what I need to do - getting there!!!


Allan - I never go down more than one at a time, specially at speed, but I do sometimes go from silly to sensible quite quickly - often with a little lock up on each gear change - always makes me smile but I'm told it is dangerous, silly and irresponsible on public roads - or something like that!!!
Basically, I just figured that the lock up was just what happened if you decelerated fast down through the gears. Now I know different, I need to go learn how to be sensible, and then decide whether to be or not!!!!!!!!! :}:}:}

 

[fatboystew5]

Really enjoyed that corner!

Was pretty special wasn't it? :-: Felt good to me....

 

[Allan]

DS - definitely what I need to do - getting there!!!


Allan - I never go down more than one at a time, specially at speed, but I do sometimes go from silly to sensible quite quickly - often with a little lock up on each gear change - always makes me smile but I'm told it is dangerous, silly and irresponsible on public roads - or something like that!!!
Basically, I just figured that the lock up was just what happened if you decelerated fast down through the gears. Now I know different, I need to go learn how to be sensible, and then decide whether to be or not!!!!!!!!! :}:}:}

Smix, yep it can ne a bit dangerous. If the wheel locks in the wet or on a slippy surface, say a manhole, then next time it bites it could highside you if you are on a slight angle as it will suddenly grab at the next adhesive surface. This would be an extreme case, but possible.
Aside from this, its sntaches at the chain, gears, tyres ad causes excssive wear and tear in all and eventually failure and new parts needed.

No matter how fast you change down just try letting the clutch out gently, dont just dump it quickly. You can dump it quick going up the box but dont do it coming down - Feed it in slowly.

Do you drive a car? - if so try this. Get up to 40ish on a straight road and get into 4th gear. Without using the clutch push the gear stick out of gear into neutral. Keep you foot off the accelerator and try pushing the gear stick into 3rd gear, it wont want to go in, but if you rev the engine by giving the accelerator a large 'blip' and than apply a firm but gentle pressure to the stick it will now pop in.
Whats happening here is that you are matching the engine speed to the revoloutions of the gear box. By revving the engine at some time on its way down from the high revs you have just given it to the low revs of an idleing engine, the two speeds of the box and engine will meet. At that point the gear will slip in without the need for the clutch.

This is what you are trying to do on the bike, match the two speeds of the engine and the gear box. This is done by bliping the throttle when the clutch is in. It has to be done fairly quickly as the bikes engine speed will drop off quicker than that of a car.

So its an 'all in one' movement really, at the time of pulling the clutch in you are already dropping to a lower gear, at the same time you give the throttle a short sharp blip to where you think the revs are needed and then you let the clutch out. What should happen is that the change is nice and smooth with no snatch to the rear wheel and no lurching of rider or pillion. Neat.!!

Buzz.

 

[Smix]

Thanx Allan - I do drive, but automatic now!! But I do understand (have driven buses that need the revs matching to have the slightest hope of getting the gear!). I can do the blip (now I've practiced) on normal slowing down. I physically can't use the brake lever and blip the throttle at the same time at the mo, but a friend is going to see if we can 'make' the lever come in further than the standard adjustment this next week. :yo:


I have to say that whilst I am over agressive with letting the clutch out sometimes, it is not my everyday style!! Certainly not in the wet!! Generally only if i've been playing and still got the silly head on. But I will endeavour to smooth things out even then. :blush:

When I used to take pillion, my riding was 100% different to when I ride alone. Having been chucked about on the back of sports bikes before I got my licence, there was no way I would put someone else through that. so my riding with pillion might be generally very boring, but its very smooth. So I can do it!! Its just not so quick!!! but then I don't take pillion anymore :}