shift patterns

Message

iwannadie · #1 Unread post by **iwannadie** » Tue May 24, 2005 2:16 am

ive seen this talked about before but im wondering. do race bikes really have the gears reversed, pressing down on the shifter(after your in 1st gear) actually shifts Up a gear, instead of Down a gear like a normal street bike? whats the reason behind it. why hasnt any street bike used this method. do they think riders will be confused by the whole pressing down on the gear shift actually shifts up gears. youd think if the racers use it then theres gotta be a good enough reason behind it?

Itzamna · #2 Unread post by **Itzamna** » Tue May 24, 2005 7:22 am

They are reversed on the race bikes. You can buy reversal conversions for street bikes as well. I've seen a couple people in town do it. I really don't know the reason honestly though. I'm sure someone else here will.

Macka · #3 Unread post by **Macka** » Tue May 24, 2005 8:03 am

I believe it makes it easier for the racers to up shift, don't have to take the foot off the peg/shift lever. But I forget why this makes them faster exactly...

#4 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue May 24, 2005 9:29 am

It's a lot easier and faster to just tap your toe down when trying to shift up then it is to swing your toe wide, wedge it under the level and pull up.

It's one of those speed things...

Telesque · #5 Unread post by **Telesque** » Tue May 24, 2005 9:31 am

It's probably more of a safety issue than a performance thing.

Slap-Bassist531 · Tue May 24, 2005 10:24 am

What kind of bike is considered a race bike? Is a Kawasaki 500? Kawasaki 6R? How exactly do you consider a bike a race bike?

oldnslo · #7 Unread post by **oldnslo** » Tue May 24, 2005 11:46 am

One of the main reasons is they never have to place their left foot UNDER the shift lever, compromising ground clearance at high lean angles.

Kawasaki · #8 Unread post by **Kawasaki** » Tue May 24, 2005 11:58 am

Hmm, I would prefer if the first bike I got, you could push down on the shifter, and it shifts up, like my quad!

Telesque · #9 Unread post by **Telesque** » Tue May 24, 2005 2:52 pm

oldnslo wrote:One of the main reasons is they never have to place their left foot UNDER the shift lever, compromising ground clearance at high lean angles.

This makes sense. Heck, I scrap my boot on the ground as it is, and I'm riding a cruiser.

Telesque · #10 Unread post by **Telesque** » Tue May 24, 2005 2:53 pm

Slap-Bassist531 wrote:What kind of bike is considered a race bike? Is a Kawasaki 500? Kawasaki 6R? How exactly do you consider a bike a race bike?

Er.. Any bike used for racing.

A Corvette is a Corvette, but when you decide to race it, you're going to make modifications. Basically, it's a do-it-yourself mod, except that racing teams have mechanics who do it for you. I think?