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A racebike is one that runs on a racetrack only. You don't have one.

You can switch any bike over to race pattern if it has a linkage from the shift lever to the shift input shat. Just flip the connector on the input shaft 180 degrees. Make dam sure you want to do this first, and keep it in mind at all times when riding. Shifting down instead of up will make you look stupid at the least and blow your engine or dump your azz at worst.

Why mess with what works? And what you have trained yourself to do as second nature? You will gain no benifits from race pattern gearing on the street, just make it easier for someone (or you) to screw up, or for you to screw up someone elses bike if you ever take a spin on a non-switched bike.

The benifits (none) don't outweight the hazards (many).

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.

Right. They don't have to somehow wiggle the toe of their left boot under the shifter in preparation for an upshift while heeled over in a corner, which, if you think about, isn't the easiest thing to do when you're dragging your left knee. All downshifting (or "up-toe-ing") is done before entering a corner on a racetrack, while the bike is upright and easier to control should the rear break traction. Really, it's adviseable for all riders to get in this habit on the street, too. With a reverse pattern, as soon as a racer powers out of a corner he's already set up for the next upshift, which on a racebike comes about as fast as you can blink. All he has to do is tap-tap-tap.
Why don't we use reverse patterns on the street? Tradition, I guess, and, well... up is up, and down is down. Easier for dimwits like me to understand.

ok it all makes sense now thanks everyone ; )

but heres a dumb question. why dont they make a gear shift lever that has two parts, one going under the foot one going over. then they wouldnt have to move their foot around the lever. but just toe up/down to shift avoiding that whole swinging their foot our and around the lever?

iwannadie wrote:ok it all makes sense now thanks everyone ; )

but heres a dumb question. why dont they make a gear shift lever that has two parts, one going under the foot one going over. then they wouldnt have to move their foot around the lever. but just toe up/down to shift avoiding that whole swinging their foot our and around the lever?

Interesting idea...... you should design and market such a shifter. I would be interested to see if it sold well. And hey, it could make you rich. Or poor.....

I can say for myself, I wouldn't be too interested in one. Almost like trapping your foot into one position on the peg, and I like to move around some on the bike. Such a shifter may cause problems during animated riding when moving from side-to-side....

Lots of cruisers use a similar setup, but use a normal type footpad on the front and extend a second pad behind the piviot so you push down on it with your heel to shift up.

ive seen the heal toe shifters but never liked the idea of that actually.

BuzZz wrote:

iwannadie wrote:ok it all makes sense now thanks everyone ; )

but heres a dumb question. why dont they make a gear shift lever that has two parts, one going under the foot one going over. then they wouldnt have to move their foot around the lever. but just toe up/down to shift avoiding that whole swinging their foot our and around the lever?

Interesting idea...... you should design and market such a shifter. I would be interested to see if it sold well. And hey, it could make you rich. Or poor.....

I can say for myself, I wouldn't be too interested in one. Almost like trapping your foot into one position on the peg, and I like to move around some on the bike. Such a shifter may cause problems during animated riding when moving from side-to-side....

Lots of cruisers use a similar setup, but use a normal type footpad on the front and extend a second pad behind the piviot so you push down on it with your heel to shift up.

iwannadie wrote:ive seen the heal toe shifters but never liked the idea of that actually.

Me either. And that's why I wonder how well your idea would fly with the buying public. It will either sell like crazy, just cause it's new, or cool, or what 'all my friends are trying'.... or sell like sand in the desert, just cause it's new, or not cool, or 'all my friends say it won't work.

I would love to see if it went over or not, just not enough to invest any of my own cash into it. I'll leave that to you.... along with any profits or losses.

BuzZz wrote:

iwannadie wrote:ok it all makes sense now thanks everyone ; )

but heres a dumb question. why dont they make a gear shift lever that has two parts, one going under the foot one going over. then they wouldnt have to move their foot around the lever. but just toe up/down to shift avoiding that whole swinging their foot our and around the lever?

Interesting idea...... you should design and market such a shifter. I would be interested to see if it sold well. And hey, it could make you rich. Or poor.....

I can say for myself, I wouldn't be too interested in one. Almost like trapping your foot into one position on the peg, and I like to move around some on the bike. Such a shifter may cause problems during animated riding when moving from side-to-side....

Lots of cruisers use a similar setup, but use a normal type footpad on the front and extend a second pad behind the piviot so you push down on it with your heel to shift up.

I wouldn't mind having a small 'cup' at the end of my shifter, just enough to catch the lip of my boot, or just the top of my toe. Then again, I can't say that I'd go out and buy one if they made it, either.

Heel shifters: I'm gonna make my own!

People keep giving me dirty looks when I say that. Gonna make my own turn signal relocator, now I'm gonna make my own heel-shifter. I've got plans for both, and they shouldn't be to hard to make, provided I can get my hands on the right (or any, for that matter) tools.

sad thing is i got plenty of cash to invest into making it just no idea how to do it then how to try and market it ; p

im sure if the toe/heal shifter has a markey the top/bottom toe one would have some one willing to buy it as well.

BuzZz wrote:

iwannadie wrote:ive seen the heal toe shifters but never liked the idea of that actually.

Me either. And that's why I wonder how well your idea would fly with the buying public. It will either sell like crazy, just cause it's new, or cool, or what 'all my friends are trying'.... or sell like sand in the desert, just cause it's new, or not cool, or 'all my friends say it won't work.

I would love to see if it went over or not, just not enough to invest any of my own cash into it. I'll leave that to you.... along with any profits or losses.

iwannadie wrote:sad thing is i got plenty of cash to invest into making it just no idea how to do it then how to try and market it ; p

im sure if the toe/heal shifter has a markey the top/bottom toe one would have some one willing to buy it as well.

BuzZz wrote:

iwannadie wrote:ive seen the heal toe shifters but never liked the idea of that actually.

Me either. And that's why I wonder how well your idea would fly with the buying public. It will either sell like crazy, just cause it's new, or cool, or what 'all my friends are trying'.... or sell like sand in the desert, just cause it's new, or not cool, or 'all my friends say it won't work.

I would love to see if it went over or not, just not enough to invest any of my own cash into it. I'll leave that to you.... along with any profits or losses.

I don't know... You see, the hardcore guys would think it's too trendy, and the squidy guys (who might actually buy the thing) only wear flip-flops.

Nice Avatar you got going on there, Telesque.