Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'm quite comfortable heel-toe downshifting in a car while braking (blipping the throttle with the side of your right foot while braking with the same foot and using the left foot for the clutch) to rev-match the engine to the transmission before letting out the clutch, so as to not upset the vehicle. I'm a new rider ('03 Triumph Bonneville) and haven't figured out quite how to manage the same task on a bike. Any advice from the sport-bike crowd on the technique here?

Nice thing I can say about a motorcycle is it has a clutch that is meant to be slipped a bit. That is to say, it can take a bit more abuse than a car clutch. When downshifting I usually try to rev to match what should be about he right engine speed for the gear, but you can also simply know that the engine will act as a brake, and you can let the clutch out slow so first the clutch starts to slow you down, and then the reduced RPMs next. I could be wrong, but I think it is not nearly as big of a deal as in a car anyway.

I never use my brake when downshifting.. Just clutch in, hold rpms (or increase a bit to adjust to the level where the bike stays the same speed, you'll get used to your bike) downshift, release clutch, then throttle down using engine braking.

Pretty easy on bikes, dont be afraid to slip that clutch a bit... they are hardy.

yay for beveled gears

Wow, here's what I usually do.

Clutch in
Off/release throttle
Toe down (drop a gear)
Rev up to slightly louder then it was before you pulled in the clutch
Smoothly let the clutch out


I learned on a bike with no tach, so it's all relative. I find that if I try to keep steady revs the engine either races, or I pay more attention to the bike then the road. And I release the gas after the clutch because my engine doesn't have much of a flywheel effect, and if the gas shuts off the bike slows down rather abruptly.

im a noobie... when you guys say release throttle. Do you take it completely off?, and then release the clutch.

badfish89 wrote:im a noobie... when you guys say release throttle. Do you take it completely off?, and then release the clutch.

i do release it completely, but try to make it gradually instead of snappy.

I just let go, then grab back on fast. Make sure you have your clutch in first.

Sevulturus wrote:I just let go, then grab back on fast. Make sure you have your clutch in first.

me too.

What are your brakes like?, this can have an effect on your downshifting. Many sportbike riders will not use engine braking simply because of the lack of retardation on the inline fours. On my K1200S I will not engine brake for a stop street but will use brakes and go from 6 to 1. If I slow for a sharp corner, I will clutch in, brake, throttle off, choose my gear, maybe going from 6th to 3rd make sure my entry speed is right and then power through the corner shifting up on the exit. Twins tend to be better using the engine for braking. This has to be done with plenty of time and road ahead of you though and is easy on the straight but you have to get it right before the corners.