GP Shift – How Much Time To Feel Normal?

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I think I want to GP shift my EX. There are a couple sections on the track where I need to upshift while leaned over, and it sucks. Especially coming out of the bowl, where the bike is cranked over to the left. Riding CEO’s R6 for a few seconds yesterday confirmed this for me, it just felt more natural. Down to go faster, up to slow when I’m braking anyway. My experience on GP shift machines is very limited, and even though it felt great for a few seconds on Chris’ bike I’m not sure that I won’t miss a couple shifts in a race situation getting used to it. So… I’m left with the question: When do I make the switch?

Part of me says as soon as possible. I have not ridden the EX much yet, so it makes sense to get it out of the way before I get tooo used to the old config. Another part of me says to wait until after the classic weekend, because the place is going to be far more busy than usual, and missing a shift could be a much bigger deal.

I don’t have anything on the street currently, so I can’t get used to it there.

Thoughts? Discuss.

[Doc]

2 laps.

Well that is what it took me this weekend. Getting back on the GP shift Hawk from my regular shift 998.

Alex told me to just remember when you pop UP to slow down you shift up, when you get down to go faster you shift down. (Except 1st)

["Dangerous" Dan K]

That's the kind of response I was hoping to hear. Sweet.

Random Q: If you have 1 bike GP, why not just do it to all of them? Assuming I make the conversion here, which I think I will, I think I'll just GP everything I ride from this point forward (excluding dirt bikes).

Shit... just remembered something. Depending how serious they were, I might be doing the endurance race that allows EX's on Monday w/ Kurlon and Lowsider on Monday after the classic. We'd be using my bike. I'm not doing the back and forth and back again for that, and I wouldn't expect the two of them to learn GP shift for that one race. Looks like I'll be doing it for the weekend after the classic... unless we are not going to do that Monday race in which case I could still do it before.

[Kurlon]

That's the kind of response I was hoping to hear. Sweet.

Random Q: If you have 1 bike GP, why not just do it to all of them? Assuming I make the conversion here, which I think I will, I think I'll just GP everything I ride from this point forward (excluding dirt bikes).

Shit... just remembered something. Depending how serious they were, I might be doing the endurance race that allows EX's on Monday w/ Kurlon and Lowsider on Monday after the classic. We'd be using my bike. I'm not doing the back and forth and back again for that, and I wouldn't expect the two of them to learn GP shift for that one race. Looks like I'll be doing it for the weekend after the classic... unless we are not going to do that Monday race in which case I could still do it before.

Monday isn't the endurance, that's July. And I'm pretty sure I can learn GP on the fly.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Oh, cool. For some reason I thought that was Monday. Does that mean there's nothing Monday I can run without a belly pan? Either way I REALLY want to be GP shift before July. I like your "learn on the fly" attitude. I wonder how Harrison would feel about this?

Either way right now I'm leaning toward doing it for the classic. If I don't get it down in an AM practice session I can always switch it back.

[Stoneman]

Random Q: If you have 1 bike GP, why not just do it to all of them? Assuming I make the conversion here, which I think I will, I think I'll just GP everything I ride from this point forward (excluding dirt bikes).

Some bikes simply aren't straight forward enough to just swap 'em around. Some require linkage kits that some folk aren't willing to spend...

That being said, every bike/quad I own has totally different controls. Other than my Raptor & TL-R having the brakes & clutch where they should be, all others are different. But every shift pattern is different: I've got 'GP' on my TL-R, 'regular' on my Raptor and on my Arctic Cat quad you upshift with your heal and downshift with your toe. I really have no difficulty going from one to another. You'll get used to it in no time...

[Tricky Mike]

yeah, a session or two. I used to go back and forth with GP on the GSXR and standard on the KTM. I'd have a brainfart now and again, but overall, no big deal.
I'd prefer GP on both bikes, but it's too much work on the KTM since the shifter mounts straight onto the shaft.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Some bikes simply aren't straight forward enough to just swap 'em around. Some require linkage kits that some folk aren't willing to spend...

That being said, every bike/quad I own has totally different controls. Other than my Raptor & TL-R having the brakes & clutch where they should be, all others are different. But every shift pattern is different: I've got 'GP' on my TL-R, 'regular' on my Raptor and on my Arctic Cat quad you upshift with your heal and downshift with your toe. I really have no difficulty going from one to another. You'll get used to it in no time...

Cool, thanks for the input on the transition and the explanation as to why someone would run both setups on different bikes.

yeah, a session or two. I used to go back and forth with GP on the GSXR and standard on the KTM. I'd have a brainfart now and again, but overall, no big deal.
I'd prefer GP on both bikes, but it's too much work on the KTM since the shifter mounts straight onto the shaft.

Sweet. See my same thanks to stoneman above.

[Fitz]

I swapped both my race bike (00 sv650) and my street bike (07 zx6r). When I was focusing on the GP shift or was under pressure I had no issues... but whenever I was goofing off or on a cool down lap chilling I tended to botch a shift.

I love it now.

Fitz

[virtualbong]

I got used to it right from the start...but I can see some people having trouble adjusting to it.

[thepaperboy]

Make sure you put some sort notice on the bike so that others (ummm...maybe cornerworkers) can find neutral in a hurry. Just sayin...

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I swapped both my race bike (00 sv650) and my street bike (07 zx6r). When I was focusing on the GP shift or was under pressure I had no issues... but whenever I was goofing off or on a cool down lap chilling I tended to botch a shift.

I love it now.

Fitz

Better then than in a race situation!

I got used to it right from the start...but I can see some people having trouble adjusting to it.

Cool. I’m going to try it, worst case I don’t adjust fast enough (as in before the end of practice) and it goes back.

Make sure you put some sort notice on the bike so that others (ummm...maybe cornerworkers) can find neutral in a hurry. Just sayin...

Yeah, the lady in the golf cart has special windshield stickers for the GP shift bikes, but I’m going to put it on the tank as well, just to make it real clear. Good thought, but I'm all over it. I won't leave a CW trying to figure out where neutral is.

[daviid]

i always remember it as, I want my rpm's to go down, i click down, I want the rpm's to go up, Click Up.

[6 Fingered Man]

You will get in in no time. Do it.