GP Shift

[xxaarraa]

I fully admit to being slow and really bad at this. It's likely that shifting more (and backward too!) would make me faster. Especially if Paul says so.

I will simply add that I think some of you are approaching this from the other side of the learning curve.

Tons of expert, very experienced, downright talented riders have recommended the shift sequence I use. Either they were being massive dicks leading me astray on purpose.. or it is actually a reasonable strategy to run the SV like a tractor and focus on corner speed instead at this stage of the game.

I don't think you need to reconcile your approach with other approaches. There could be more than one strategy that works. Pick the one that best fits your style and go with it.

[maxim_X]

if you're going fast enough with the right gearing you don't need the downshift for 6 on an sv with my experience. I used to do it, sometimes I do, if for some reason like traffic I go in slow. Personally, it's a little easier for me to enter the turn without worrying about the shift and then getting WFO right away. If you can pass between 6-10 go for it, but it probably won't happen.

[jerseygirl]

It is hard to remember, but ALL of us started at some point. Whether we were 2 on a mini bike, 8 and riding a trials bike up a tree (just me?) or picking it up at the ripe age of 40, everyone threw a leg over 2 wheels for the first time. Asking for advice is very important, but also asking for too much advice can send you into a a pattern of chasing your tail. I know from firsthand experience. Also when asking for advice, you have to be pretty specific. Poor Gino F. learned the hard way at the last round.

Just my 2 cents. I have ridden with you guys and have all the confidence in you!

[PhilB]

The switching back and forth can be tricky. I can see where, unless you're at the top levels where hundredths matter, your best shifting setup is the one you're used to and don't have to think about. I have 5 bikes, with 4 different shifting arrangements. If I get my way, I'll add an old Norton Commando to the collection at some point, which will be yet another shifting setup. I've had bikes with different setups than any of those. So I always have to be conscious of my shifting, and it does sometimes trip me up if I'm riding faster or harder than I usually do, and forget which way the bike I'm on works. At least they all have the clutch and throttle in the same places.

PhilB

[brady]

...or picking it up at the ripe age of 40....

[nhbubba]

You started on a trials bike at 8? You lucky duck you.

[cdovego]

So you think someone is going to buy your motard by the time you are done with it!?

EDIT: I guess I should clarify. I am not making any insinuations about how you ride. I am just saying I have seen you work on it all night in the garage with questionable tools.

Wait - who are you?

[cdovego]

and yes, KISS - (keep it simple stupid)...if you're running multiple race bikes - make them all the same shift pattern...

[Ductard]

...I am just saying I have seen you work on it all night in the garage with questionable tools.

Maybe you'd like to elaborate on that, since you're certainly not increasing the potential resale value of my bike.

Have I zip-tied on bodywork before or made other temporary repairs to finish a track/race weekend? Sure. I'm at a track, not a showroom.

Did I torque every bolt to spec when I did a top-end on my bike, and do I use synthetic oil like 300V even though Butcher Bergs says it's a waste of money? Yeah.

[Ductard]

and yes, KISS - (keep it simple stupid)...if you're running multiple race bikes - make them all the same shift pattern...

I agree. Some people say they switch back and forth seamlessly.
I did not have that pleasant of an experience and suggest not running different shift patterns. YMMV.

[loudbeard]

Have you considered a front wheel drive sedan with snow tires?

[csmutty]

I ran 2 race bikes with different shift patterns at one point. Swapping back and forth was easy and never had a problem. Just ride the damn things.

[Petorius]

I went with GP shift. Got two full days of practice prior to the Classic, should be plenty.

[OreoGaborio]

Perhaps too little too late, but on the SV it's a ZERO dollar, 20 second job to find out if you like it or not. Just remove the shift arm and put it back on 180* from where it currently sits on the transmission input shaft.

[OreoGaborio]

Would you mind passing along the part number once you've confirmed he will make the part available separately? For $38 its worth a try. Doesn't have to be reversible for that kind of money.

See my post above.

[Ductard]

See my post above.

The thread's pretty long, but somewhere buried in it is the info that the 2nd Generation Woodcraft rearsets for the SV are not reversible, but the part that is needed to switch is only ~$38. You're probably thinking of the 1st Gen.

[Petorius]

Perhaps too little too late, but on the SV it's a ZERO dollar, 20 second job to find out if you like it or not. Just remove the shift arm and put it back on 180* from where it currently sits on the transmission input shaft.

I won't have a chance to ride it until the 2-day school, and my right side one is mangled enough that I don't particularly want to ride on it. Figured I should just upgrade to the new design now rather than replacing pegs every time I crash. I had heard a few second hand horror stories about bent shift shafts, which is why I never flipped the shift arm to try it out first.

[isaac_]

I won't have a chance to ride it until the 2-day school, and my right side one is mangled enough that I don't particularly want to ride on it. Figured I should just upgrade to the new design now rather than replacing pegs every time I crash. I had heard a few second hand horror stories about bent shift shafts, which is why I never flipped the shift arm to try it out first.

Just have spares! like me! I now have one box dedicated to woodcraft rearsets... not that I'm particularly proud to say I have to have spares.

[Tas]

I won't have a chance to ride it until the 2-day school.

Are you taking the 2 day advanced? I am signed up for it and will see you there.

[Petorius]

Are you taking the 2 day advanced? I am signed up for it and will see you there.

Yup, still gotta clear it with my boss but that's the plan

[OreoGaborio]

Riding advice is never universal. We all have to evaluate every piece of advice we receive. That's part of the magic. For every fundamental skill I learned in my red group TDs, there is a fast guy at Loudon doing the opposite with great results.

Well, there are a lot of REALLY BIG DIFFERENCES between riding slow and riding fast. See article I posted on the TTD facebook page today as an example.

You need to learn how to ride slow before you can safety learn how to ride fast. Same reason they teach kids how to do arithmetic before they hand them a calculator. (They still teach arithmetic in schools, right?)

[OreoGaborio]

The thread's pretty long, but somewhere buried in it is the info that the 2nd Generation Woodcraft rearsets for the SV are not reversible, but the part that is needed to switch is only ~$38. You're probably thinking of the 1st Gen.

If the rose joint is above the transmission input shaft and you can remove the shift arm & mount it so that it's below, shazam, you have GP shift.

[Petorius]

Well, there are a lot of REALLY BIG FRIKKIN DIFFERENCES between riding slow and riding fast. See article I posted on the TTD facebook page today.

I liked that article, made me feel better about being super un-smooth! I must be really fast!

[OreoGaborio]

HA!

[Paul_E_D]

Petorious, don't take this the wrong way, but you may have sought too much advice. The more people you talk to, the more conflicting advice you will get. A perfect example being the idea you had gotten about having no weight on your inside foot. You may have misinterpreted a lot of advice to get to that point.

This does not mean that everyone does it differently and that there are many ways to go fast. The fact is that as you close in on really fast times out there, lines and techniques get closer and closer together.

Not everyone can understand how they are doing it, or vocalize that in the same way. In the end, you can't think your way to fast. You have to go out and do it. everyone has to make mistakes, and learn in their own time. A million days with Eric Wood, or anyone else won't replace your own experience. Go race!!!