| Author | Message | ||
     Ratyson |
I have been contemplating adjusting the linkage on my xb9 in order to reverse the gear order from 1 down 4 up to 1 up 4 down. Has anyone done this for street use? If so, did you like it better? | ||
| Buelltroll |
A few people on here have done it for street. Not sure how they liked it. I've been thinking about doing it too Only reason I haven't is because I know a fried tranny from too many ass backwards shifts would be a spendy replacement part. But snicking that gear mid corner IS kinda hairy trying to get your foot under the lever. | ||
| Buellistic |
Good of DRAG RACING, not good for STREET or ROAD RACING !!! | ||
| Biker_bob |
Here's why that might be the last mistake you make. You have learned probably through years of riding, a certain shift pattern. In a panic situation you revert to what your learned now instinctive memory is, no time to think. Just react. Your reaction in a life or death situation would probably backwards in that very split second. IMHO only that sounds kind of crazy to me. YMMV | ||
| Xgecko |
nah I disagree...it does take time to adjust though and definatly not something you should do before say commuting in NYC (or some other BIG City) traffic but it's not too bad. I rode/commuted on a NSR250 in Japan for a few months that was race shifting...it only took a week for it to seem second nature. Before it became so I was a very very cautious rider. There are serious benifits to raceshifting and not just to the cool factor, up shifting while turning is one, other people not being able to ride your bike because of the shift pattern is another. The second is a favorite of mine and one reason why I have the brakes on my bicycle setup motorcycle style; the other is because I don't want to end up head over heels. Remember though that if you do switch to reverse/race shifting the same problem hold for you only it's even more dangerous for you to forget when you ride a normal bike | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Good of DRAG RACING, not good for STREET or ROAD RACING !!!" Uhh... a lot of roadracers use it... most of them in fact. | ||
| Ratyson |
Thanks for the feedback folks! Xgecko, Like you said, I think I could get used to it rather quickly. Plus, here in Huntsville AL, traffic is at a minimum compared to where I came from... Atlanta. Buellistic, most professional road racers use this setup. It reduces missed shifts on the way up the gearbox. Don't know about shifts down the gearbox though.. Biker_bob, I will definitely keep your comments in mind. I will have to re-train my emergency responces. Good point. Eh, I think I am going to try it. I will report back on my findings/thoughts. (Message edited by ratyson on May 08, 2006) | ||
| Spike |
Keep us posted. I switched my M2 over to "GP" style shifting a while ago so I could upshift coming out of corners. After a few days I still felt like I needed to think about it every time I shifted and decided it wasn't worth it. | ||
| Spike |
I did a search on a couple other track oriented boards, it seems that the majority of the guys who make the switch to the GP style shifting are glad they did it and wish they had made the switch earlier. I decided to give it another try myself:  I even wrote myself a note just to help me remember for the first week or so:  If I really get sick of it, it only takes one tool and about 5 minutes to switch it back to the standard shift pattern. I'll let you guys know how it turns out. | ||
| Blake |
GP shift pattern makes speed shifting (no clutch) much easier for me. I also found that on my rearset fitted Cyclone the GP pattern made upshifting to 2nd gear at the drag strip difficult. While accelerating hard in 1st gear, carrying the front wheel off the ground, the force of acceleration makes it more of a challenge to get my foot to push down on the shift lever. Then again, I suck pretty badly at drag racing with my total of five runs experience. | ||
| Ratyson |
Cool Spike! Good idea about the visual reminder, I will most likely follow suit. I think I am going to do this this weekend to see how I like it. I will post back my experience. | ||
| Djkaplan |
The countless upshifts I've made since 1976 have left an indelible impression on a mind that was never agile enough to begin with. I can see the benefits of GP shifting, but I'd kill myself for sure! | ||
| Bomber |
I can only compare it to the time in which my motor pool included a BSA Victor and Honda CL77 -- many amusing tales resulted from that combination of control placement learn from my buddie's experience, and do NOT make the switch the night before a track day | ||
| Jmor03 |
I never used a GP shift until I purchased my XB9s with a GP shifter installed (I believe it came from woodcraft) It definitely took some thought at first after a couple of days no problem. In fact it seems more comfortable. | ||
| Ratyson |
Ok, so I have been riding with the GP shift for about 2 weeks now... I had a couple 'incorrect shifts' in the beginning, but I think I really like this. The up-shifts are MUCH more smooth now. I used to miss going from 1st 2nd from time to time, but so far, I haven't missed it yet with the new setup. | ||
| Nortcom |
Hey Dj......talk about a death wish.......my former ride is a 1971 Norton Commando 750 (nortcom) which I ride quite often. It not only has the 1 up 4 down pattern but is also known as a goofy footer.....shift linkage on the right side. It makes for some interesting moments if you jump from the Cyclone and relax too} much! It takes some concentration, but is a really fun ride....but not quite as fun as the Buell of course!  } | ||
| Davidh72z |
I have noticed that no one has posted here since may so I have a question. Did you guys have to get a longer linkage rod to change to gp shifting? My old sport bike I converted to gp shifting and I prefer it that way so I want to do it to my XB12 as well. | ||
| Spike |
I didn't get a longer linkage, but I did extend the rod a bit when I reversed mine. I'm still enjoying it after ~4 months. One word of caution though- if you decide to use painter's tape as a visual reminder as I did in the pictures above, you should probably stick the tape on the painted portion of the triple tree rather than over the Firebolt badge. Mine peeled off some of the clearcoat on the badge when I removed the tape. | ||
| Davidh72z |
Thanks for the tip Spike | ||
| Xl1200r |
I've thought about doing this as well seeing as how I was looking at rearsets for my old Sportster that allowed for a GP pattern. I was sitting on my new XB12R at the dealership staring at the linkage wondering if it would work. I'll make the swap before spring...Riding always seems a little "new" each spring anyways, plus it's a brand new bike to me as well. | ||
| Buell_bert |
As far as the reverse pattern goes. I used to have a 74 Super Glide that I rev. patterned right after I bought it and I had it for 15+ yrs then sold it and have not had another bike for 14 yrs. I just bought a 2000 cyclone and what a learning curve it has been even after 14 yrs. I really liked the rev. pattern. Of course I am used to it since and will get one again soon. And like the others, just try riding a sportster from the late 60's with the shift on the right, talk about riding in traffic probs. My buddy had one and I only rode it once or twice then gave up. I also had a 1949/ 45 with a suicide shift. Another new process to learn on shifting. So it's just how quick you can adapt. They are all fun though and what a challenge (COOL HUH) | ||
| Littlefield |
The reason for the GP shift is to allow upshifting with your foot on top of the lever while leaned over coming out of a turn. At full lean your foot may interfere with the ground if it's under the lever. Other than that it's personal preference. | ||
| 1324 |
So just to clarify...the stock link can be extended if need be? I haven't actually received the xb9s I'm buying, but this is something I did when I first learned how ride on my SV650. When I took the Buell out, I made the 'mistake' of shifting the wrong way and wow, what a scare (on the highway, too)! Luckily, I was quick enough to catch myself before the engine over-revved and the wheel locked up. | ||
| Jmp01915 |
hi, i put my shift linkage on backwards to see if i liked the reverse pattern. I commute to work on my S3, and so tend to rapidly shift down through all the gears at red lights, then slowly up the gears to accelerate on green. With the 1 up 4 down pattern, my foot has to be poised over the shifter while I'm accelerating. This gets tiring. Oh, and I didn't have any trouble adapting to the new pattern. | ||
| Bad_karma |
I have the reverse pattern on S1/S3 and do like the pattern better. Keeps my big feet from getting trapped in the mountain turns. Joe |
