Poll: Do you blip your throttle when downshifting?

I have never blipped the throttle, even on a 1000cc V-Twin on track. I don't just smack it down gears then dump the clutch though, I go down each gear at a time and release the clutch in a controlled manner, if you're braking at the same time it doesn't cause any issues and actually helps with the braking.
 
Little, I only blip maybe 1k revs? Tiny little twist of the throttle, I don't know about you mouse mat but I come down hard in the gears as I always leave my braking until the last point unless I am taking it safe (track speaking). And I find that with the big old v twin it really, REALLY smooths out the down shifts and sets you up for mid corner as you are already in the rev range, at speed and know you can slam on the throttle as soon as you come out of the bend getting the most power.

Doing the gears individually like you say taking time controlling the clutch just takes too much time for me personally. Yes it can be done in a brisk manor, but like I said, for me personally blipping just smooths it out and speeds the process up 10 fold.
 
I dont find many tracks where you go down many more than say 2 gears at a time anyway, I just start braking as hard as I can, then when it feels right I knock it down a gear and let the clutch out, then when it feels right I'll knock it down another gear and so on. I couldnt say when I do it, or how quickly I let the clutch out, I tend to do it all without thinking to much. This is even with the rear end skipping off the surface, I'll just release a little more slowly.

I find it works for me, and I never once locked up the rear on the SP1. I did it twice on the wifes 636, but that was due to changing down at 12k rpm :)

Old video I found, quality is terrible but sound is quite good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_96ezTjiI8Y
 
In effect by letting the clutch out so slowly your acting like a manual slipper clutch. I used to do this with the SV650 when I raced in minitwins. Brake hard into the bend and doing the majority of the downshifts at the end as I start coming off the brakes. Feed the clutch out very gently just as I'm feeding the power on at the apex. However even when doing this I blipped on the downshifts and only fed the clutch out like this on the final gear while leant over.

There are plenty of tracks and corners where you go down 3 or 4 gears into a bend, off the top of my head:

Brands Hatch - Druids 3 gears down
Snetterton - turn two 3 gears down, end of the back straight 3 gears down
Cadwell Park - end of the back straight 4 gears down
Oulton Park - 2nd chicane 3 gears down, last corner 3 gears down
Pembrey - 1st corner 4 or 5 gears down (depends how tall your first gear is), last hairpin 3 gears down
Thruxton - first chicane 3 gears down, last corner 4 gears down

These are mainly while running shorter gearing on the race bike so on a road bike with standard gearing may not really apply.
 
MouseMat2004 said:
I have never blipped the throttle, even on a 1000cc V-Twin on track. I don't just smack it down gears then dump the clutch though, I go down each gear at a time and release the clutch in a controlled manner, if you're braking at the same time it doesn't cause any issues and actually helps with the braking.
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As I said, one of the advantages is reducing wear on the box and the clutch. You also get into the correct gear more quickly since you don't have to worry about feathering the clutch, you just let it out. You usually don't want to be using the rear wheel for any additional braking effort anyway.

What do you do when you want to quickly drop a gear e.g. to overtake?

Morbius said:
I've never done this before. How much do you want to blip it? A little blip or a big blip?
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The idea is to match the engine RPM to the next gear, so the blip depends on the spacing between gears and the engine RPM. It's something that becomes completely instinctive once you practice it a bit and you don't have to think about it at all.
 
Dogbreath said:
The idea is to match the engine RPM to the next gear, so the blip depends on the spacing between gears and the engine RPM. It's something that becomes completely instinctive once you practice it a bit and you don't have to think about it at all.
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I'm still reasonably new to biking (passed my test in June last year) so I'm still trying to improve my technique. I've got clutchless upshifting sorted and I'd quite like to add the blip to the repertoire. I'm finding it quite difficult to get my hand to blip the throttle whilst it's also operating the front brake. Any tips?
 
On my 2 stroke I used to but I don't bother on the 4 stroke Chopper as it's just a Plodder although the pipes sound surprisingly good for a 1T, Not that they've been Diamond cut or owt. :D
 
Dogbreath said:
As I said, one of the advantages is reducing wear on the box and the clutch. You also get into the correct gear more quickly since you don't have to worry about feathering the clutch, you just let it out. You usually don't want to be using the rear wheel for any additional braking effort anyway.

What do you do when you want to quickly drop a gear e.g. to overtake?
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I'm certainly not saying the way I do it is the 100% correct way, but I also think you don't HAVE to blip the throttle either. Just do whatever works for you, if you find the rear is locking up etc, then do whatever to resolve that issue.

I'm mostly talking about track riding too, where things are happening a lot quicker and to be fair if you can get away without blipping the throttle on track you really shouldn't need to do it on the road. I've never had to replace a clutch/gearbox on any of my bikes but I can appreciate if may help to reduce wear, certainly if you're ham fisted and just smash it down a gear or two then drop the clutch.

As for you question, I wouldn't ever be in that situation on track because I'd always be in the correct gear driving hard up to redline etc but if I'm on the road and need to overtake, then it'll be because my revs are too low so I'd just knock it down a gear then smash the throttle open as I release the clutch. I wouldn't blip, then get on the throttle.
 
scottomus0 said:
dont want to be dumb but can you describe blipping the throttle in detail? what does it do exactly and the benefits?
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Imagine you're out on your bike, travelling at 50MPH in 5th gear at 7k RPM. If you knocked it down to 3rd gear at the same speed the revs would be a lot higher even at the same speed, so if you did this and let go of the clutch (the revs would quickly drop to idle while the clutch is in) it may cause the rear to lock up until it caught up with the speed.

When you go down the gears and as you let go of the clutch you 'blip'/open&close the throttle quickly to raise your revs to what they should be at 50MPH in 3rd gear.

It'll make the process of changing down gears smoother. It is something that takes time, you'll need to know your bike fairly well to get it right else you tend to over/under rev. Most people do it because it sounds cool :cool:
 
gillywibble said:
Best way is to keep the hand extended over the brake lever while you practice. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
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Yeah, I always keep my hand on the brake lever anyway.

Fingers on the brake lever, using my thumb and wrist as throttle to blip.

It's very easy, I've always done it. I actually find it easier to be more sensitive with the throttle like this? My uncle asked how I don't lose control of the bars, but I still have a firm grip on them at the same time.

Guess I'm just odd :p
 
2 fingers over the brake lever, wrist, palm and a couple (;)) of fingers on blipping the throttle, it will feel quite weird at first and of course your brake fingers will move about but as long as they are gripped around the lever you will get the desired outcome :p
 
Fireskull said:
2 fingers over the brake lever, wrist, palm and a couple (;)) of fingers on blipping the throttle, it will feel quite weird at first and of course your brake fingers will move about but as long as they are gripped around the lever you will get the desired outcome :p
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I use all 4 fingers on the brake and only use the palm of my hand and thumb to blip the throttle. More than 1 way to break an egg.
 
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