Downshifting with a slipper

[Jester_]

My new to me bike has a slipper clutch. My first day at mid ohio I was just letting the clutch out slowly between gear changes. But I am starting to think I should have also blipped the throttle.

How does everyone else downshift with a slipper?

[blue03636]

I act like it isn't there and use it for when I fuck up. That being said I know people that just pull the clutch in and go down 3 gears or whatever and just dump it.

[2talltim]

Using a clutch for shifting sounds like udder nonsense. .....

Edited October 14, 2014 by 2talltim

[turnone]

It's whatever you want to do. As mentioned some adjust to the slipper and just dump the clutch after downshifting. There is no wrong answer, unless you crash.

Edited October 14, 2014 by turnone

[r1crusher]

I just bang it down to whatever gear and let the lever go.  It's designed to be used that way.  Besides, do you want to have to be thinking about letting the clutch out while braking and setting up for a pass?  Have I scrubbed enough speed off to not hop the rear wheel?  Do I need to wait longer?  No, just get it into whatever gear is needed, drop the lever and move on.  

 

It's a gixxer thing, you'll get used to it.  

[blue03636]

The only thing I worry about is that it is mechanical and can fail. I don't want that to happen when I go from 5th to 2nd.

[oldschoolsdime92]

My new to me bike has a slipper clutch. My first day at mid ohio I was just letting the clutch out slowly between gear changes. But I am starting to think I should have also blipped the throttle.

How does everyone else downshift with a slipper?

I've never used a slipper, but I always rev match on downshifts

[r1crusher]

The only thing I worry about is that it is mechanical and can fail. I don't want that to happen when I go from 5th to 2nd.

 

Meh, annual inspection when you're checking the clutch plates/fibers and you'll know if it's going south.  Not to say something can't still happen when on the track but I've never personally heard of problems with them, except when they're not adjusted proper.

Edited October 14, 2014 by r1crusher

[r1crusher]

I've never used a slipper, but I always rev match on downshifts

 

Not bashing ya, but you're blipping to unload the trans to make downshifting easier.  You're not rev matching the engine RPM's to your rear wheel speed necessarily.  That's what the slipper gives you, the ability to let the engine and rear wheel temporarily disconnect allowing for higher wheel speed without blowing up the engine.

 

Edit: I read this again and I get what you're sayin'.  It's two fold, one to unload the trans AND to get the engine RPM to match the next lower gear.

Edited October 14, 2014 by r1crusher

[Tpoppa]

Dump it.

[oldschoolsdime92]

Not bashing ya, but you're blipping to unload the trans to make downshifting easier. You're not rev matching the engine RPM's to your rear wheel speed necessarily. That's what the slipper gives you, the ability to let the engine and rear wheel temporarily disconnect allowing for higher wheel speed without blowing up the engine.

Absolutely. Has nothing to do with the slipper. I just from reading what the OP said it sounded like he was just clicking down gears and now rev matching or "blipping"

I guess I would just assume one would use a slipper as an insurance policy Incase you went a gear too far on the downshifts.

[blue03636]

Not bashing ya, but you're blipping to unload the trans to make downshifting easier.  You're not rev matching the engine RPM's to your rear wheel speed necessarily.

 

Wrong, you are matching the rpm to the rpm that the rear wheel is moving at the gear you are going to. It's not to reduce load to make it easier to downshift.

[3.504]

I put one in my supermoto to eliminate wheel hop.

I still throttle blip on downshift.

Dumping the clutch doesn't sit well with me for some reason. I know it's ok, but I'm comfortable doing a little blip.

I did this with my s1000rr also. It had a factory slipper. I don't think a factory slipper is nearly as good though.

[3.504]

Come to think about it, my hypermotard has one too. It's been the only bike I really notice having a slipper, mostly because I found out you can't bump start the bike if the engine stalls, which seems to be common on my bike if I clutch in and allow the engine to return to idle quickly.

Anywho... +1 for throttle blip.

[r1crusher]

Absolutely. Has nothing to do with the slipper. I just from reading what the OP said it sounded like he was just clicking down gears and now rev matching or "blipping"

I guess I would just assume one would use a slipper as an insurance policy Incase you went a gear too far on the downshifts.

 

Trust me when I tell you that having a slipper when you do this will still make you pucker up.  Not having one and doing this will cause you a lot more than a pucker and likely some pains.

 

Wrong, you are matching the rpm to the rpm that the rear wheel is moving at the gear you are going to. It's not to reduce load to make it easier to downshift.

 

You're right...when you don't have a slipper.

[blue03636]

I don't like the feeling of the ending free spinning. The slipper does make it easier to back it in.

[blue03636]

 

 

You're right...when you don't have a slipper.

 

If you're using the slipper there is no reason to blip.

[3.504]

If you're using the slipper there is no reason to blip.

I disagree. I consider it comforting to blip.

It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

I do like how sloppy you can be with the blip if the bike is slipper equipped. I get on non-slipper bikes and I'm like "well I can't ride this!"

Edited October 14, 2014 by 3.504

[blue03636]

If you want to use the slipper and just dump it there is no need to blip. If you do blip to make yourself feel better that's fine but it's not needed provided the slipper is set up right.

[turnone]

My 119 has factory slipper and my CRF250R has aftermarket slipper. I have bump started both of them. It's a myth that you can't bump start slipper bikes.

When I blip the throttle it's to start the engine RPM going up before the engine does it to minimize the harshness and wear on the parts involved. Slipper let's you not blip and still not get the harsh consequences. Not needing to blip let's you focus your energies on other needed items.

[3.504]

I may be doing it incorrectly, but from what I've experienced on my hypermotard, I can't get it to bump start after a stall. It isn't the rear wheel dragging either, I watched for it.

[Jester_]

2:26 in this is an example of what I was doing. It seemed like if I dumped the clutch it would chatter the rear. Not sure if that is because it's a stock slipper or what.

Pardon my pace but it was a cold morning and my 2nd session on the bike. I feel comfortable downshifting like that because I feel like my braking is more consistent which helps me judge if I can brake later or not. I had just done some reading and it seemed like most still blipped the throttle even with a slipper.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Jester_

[RHill]

I shift just like normal, blip and all.  I never thought I was "using" it, until I went to PIRC on my stock bike.....was hopping the rear like mad at first as I adjusted to not having a slipper.  IMHO the slipper allows you to concentrate on other things while reducing the likelyhood of one of those "crap" moments that can happen when you don't rev match well.

 

Downshift 4 times, throw out the clutch and turn in for china beach at mid-o? no thanks....

 

 

That sounds like your rear is still skipping in 4th and 3rd in that video....how is the front on braking?Diving at all?  you just need to brake harder so it is floating off the ground the whole time....

[RonStopable]

I don't think your problem is with your slipper as much as it is with the suspension.  Your bike is probably needs sag set or re sprung.  Ass end should not skip like that with a slipper clutch.  I have some vids from PIRC that show the speedo and you can actually see the slipper engage and disengage at the entrance to turn one.  The only time my rear skipped like that was when I didn't have a slipper and didn't rev match.  Hell sometimes following Jeff into to 12 at Nelson he looked like he was on a pogo stick

[F4iguy]

http://www.yoyodyneti.com/motorcycle_slipper_clutch_operat.htm