Motorcycle Racing Forum

Racing Discussion => Rules and Regs => Topic started by: Scotty Ryan on May 14, 2005, 12:56:24 PM

Title: Quick shifters?
Post by: Scotty Ryan on May 14, 2005, 12:56:24 PM
Are they Supersport legal? I know they are fine for AMA, but I don't want to have to switch back and forth for CCS and AMA.
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: tzracer on May 16, 2005, 09:39:46 AM
Do you really need one?

I don't think they are really worth the added cost and complexity (just something else to break).
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: Steviebee on May 16, 2005, 10:35:19 AM
once you have one.  you'll never go back !

so ive been told.
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: Scotty Ryan on May 16, 2005, 02:41:22 PM
The thing is, when I screw up and miss a shift cause I didn't un-crack the throttle enough I can see by my lap times that it is hurting me. And not only my lap times, but also my drive from turn to turn. I'm just trying to gain time everywhere and anywhere I can.
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: Steviebee on May 16, 2005, 03:00:32 PM
consider this.

Its another thing that might break.
Its also another thing you have to replace when you crash.
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: PJ on May 16, 2005, 06:36:45 PM
QuoteDo you really need one?

I don't think they are really worth the added cost and complexity (just something else to break).

An quick shifter failure is what caused Dan Bilansky to stall on the grid of the F-USA Thunderbike race at Road America. He won that race last year going away. I doubt the quick shifter won that race for him, but it certainly lost it for him this year. Plus it put him, and a bunch of other guys, in a very dangerous position.
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: Xian_13 on May 23, 2005, 02:43:02 AM
QuoteThe thing is, when I screw up and miss a shift cause I didn't un-crack the throttle enough I can see by my lap times that it is hurting me. And not only my lap times, but also my drive from turn to turn. I'm just trying to gain time everywhere and anywhere I can.

Not sure if this helps...
And I am surely not an expert here.

However, I just can't shift fast using the throttle blip method. I have tried this time and time again in practice trying to get the gear.

Well this year I gave up...
I did, however, find a method that works great for me!
Keep in mind, I use GP shift pattern.
Instead of blipping the throttle with a loaded shift lever, I simply blip the clutch lever.
Guessing, I would say I pull the lever in about 1/2 (just to the point were the plates are starting to slip).
I hold the throttle, never lifting it and do load the shift lever a fraction of a sec. before my shift.

I am surprized how well this works for me.
There is no motor revving, as the clutches don't fully disengauge and the whole motion is so fast.

I do shift .5k proir to Redline, but I have always done this in the upper gears.

While I know this is a tangent of your question... It really seems to work well for me.

XIII
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: cardzilla on June 15, 2005, 05:10:35 PM
I can manually quick shift as fast as the next guy, but an electronic quickshifter is a worthwhile investment.  I would estimate they save about .05sec on each shift.  If you're at a busy track that can be a lot.  You really can see the difference when you're neck and neck with someone on a straightaway.  You go from even to pulling on them with each shift.  
I wired in a manual override switch, that way if it fails, I can just switch back to the old way and not drop out of the race.
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: Super Dave on July 06, 2005, 01:37:03 PM
QuoteInstead of blipping the throttle with a loaded shift lever, I simply blip the clutch lever.
Guessing, I would say I pull the lever in about 1/2 (just to the point were the plates are starting to slip).
I hold the throttle, never lifting it and do load the shift lever a fraction of a sec. before my shift.

I won't go into deep details, but a loaded shift lever has it's own mechanical issues.  If one pulls the clutch, it's slipping more than when the clutch lever is out.  The tach isn't going to keep up, but wear and other issues will.
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: Super Dave on July 06, 2005, 01:39:51 PM
I'll agree basically with Brian about the quick shifters.  Some do fail and cause more problems.  

However, if CCS rules for Supersport do not specifically say that you cannot use the quick shifter, you probably can.  
Title: Re: Quick shifters?
Post by: rotoboge on July 15, 2005, 09:26:34 PM
CCS allows the quick-shifters... I have used one now for two seasons, on two different bikes, and can say that it gives one an advantage of about a second on a track over 1.75 miles. Probably more for the lesser experienced racer I guess? ;)