GP Shifting

[tjb2of3]

Just curious, who here has done it? I'm thinking about potential mods to my bike, and it appeals to me for two reasons:


1) If I did rearsets (which I definitely want to, eventually), I think it would be a lot easier to reverse the shift pattern than to make some sort of linkage


2) Most people don't do it 8)

 

[Wingspan]

I used to on my sport bikes. I switched back to normal when I bought a second bike that couldn't easily be converted. Swapping back and forth was asking for trouble so I changed back. It really doesn't offer any advantages on the street and not all racers even use it on the track but if you want to try it then there's no reason not to.

 

[rockcitycafe]

the reason you'd want to do it is because it's easier to upshift coming out of turns where you're still transferring weight off and on pegs, that way you don't have to try to get your toe up under something to shift, it honestly doesn't make that much of a difference though, you're not very locked into these old bikes to make it worthwhile anyway

 

[Big R]

Me and Wingspan feel the same way about this: eventually it can cause a big problem. GP is fine until it becomes a habit. Then you hop on another bike with normal shifting. Sure, you're careful at first but if you wind the motor up and try to shift from 2nd to 3rd........but slam it into 1st instead.

 

[my-79-750-k]

I gotta agree. Mine was set up for GP shift when I first got it. Kinda tricky at first, but then you get used to it. Then you're over at a friends house and he throws you the keys to his brand new (insert bike model here) and says "Take her for a spin!" then you walk back covered in bits of clutch... Unless you're certain you will never ride a bike without a reverse shift pattern ever again, it's just risky to do. I'll be switching mine back once it's all rebuilt, and linkages are actually easily built if you just draw it out first.

 

[warpedworm]

When I was racing I switched all my street bikes so everything was the same.
I actually like it better, it's just a more natural movement, both shifting up and down. But I also never liked to ride other peoples bikes.

Now my son and daughter ride and we switch bikes all the time, so it's back
to the stock shifting.

 

[Wilsons Customs]

I did it on my CB750 because it was the easiest way after I did the rear sets. But I don't see any real advantage to it.

 

[midnight340]

I just did it to my XL 350 Honda cafe/bob/tracker/? ??? (Very lean and light, fun bike....) I will attach a photo.

I started out on little Ducati singles many years back, and always liked the right foot/GP pattern. When I did this one, I built crossover linkage to put shift on right/brake on left. But the "contraption" was not clean enough visually, so I went back to shift on the left, but with GP pattern. (and yes... gotta be very careful for a while!)

Here's why I like it. It always made sense to me to be toeing down to go through the gears, and lifting up to stop. I explained it to my honey, and she said, "yeah, it's like on a horse, a tug on the reins to stop."

Hit it to go, pull to stop.... I just like it. (I can change mine back with a flip of the shifter arm.)

 

[nateridesbikes]

ive got it on my cb because thats the only way the new rod would fit on it. i like it a lot.

 

[teazer]

My race bikes are GP pattern. My G/F's race bikes are street pattern so I have to be very careful when I ride her bikes. Our street bikes are all street pattern but seriously it's a PIA trying to remember which is which. At Grattan a few years ago on someone else's bike reached the top of teh hill and changed up at around 12K revs only to actually change DOWN. The bike nearly jumped off the track, revs went off the scale and the two guys on my tail nearly had heart attacks trying to miss a bike that just stopped at the wrong time. Not exactly the best way to make friends and impress people.

Kevin Schwantz managed to win a world 500cc championship with street shift pattern, so there really is no need for it.

 

[peter.walker]

I've been thinking about GP shift pattern with rearsets on my GS750 (it's got a gear position indicator, so hopefully not too hard to learn on), but it sounds like developing the wrong habits could be a bitch. Maybe not a great idea after all...

 

[midnight340]

yeah... not about winning races. I'd say if it doesn't seem "natural" to you, then don't do it. Or if you are going to be changing bikes a lot, then don't. For me, it's what I learned on, it's always seemed right, and my XL is my only bike.
It takes paying attention to change over! But then I'm old enough that anything that works my brain is a good thing. Shifting a bike in a "reverse" pattern is a lot more fun than crossword puzzles!!!!

 

[my-79-750-k]

It doesn't bother me too much, it's second nature to check before I start riding, I can switch back and forth without much trouble. But if you switch back and forth A LOT, then yeah, I'd make them all one way or the other.