Tips for Smoothing Out Those Gear Changes

Botched downshifts are rough on your drivetrain and can mess with your confidence. It can even lead to a potentially dangerous rear-tire skid if your timing is off and you release the clutch abruptly during a high-rpm downshift. The effect of clumsy clutch work is especially bad on big single- or twin-cylinder bikes that produce a lot of engine braking.

A slipper clutch can help solve the problems caused by sloppy or rapid downshifts, and while slippers are becoming common equipment on modern bikes, not all of us ride the newest motorcycles. If your bike doesn’t have a slipper clutch, you can avoid most downshifting drama by simply easing out the clutch gradually, the way you were taught as a novice. The slow-release method is fine if you have ample time, but sometimes you gotta get the job done quickly. This is where throttle blipping comes in. Blipping the throttle momentarily increases engine rpm to better match engine speed to the road speed for super-quick and buttery-smooth downshifts.

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