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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: John Warner on November 13, 2015, 08:09:37 PM

Title: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: John Warner on November 13, 2015, 08:09:37 PM
I always have a 'Racer pattern' Gear-change (1-up~4/5-down) on my Bikes, where possible.
On most Bikes it's simply a case of flipping the Gearbox lever over, or fitting a Lever 'rearwards' on the Shaft, but obviously that's not an option on Guzzis.

Had to do a bit more work . . .
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/docv400/GearChangeMod_zpsvccg9jbd.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/docv400/media/GearChangeMod_zpsvccg9jbd.jpg.html)
Pivot fitting is an old Handlebar clamp top-half, machined down a little (width and height), with a machined pivot-piece bolted to it.
Fitted two 6mm Rivnuts into the Frame for the mounting.
Bell-crank is made from 3/16" Alloy Plate, and has a Delrin Bush bonded into it.
Upper Link Rod is made from two cut-down Female Rod-ends, joined with a short length of Studding.
Lower one uses the original lower fitting, joined to the other Rod-end with 6mm Studding.

Also had to trim a little off the Starter Motor Cover for clearance.

Will take more detailed pics of the parts soon (if anyone's interested).
It works OK, but I want to flip the Bell-crank over, and make a longer lower link, to get the angles correct.
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: Triple Jim on November 13, 2015, 08:15:35 PM
All my motorcycles have that pattern too.  Well, the H2 is actually 5 down.  I made a new shift lever and an adapter plate to move the pivot point forward, to convert my Mille.  I was careful to keep the overall ratio stock.  A couple years ago I made the same offer of help to anyone who wants to do the same, but apparently we're in a small minority.   :grin:

(http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c327/triplejim/motorcycles/guzzi/Reversed%20Shift%20Linkage/overall_zpsxpjhzpjh.jpg)
Title: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: John Warner on November 13, 2015, 08:20:54 PM
Nice Job!
Problem is, unless you're used to the 'reverse' pattern, it's difficult to swap over.
Only had my Stelvio since mid Sep, so hopefully I'll remember!
Might have to put a GEARS sticker on the top of the screen for the first couple of weeks . . .  :grin:
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: not-fishing on November 13, 2015, 09:17:08 PM
I've had a bike with "GP" shifting and did like it but now I'm old and slow.

For some reason my problem is more one of going into corners to hot and madly shifting down gears than shifting up on the way out.

For me I'll leave well enough alone.  It's not like my Griso has the torque band of a two stroke Kawi or Yamaha.
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: Aaron D. on November 13, 2015, 09:26:15 PM
My first three street bikes were that way, as God intended. So was my loop. But I never worried enough to change it on a standard bike.

I always thought it was easier on the transmission too.
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: Triple Jim on November 13, 2015, 09:44:14 PM
Aaron, that's why I like the pattern.  I essentially never miss a gear when upshifting, and downshifting doesn't usually present the problem of missing a shift.

Doc,  I can switch back and forth without much trouble, but I find it takes more mental energy than I enjoy spending on such a silly thing, so I convert all the bikes I own.

The important thing here is that if we get together at a meet, we can try each other's motorcycles without having to adjust to a different pattern.   :grin:
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: AJ Huff on November 13, 2015, 09:52:46 PM
I'd love for my Cal Spec to match my Ambo.

-AJ
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: Triple Jim on November 13, 2015, 10:57:19 PM
AJ, I'm not sure what a Cal Spec is specifically, but if I can help, I'd be happy to.  I have some CAD drawings of the parts I made, for example.
Title: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: John Warner on November 14, 2015, 05:26:09 AM
. . . The important thing here is that if we get together at a meet, we can try each other's motorcycles without having to adjust to a different pattern . . .
I'd love a ride out to NC, but that damn Atlantic Ocean is soooooo wide!  :sad:
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: Perazzimx14 on November 14, 2015, 07:06:33 AM
Nice Job!
Problem is, unless you're used to the 'reverse' pattern, it's difficult to swap over.
Only had my Stelvio since mid Sep, so hopefully I'll remember!
Might have to put a GEARS sticker on the top of the screen for the first couple of weeks . . .  :grin:

I have bikes with both shift patterns and its no big deal to switch back and forth. You will find that "GP" shifting is so much more natural.

To the OP I'm interested once you get the design finalized.
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: Triple Jim on November 14, 2015, 08:12:28 AM
I'd love a ride out to NC, but that damn Atlantic Ocean is soooooo wide!  :sad:

Meet in Greenland?
Title: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: John Warner on November 14, 2015, 10:18:36 AM
Well I could get as far as Iceland, but only by getting a Ferry from Denmark . . .  :undecided:
Title: Re: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: oldbike54 on November 14, 2015, 10:31:29 AM
Well I could get as far as Iceland, but only by getting a Ferry from Denmark . . .  :undecided:

 Iceland is much nicer than Greenland .

 Try having a right side race pattern shift race bike , and a left side street pattern shift daily rider . I don't care what anyone says , that can get very confusing  :shocked:

  Dusty
Title: 'Racer pattern' Gear-change.
Post by: John Warner on November 14, 2015, 12:25:55 PM
Certainly don't envy you on that score!  :shocked:

I've done some Racing in the past, first ever meeting was with the Classic Race Club, on a Friend's 1966 Greeves Silverstone at Mallory Park.
R/H Gear-change, was doing alright until the penultimate lap, in third place, going into the hairpin, stomped on the Brake instead of the Gear-lever!
Locked up, but managed not to stall it.
Last lap was an all-or-nothing affair, got fastest lap of the race and was about 1/100th of a second behind the second place Bike, after being a couple of seconds down . . .  :grin: