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Blipping on downshifts. What's that all about then?

R

RSV-Squid

Joined Jan 2012
188 Posts | 0+
UK
This seems to be a skill that I have not yet started exploring :confused.

Explaining to a buddy that buggering a gear change on the RSV would probably (knowing me) result in a miniature wheelie, or a locked rear, he (with his SV650) mentions that he blips the throttle on downshifts to avoid some form of problem that may be one, both or none of these.

Now I'm a two-stroke dude :)devious) and therefore the need to blip the throttle on downshifts, upshifts, turning the indicators on, or during filling the tank, is one that is completely alien to me.

The RSV is my first four stroke bike, so I feel slightly less (but still vaguely) sheepish in asking, what is blipping the throttle? Why do we do it?

I figured I'd do it all the time anyway just to hear the music from the pipes. :thumbup
 
The rsv has a slipper style clutch (ppc) so there is no real need to blip or it does not work, well that's if it works in the first place the are controlled by a one way valve but they seen to fail alot you can see the valve inbetween the tank and the frame on the right of the bike you can take the valve off try blow down both ways To see if its working
 
Blipping is all about trying to synch engine speed with the gear you're trying to select....it's a primitive sort of double-de-clutching (used on oldish cars bikes prior to sychromesh gearboxes)

See....yer none the wiser for that lot are you? :no


:lol :lol :lol :lol
 
Blipping the throttle on a downshift will bring engine speed up to a more similar rpm for the lower gear you are about to engage......much more important when you have have big twin motor with lots of engine braking!
 
2TROKE said:
Blipping the throttle on a downshift will bring engine speed up to a more similar rpm for the lower gear you are about to engage......much more important when you have have big twin motor with lots of engine braking!
Click to expand...

Agreed, when you pull the Clutch in & select a lower Gear- then let the Clutch back out the Revs have dropped so 'Engine Breaking' could lock the Rear Wheel, so by Blipping the Throttle You are bringing the Engine Revs up to match, so when You let the Clutch back out it will Slow Down smoothly & will not lock up.
 
I only blip when racing others or in town just to piss pedestians off,,, funny,, more so with the trumpet pipe, and when going past Harleys
 
Aha, yes, I have heard about this slipper style clutch. I know what a slipper clutch is but a slipper style clutch is new to me.
How does the RSV clutch work then?
 
Satchel Man said:
Agreed, when you pull the Clutch in & select a lower Gear- then let the Clutch back out the Revs have dropped so 'Engine Breaking' could lock the Rear Wheel, so by Blipping the Throttle You are bringing the Engine Revs up to match, so when You let the Clutch back out it will Slow Down smoothly & will not lock up.
Click to expand...

what he said, except when you change down the rpm will rise not fall.
Basically if you change down and release the clutch without matching road speed to engine speed you will have a sudden jolt a deceleration, as the wheel is force to catch up to the engine while the engine is forced to slow to match the wheel.
Even if this dont lock the rear it dont feel or look too cool.

When you blip the throttle while, you throw the revs right up and change down, so as the revs fall they will naturally be caught at the right rpm in the new gear you have engaged, meaning no jolt, and no wheel lock/loss of control.

The trick comes when trailing the front brake into a corner, and keeping pressure on the lever steady while you blip the throttle at the same time. Also remember to feed the clutch back (its very quick but it is fed) which will allow you to check the gear has selected properly and also make it even smoother so as to keep the bike stable entering the corner. Phew!
Hope that helps?? :thumbup
 
RSV-Squid said:
Aha, yes, I have heard about this slipper style clutch. I know what a slipper clutch is but a slipper style clutch is new to me.
How does the RSV clutch work then?
Click to expand...
Sorry about the copy and paste

PPC (Pneumatic Power Clutch) system, which limits rear-wheel lock-up on downchanges. The PPC system uses the variation in pressure generated in the intake manifolds when the throttle is closed to relax the load on the clutch springs, thus reducing engine braking at the rear wheel. How does it work? A pipe connects the intake manifolds to a reservoir alongside the clutch so that when the throttle is closed the vacuum created in the reservoir reduces the pressure that the springs apply on the clutch plates. When the throttle is opened again the clutch returns to its normal operating conditions, transmitting all available power to the rear wheel.
 
it says they do in the spec sheet weather they work is another thing the gen1 antireturn valve fails mine has never worked keep meaning to sort it but the gen2 anti return valve looks different does anybody know if they are better quality?
 
My RSV has enough engine braking to lock the rear by just shutting off, even in second with cold tires. So I`v always just blipped, used a few slipper clutches and my R6 had one standard but it was too inconsistent to trust esply with dropping more than one gear on a hot lap. Will try the RSV PPC tomorrow when I`m out and about on it. Never really considered how it wouldnt work if you had any throttle on, so I`ll give it a go!
 
CRAZY LEG5 said:
it says they do in the spec sheet weather they work is another thing the gen1 antireturn valve fails mine has never worked keep meaning to sort it but the gen2 anti return valve looks different does anybody know if they are better quality?
Click to expand...
You can only get the white ones and they fail quickly. I dont think it makes much of a difference cos you cant tell if its failed by the way down changes feel. You only know by taking it off and blowing through it. At £15 its a rip aswell.
 
I blip to stop the back end locking up. Mansfield at caddie is the best place. I`ve scared many a rider going in there back end out because its locked up. So blip away cos my milles dont have slipper clutches and STM are seriously cha ching.
 
there's even bikes now (i think the blade is one) that automatically blips the throttle to raise the revs for you when you change down!!!!!!!!!
 
The ppc may be crude but ride a big Duke and don't blip the throttle on a downchange in anything but dry warm weather, then tell me your ppc don't help.

The first duke i rode was a 999s and jumped straight off my 2000 rsvr onto it. First roundabout entry and i was sideways. Looked cool but **** my pants.
My 848 duke is very similar. Needs a blip in any changes below 3rd really to keep it smooth and i've still had it skipping doing that.
 
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