is it bad to shift gears during a turn?

[CBR600RR_uel]

i know you can accelerate (throttle only) in a turn, such as out of the apex, but what about shifting? i know not to downshift, but during an upshift in a turn, my bike kinda wobbled. it kinda scared me for a second.

so is it bad to upshift during a turn? i'm not talking about street corners. i'm talking about on a twisty road.

[Ivan_markII]

It can be bad on a bike that doesn't have a lot of over rev (which your bike does). Meaning you have the choice of simply not shifting and letting the bike rev out.

However, if the bike wobbles while shifting you're probably not preloading the shifter, and, instead, jerking your leg. To preload...pull or push on the shifter with the throttle open. The engine won't shift until you close the throttle. Most people find this to be a lot smoother.

Finally, consider reversing the shift lever. You will never need to downshift during a left hand turn but you might find yourself needing to upshift. With the standard shifting you have to put your boot underneath the lever which might be difficult in a left-hand turn.

[Kalvin00]

Typically you want to avoid it but if you're not riding really hard it's probably not going to affect the bike at all..

[VermillionX]

I would not do it. The sudden loss of power that it takes to shift could unsettle the chasis and cause you problems. What I do is enter the corner in the lowest gear possible that still keeps it in the power band but does not require me to shift in the corner. That is the best way to take corners.

[Tyger]

Same here, I'll make sure the gear is "preset" before the corner so I can upshift after it at all

[ZxHunteR]

There is no good reason to be shifting in any turn. Dont do it.

[silent_R1]

IIRC, the Kieth Code recommends setting up for a corner by adjusting your revs and setting your gear before entering a turn.

You should not ever have to shift during a corner if you have set up correctly. To shift during a corner will upset your bike and its chassis (which is what it sounds like happened).

[ruralhipster]

In corners you want the balls of your feet on the pegs, if you make a tight left hand turn with your foot under the shifter you will be scraping toes, one more reason to wear your boots and avoid shifts mid corner.

[MAD_CAT]

I have been upshifting on on-ramps onto the highway where there is a large sweeping turn. But I always make sure my revs are high and going constant speed. I have been upshift in hard leans too.

[WhoUtink]

Originally Posted by MAD_CAT

I have been upshifting on on-ramps onto the highway where there is a large sweeping turn. But I always make sure my revs are high and going constant speed. I have been upshift in hard leans too.

I was gonna say , sometimes you have to. The 250 doesnt do 60 to 100 mph in first gear like the ss's do. I shift in turns all the time. Granted Im not trying to drag a knee when I am shifting. From a stop light turning left, and if Im hauling ass(as much as the 2fiddy can) Ill be in third by the time I stand the bike up. But on the Op's bike I would most likely ride one gear through most turns.

[jim schmidt]

The answer is not simple. You can shift in a curve if:
1. You're not leaned over so far as to run the risk of fouling your foot.
2. You're not already using nearly all of your available traction.
3. You're able to always reliably shift smoothly.
4. You're not an inexperienced rider who is not yet able to assess 1-3 with total accuracy.

If any one factor applies, you should not shift in a curve.

You can see why racing situations generally always call for picking the gear before the turn. In general street riding, its not such a bad idea either.

[ES13Raven]

What about this situation:

From a stop, turning left at a light. Should you stay in first gear all the way through the turn, or shift into 2nd before actually turning so you are in 2nd through the turn?

[Ivan_markII]

I think a big problem is the man to machine interface. What was fine 30 year ago is difficult to use nowdays.

Specifically, the shifter cannot be safely used in all situations. You could reverse the shifter so you can shift up during left hand turns...but many bikes don't come stock with a link reverser.

While I am at it...the throttle and brake require great rider dexterity in order to match engine to wheel speeds on downshifts. A simple modification could be done in by making the brake assembly rotate with the throttle assembly (like 1980's Vespas). That way your fingers wouldn't be moving back and forth across the brake lever. Slipper clutches do go a long way to reduce this problem.

[ZxHunteR]

Originally Posted by ES13Raven

What about this situation:

From a stop, turning left at a light. Should you stay in first gear all the way through the turn, or shift into 2nd before actually turning so you are in 2nd through the turn?

your choice


someone tell me a good reason to shift in a turn? Why would you want to save a drop of gas and risk unsettling the bike and crashing? Learn to set up before the corner. Simple as that.

[mikem317]

+1 on setting up before the turn.

I entered a rotary in Boston and accidentally downshifted and it really upset the chasis, breaking traction on the rear wheel, but regained rather smoothly qne without the high-side after effects.