Sorry for my ignorance...

I've just been watching the Superbikes at Phillip Island and the Grands Prix bikes at the new Malaysia track. But I'm completely baffled :o) The riders hands seem very busy with the brakes that I assume operate in a similar way to a push bike, but how do they do the other all important functions, like accelarate and change gear? Someone, please... do tell. Thanks :) Rob

Right hand throttle and front brake. Left hand clutch right foot rear brake. left foot shift. ofcourse w. your right hand when your on the brakes you wouldnt be accelerating.. or vice versa. I could go further but I think the above answers your inquiry. Charles check out my 85RZ350 http://www.racingforfun.com/rzonly

Right hand throttle and front brake. Left hand clutch right foot rear brake. left foot shift. Jeez! That's confusing. Changing gear with your foot!? I don't suppose they use the clutch when changing gear, though? It's just for starting? Rob

Im not sure Rob, I dont think one of these transmissions could take a whole race w/o using clutch, ofcourse they probably completely kill the clutch on the start anyhow, but I know that the clutch is part of applying the power to the ground smoothly... maybe upshifting they dont use the clutch but downshifting I'm quite sure they have too. W/o the clutch when downshifting would kill the *** and the motor. Hans

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>Right hand throttle and front brake. >Left hand clutch >right foot rear brake. >left foot shift. >Jeez! That's confusing. Changing gear with your foot!? I don't suppose they use >the clutch when changing gear, though? It's just for starting?

On a normal roadbike you'll use the clutch when changing gears. The setup is the same. I don't know for sure, but I guess the racebikes can switch gears without clutching, like a semi-automatic gearbox in F1. Once you get used to it, it feels natural. Remco

> >Right hand throttle and front brake. > >Left hand clutch > >right foot rear brake. > >left foot shift. > >Jeez! That's confusing. Changing gear with your foot!? I don't suppose they use

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> >the clutch when changing gear, though? It's just for starting? > On a normal roadbike you'll use the clutch when changing gears. The > setup is the same. I don't know for sure, but I guess the racebikes > can switch gears without clutching, like a semi-automatic gearbox in > F1. > Once you get used to it, it feels natural. > Remco

The racebikes are indeed shifted without the use of the clutch, hefty straight cut gears and precise speed/rpm matching (and frequent rebuilds by team mechanics)allows them to hammer away at the shifter as they feel fit, I used to do this all the time on my own streetbike, but ride in a much more sedate manner now....save it for GPL! Ed --

And 'the king' Mick Doohan uses his left hand for the rear brake as well. Set up from the accelerator off a Jet Ski. The rear brake is used for stability and controlling wheelspin (and slowing down sometimes even!). Ever since the accident in 1992 he has only had limited use of his right leg, but still has won 5 world 500cc championships (in a row), going for number 6. (I am a fan....) Bye, Ian

They only use both feet for Two things: #1 back brake & #2: shift lever. That's it. Everything else is done by two hands, 18 fingers & 2 thumbs. Cheers

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> I've just been watching the Superbikes at Phillip Island and the Grands Prix > bikes at the new Malaysia track. But I'm completely baffled :o) The riders > hands seem very busy with the brakes that I assume operate in a similar way to > a push bike, but how do they do the other all important functions, like > accelarate and change gear? > Someone, please... do tell. > Thanks :) > Rob

n2rif1.vcf < 1K Download

Sounds like a setup for a motorcycle racer! When it works don't fix it! ;0)

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> Right hand throttle and front brake. > Left hand clutch > right foot rear brake. > left foot shift. > Jeez! That's confusing. Changing gear with your foot!? I don't suppose they use > the clutch when changing gear, though? It's just for starting? > Rob

no_spam.n2rif1.vcf < 1K Download

^^^^^^^^^^^^ DOH!, I knew they HAD to be mutants go go that fast :-) -Juha --

What is your point Juha Kallioinen? Please detail!

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> >-=-=-=-=-=- > >They only use both feet for Two things: #1 back brake & #2: shift lever. > >That's it. Everything else is done by two hands, 18 fingers & 2 thumbs. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^ > DOH!, I knew they HAD to be mutants go go that fast :-) > -Juha > --

no_spam.n2rif1.vcf < 1K Download

I would guess the 18 fingers... /Christer, not a good guesser, though

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> What is your point Juha Kallioinen? Please detail! > > >-=-=-=-=-=- > > >They only use both feet for Two things: #1 back brake & #2: shift lever. > > >That's it. Everything else is done by two hands, 18 fingers & 2 thumbs. > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > DOH!, I knew they HAD to be mutants go go that fast :-) > > -Juha > > --

-- http://home.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)).

Well I only have 8 fingers :) -- Ian Parker ICQ 21772592 >What is your point Juha Kallioinen? Please detail! >> >-=-=-=-=-=- >> >They only use both feet for Two things: #1 back brake & #2: shift lever. >> >That's it. Everything else is done by two hands, 18 fingers & 2 thumbs. >> ^^^^^^^^^^^^ >> DOH!, I knew they HAD to be mutants go go that fast :-) >> -Juha >> --

Sorry folks typo error on my part!! {{"8 finger not 18"}} I guess I'd have to be a mutant..eh? ;o) I didnt see this at first Juha.Kallioinen & now I understand your query! It's just one of those "blooper" thangs. Ya know??..;0) "O" Well.. Cheers Folks Thom j. aka ^Fretts

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> I would guess the 18 fingers... > /Christer, not a good guesser, though > > What is your point Juha Kallioinen? Please detail! > > > >-=-=-=-=-=- > > > >They only use both feet for Two things: #1 back brake & #2: shift lever. > > > >That's it. Everything else is done by two hands, 18 fingers & 2 thumbs. > > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > > DOH!, I knew they HAD to be mutants go go that fast :-) > > > -Juha > > > -- > -- > http://home.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online > racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone > has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o)).

no_spam.n2rif1.vcf < 1K Download

Bikes accelerate with the twist throttle on the right side of the handlebars. The change gear with a foot lever on the left. The rear brake is usuallu a for lever on the right. The clutch is the hand lever on the left and the front brake is the hand lever on the right. Some racers, like Mike Doohan, use a thunb lever for on the left for their rear brake.

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> I've just been watching the Superbikes at Phillip Island and the Grands Prix > bikes at the new Malaysia track. But I'm completely baffled :o) The riders > hands seem very busy with the brakes that I assume operate in a similar way to > a push bike, but how do they do the other all important functions, like > accelarate and change gear? > Someone, please... do tell. > Thanks :) > Rob

No clutch up gera, Definite clutch down gear.

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> Right hand throttle and front brake. > Left hand clutch > right foot rear brake. > left foot shift. > Jeez! That's confusing. Changing gear with your foot!? I don't suppose they use > the clutch when changing gear, though? It's just for starting? > Rob

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> Right hand throttle and front brake. > Left hand clutch > right foot rear brake. > left foot shift. > Jeez! That's confusing. Changing gear with your foot!? I don't suppose they use > the clutch when changing gear, though? It's just for starting? > Rob

In general for most racing/sport bikes you only use the clutch for the start. I never use the clutch otherwise and that's how I ride on the street and when I used to race (pre-marrige & kids). Motorcycle gears run on a single shaft, so all the gears spin at the same rpm and matching revs is much easier than a car. Most cars have 2 or 3 shafts for forward gears and matching revs is trickier. Glenn White

>And 'the king' Mick Doohan uses his left hand for the rear brake as well. >Set up from the accelerator off a Jet Ski. The rear brake is used for >stability and controlling wheelspin (and slowing down sometimes even!). Ever >since the accident in 1992 he has only had limited use of his right leg, but >still has won 5 world 500cc championships (in a row), going for number 6. One of the WSB guys also operates the rear brake with his left thumb. RESPECT. :-) Mike.