Shifting Backwards - Ask The Pro

Q I was wondering why roadrace bikes, like those used in MotoGP, have a reverse gearbox, meaning down for second through sixth, while up is for low gear?
Nathan Kramer
Las Cruces, NM

Grabbing an upshift at full lean can be tricky with standard shifting.

A It's mostly personal preference, except for racers with an injury that affects range of motion at the ankle. According to Motorcyclist test consultant Barry Burke-former Formula USA West Champion and AMA Superbike pilot emeritus-most of the racers out there use the reverse pattern. "When the bike is at maximum lean angle in a left-hander, reverse shifting lets you grab another gear mid-corner," Burke says. "At certain racetracks, there are corners where this is an advantage. Personally, I'd rather use a standard street pattern and change final-drive gearing so I don't need to shift with the bike cranked all the way over.

"It's easier to grab the next gear pulling up on the shifter as you accelerate out of a corner when acceleration is pulling your weight back. The street pattern makes downshifting easier and more fluid as well, since it's easier to push down when your weight is moving forward under braking. Racing dirtbikes as a kid, I learned to shift in a standard street pattern. It's second nature. I know Mat Mladin and Kevin Schwantz use a standard street pattern and it doesn't seem to slow them down."

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By Adam "Hollywood" Campbell

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