SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

How do you change gears?

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McCabe-Thiele (Ted):

--- Quote from: Oddjob on June 27, 2023, 07:53:42 PM ---I learnt to drive using the double declutching method, it's so ingrained that even now I do it. It's not for the clutch at all Ted, it's so the 2 gear shafts come into synchronisation, the one connected to the drive wheels is going at a different speed to the other and the gears will graunch if you try and select gear until the 2 speeds match, eventually they came up with synchromesh gears where a small ring inside the gear stopped the gear allowing it to engage at any speed. On a bike on the downshift you need to make the mainshaft match the countershaft speed and the easiest way is to blip the throttle and change gear just when you judge the speeds are close to each other, when the clutch is released the sudden speed change in the countershaft then doesn't lock the rear wheel up or make it skip sideways.

--- End quote ---

Hey Ken I've driven early Beetles with a full crash gearbox - no synchromesh iirc in any gear never mind about just first gear on early pudding stick Minis. 8) 8) 8)

Laverdaroo:
If it was a Beetle it was refered to as 'Synchromash' Ted ;D

McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
Or Syncrocrash. ;D ;D ;D

Oddjob:
I learnt to double declutch on a Leyland PD1 double decker bus, gearstick was a yard long, 3/4” solid steel bar with a solid steel snooker ball on the top, to get from 1st to 2nd on a hill start we did what we called a snatch, you pulled back on the gearstick so hard it started to bend, then you released the accelerator whilst dipping the clutch at the same time and the gear lever would suddenly shoot back and the gears would engage so fast they didn’t have time to complain about it. My left leg was highly muscled from the really heavy clutch the buses had at that time. No power anything, vacuum brakes not air, even the windscreen wiper was air operated. There are some pics for sale on eBay we me driving and some with me as a conductor.

davidcumbria:
A variation on blipping the throttle for downchanges is ‘constant speed downchanges’  where instead of conventionally closing the throttle before declutching you simply maintain the same throttle position throughout the gear change. If done smoothly , pulling in the clutch and downshifting simultaneously then releasing the clutch smartly all that happens is a change in engine note and the bike stays at the same speed so no harsh engine braking effect. In combination with good use of acceleration sense this allows for smooth riding and a reduction in using the brakes. If you haven’t tried it give it a go and be pleasantly surprised at how easy and satisfying it is.

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