Shift light who uses one and where did you get yours?

[Cipher]

I was driving to a roundabout last night. Hereabouts loonies charge into the circulation at the highest possible speed. Seeing me on a bike 5 or 6 cars ran the yield. I opted to let them do so in order to not be killed.

Its a 2km stretch on the branch I and the cars exited onto. Down a slight grade with new ashphalt so I carefully tore past the *@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$s with a terminal speed somewhere about 220 kmph.

Its really almost impossible to safely see the tach doing something like this and as I eased onto the exit ramp on the way home I realized that oddly my tachs redline was between 12 and 14 thousand rpm. Does that strike anyone as odd?

So I reckon a shift light would be nice. Im pretty sure I never redlined though maybe hit 9 or 10 K.




Anyway the old speed shifter is a grand toy. It really let me show the hyundai econobox guys who was boss.

 

[Rob S.]

...my tachs redline was between 12 and 14 thousand rpm.

I'm going to venture a guess that you were not riding your Suzie.

What strikes you as odd? That it is a red 'zone,' and not just a line? My CB350 had a red zone from 9 to 11k. The manual explained that I could briefly operate anywhere in the red, but to never go past it.

Never used a shift light. In any gear, if I'm near redline on the 11E, the tach is not where I want my eyes to be. But my peripheral vision (and my ears) can usually detect when I'm near red line.

 

[Steve]

As Rob hints, using your eyes to see a light requires focus, which will detract from your task at hand.

On the other hand (what are they doing there?), your ears are always working. Just learn what is "too fast". :-\\\

.

 

[trevor]

You didn't hit redline if you were on your BMW...it has a rev limiter just like mine.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Honestly why are you needing to look at the tach to shift? Whether riding a motorcycle or driving a automobile, shifting should be by feel and sound in my opinion

 

[TxGSrider]

Proform makes an inexpensive stand alone shift light that you can buy pretty cheap. I used one on a built KTM powered quad. Although it really wasn't sealed, it didn't seem to mind water. MSD makes a pricier one that's brighter and built more solid. It's nice to have them so you can see when to shift while not having to take your eyes off what's in front of you. Usually best to set them about 500-1000 rpm past peak hp rpm for best acceleration.

 

[Gorminrider]

Honestly why are you needing to look at the tach to shift? Whether riding a motorcycle or driving a automobile, shifting should be by feel and sound in my opinion

yes that's what I do but I can't hear my bike with a crowd of Harleys nearby or feel it either...I suppose it can happen with wind-noise/earplugs too on newer bikes...wFeeling is pretty slight at low rpms on Suzuki fours and the twins too. If I can't hear/feel the bike I have to look at insturments to tell what's happening.

 

[Steve]

... but I can't hear my bike with a crowd of Harleys nearby or feel it either. ...

If you can't hear your bike with a crowd of Harleys (or any other bike, for that matter) around, you are simply TOO CLOSE and need to remove yourself from the area. :-\\\

.

 

[cowboyup3371]

If you can't hear your bike with a crowd of Harleys (or any other bike, for that matter) around, you are simply TOO CLOSE and need to remove yourself from the area. :-\\\

.

Preferably by dropping a gear and raising the rpms

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Yeah, while riding on lonely roads it helps to have a tach and try different shift points, remember how the bike felt and sounded like at those shifts.
For drag racing a shift light is useful, but that is a singular way of racing.
In your situation, which is road racing, you did well.
Track riding:
Looking down at the tach or speedo on the race track is discouraged by track day coaches, you need to watch the road and other bikes.
I do flick my eyes down at the tach at shift points, but I mark those shift points with passing landmarks, so I won't have to look down anymore. Same as is recommended for breaking and turn in points.
I do look down at the tach and speedo at maximum speed points on the straights, to know if I did the last corner well and for satisfaction.
The sprockets should be chosen so the engine is redlined at that point of the straight.

 

[Gorminrider]

If you can't hear your bike with a crowd of Harleys (or any other bike, for that matter) around, you are simply TOO CLOSE and need to remove yourself from the area. :-\\\

.

That can be hard to do at a stoplight. Or even passing /being passed by a harley-horde.

Preferably by dropping a gear and raising the rpms [/QUOTE] that helps! My hearing still handles high frequencies ok

 

[Steve]

If you can't hear your bike with a crowd of Harleys (or any other bike, for that matter) around, you are simply TOO CLOSE and need to remove yourself from the area. :-\\\

That can be hard to do at a stoplight. Or even passing /being passed by a harley-horde.

If you are at a stoplight, a shift light won't do much good.

It might help when the light turns green, though. :encouragement:

Passing a harley-horde is usually pretty easy, probably does not even involve a downshift.
When being passed by a harley-horde, you have a couple of choices. You can wake up to the realization that you have been riding WAY too slow, then wick it up to show them who's REALLY the boss, or you can turn onto a more-interesting road or even simply stop to take a break.

.

 

[Dogma]

As Rob hints, using your eyes to see a light requires focus, which will detract from your task at hand.

On the other hand (what are they doing there?), your ears are always working. Just learn what is "too fast". :-\\\

.

I haven't tried a shift light yet, but I'm thinking the correct configuration should be to have the light visible in your peripheral vision and not need to use focused vision. Just like we should train ourselves to use peripheral vision to monitor obstacles and lane position in the near field so focus can stay down the road where it belongs. The whole point is to not look at the tach, right?

For street riding, I would tend to agree that shifting by sound should normally be fine, but there are times when I want to know how many revs I have left, and I don't want to take my eyes off the road. I think it would be a welcome addition for those times you want it, just like the tachometer itself. I have a project in the works to convert to an electronic tach, and the one I have came with a shift light. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

 

[Cipher]

I haven't tried a shift light yet, but I'm thinking the correct configuration should be to have the light visible in your peripheral vision and not need to use focused vision. Just like we should train ourselves to use peripheral vision to monitor obstacles and lane position in the near field so focus can stay down the road where it belongs. The whole point is to not look at the tach, right?

For street riding, I would tend to agree that shifting by sound should normally be fine, but there are times when I want to know how many revs I have left, and I don't want to take my eyes off the road. I think it would be a welcome addition for those times you want it, just like the tachometer itself. I have a project in the works to convert to an electronic tach, and the one I have came with a shift light. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Wow yeah yah dont need to focus to see a light. Im now leaning towards a probe with an electric shock. Would certainly make the shift points and engine noise\vibration stick in ones mind.

If I was rich and crazy i would get the BMW HP dash it has a sweeping light for a tach iirc. Ever increasing in size then changing green to red.