Reverse shift pattern myth

[nortonspeed]

I just finished reversing my 1 up 3 down shift pattern into 1 down 3 up pattern by modifying the original camplate. The only way to get there is to regrind the notch pattern (5 notches) into opposite side of the camplate (180 degrees rotation). Unlike what has been mentioned in earlier threads there is no easy way by just flipping over the camplate :arrow: reverse shifting requires the symmetrical slots in the camplate upside down (180 degree rotation). This way the existing notches will no longer face down to engage the camplate index plunger. So grinding 5 new notches into the opposite side is inevitable :!:

 

[ashman]

Re: Reverse shift patern myth

I can never work out why anyone would want to change from 1 up 3 down as I think its the best way, I own a few bikes my Triumph and Honda dirt bike is left foot gear change and the Norton is right way in my book, I have never had any problems going from one bike to another but I have been riding Jap dirt bikes and the Norton for over 42 years now it just comes natural to me to know which way the gear change is on the bike I am riding at the time.

I know some do have problems with changing from one way to the other but its not hard to train your brain, when I first brought my new Norton when I was 17 years old and been riding Honda dirt bikes for a few years before I got the Norton I did stuff up the first 100 meters from the shop and it took a few days to train my brain but I have never had any more problems with the change over, changing the patten on the Norton to go the 1 down 3 up is just more comfussing in my book, my left foot and right foot knows what way to go on what bike I am riding, unless you have a old Triumph with the 1 down 3 up on the right foot, but I like my quick change gear patten and smooth gear change, wish my left gear changes were that smooth.

Ashley

 

[nortonspeed]

Ashman, I totally agree with you. I got fed up with my worn out sloppy rearsets and decided to fit a reversed stock gear change pedal so there was the need to reverse the shift pattern back to 1 up 3 down :wink:

 

[1up3down]

coming off a Suzuki with left foot down and up shift pattern over to my first Norton I have to admit it took some getting used to, fortunately no accidents learning

however there were deaths, and not just a handful, and easy enough to understand why when young guys trained on Japanese bikes hopped on British bikes and thinking they were putting on the rear brake were simply putting the bike in a higher gear

the US government recognized this real problem and mandated all bikes imported had to shift the same, on the left with a down for first and up pattern in 1975
good law,made sense preventing unnecessary injuries and deaths

 

[ashman]

Ashman, I totally agree with you. I got fed up with my worn out sloppy rearsets and decided to fit a reversed stock gear change pedal so there was the need to reverse the shift pattern back to 1 up 3 down :wink:

I full understand as we are both lovers of Featherbed Nortons, but I didn't like rear sets on mine as my feet were pointing to the road and my toes hit the road when pushing through tight corners so set mine up with the Commando foot pegs but soon I be making foot pegs that are inbetween the Commando and rear set position.

Ashley

 

[Biscuit]

... there were deaths, and not just a handful, and easy enough to understand why when young guys trained on Japanese bikes hopped on British bikes and thinking they were putting on the rear brake were simply putting the bike in a higher gear

the US government recognized this real problem and mandated all bikes imported had to shift the same, on the left with a down for first and up pattern in 1975
good law,made sense preventing unnecessary injuries and deaths

Sorry sir, but I'm calling BS on this argument. If you're not bright enough to know the shift pattern on you're bike, you're not bright enough to ride a bike,,, period.

 

[rvich]

LOL! Which myth are we exploring here?

 

[ashman]

coming off a Suzuki with left foot down and up shift pattern over to my first Norton I have to admit it took some getting used to, fortunately no accidents learning

however there were deaths, and not just a handful, and easy enough to understand why when young guys trained on Japanese bikes hopped on British bikes and thinking they were putting on the rear brake were simply putting the bike in a higher gear

the US government recognized this real problem and mandated all bikes imported had to shift the same, on the left with a down for first and up pattern in 1975
good law,made sense preventing unnecessary injuries and deaths

Really it had nothing to do about deaths why they changed, the Japenese were taking over the market so Norton and others had to keep up with them, so it was a world wide change

 

[acotrel]

When you ride fast, everything happens fast. I much prefer to make the up-changes definite by slightly easing the throttle and standing on the lever, without pulling in the clutch. That avoids the missed change and the engine blow-up. On the way down through the box you usually have more time and pulling the lever back to change down, is more natural. I never race with 1 down 3 up, it is too slow. The easiest way to change it is to fiddle the levers and linkage - I'd never stuff with the cam plate, you have enough to worry about without that. When I bought the 6 speed TTI box, it had the wrong selector drum and I had to ask Bruce Verdon for a swap. The gearbox casing is longer and makes it almost impossible to fiddle the linkage.

 

[acotrel]

One thing I never do is stomp on the gear lever. If you do it too rapidly, the inertia of the cam plate can carry you into the next neutral and you get a heap of revs. SMOOTH ALWAYS in everything.

 

[baz]

coming off a Suzuki with left foot down and up shift pattern over to my first Norton I have to admit it took some getting used to, fortunately no accidents learning

however there were deaths, and not just a handful, and easy enough to understand why when young guys trained on Japanese bikes hopped on British bikes and thinking they were putting on the rear brake were simply putting the bike in a higher gear

the US government recognized this real problem and mandated all bikes imported had to shift the same, on the left with a down for first and up pattern in 1975
good law,made sense preventing unnecessary injuries and deaths

Really it had nothing to do about deaths why they changed, the Japenese were taking over the market so Norton and others had to keep up with them, so it was a world wide change

Right hand shift was banned in America,the biggest market for Brit bikes was America so we had to follow suit,caused all sorts of headaches take a look at a mk3 commando,or a t160/t140 triumph for example it couldn't have come at a worse time for nvt , never heard about deaths because of a right shift though!!!!!

 

[baz]

Ashman, I totally agree with you. I got fed up with my worn out sloppy rearsets and decided to fit a reversed stock gear change pedal so there was the need to reverse the shift pattern back to 1 up 3 down :wink:

Why didn't you just reverse the lever and leave the gearbox alone?

 

[SteveA]

Ashman, I totally agree with you. I got fed up with my worn out sloppy rearsets and decided to fit a reversed stock gear change pedal so there was the need to reverse the shift pattern back to 1 up 3 down :wink:

Why didn't you just reverse the lever and leave the gearbox alone?

You do understand that reversing the lever reverses the pattern, don't you?

 

[baz]

Ashman, I totally agree with you. I got fed up with my worn out sloppy rearsets and decided to fit a reversed stock gear change pedal so there was the need to reverse the shift pattern back to 1 up 3 down :wink:

Why didn't you just reverse the lever and leave the gearbox alone?

You do understand that reversing the lever reverses the pattern, don't you?

Yes

 

[gripper]

I believe that a lot of racers of modern machinery reverse the shift pattern to one up 5 down to enable them to change up when leant over coming out of a bend without trapping their foot under the lever.

 

[nortonspeed]

Ashman, I totally agree with you. I got fed up with my worn out sloppy rearsets and decided to fit a reversed stock gear change pedal so there was the need to reverse the shift pattern back to 1 up 3 down :wink:

Why didn't you just reverse the lever and leave the gearbox alone?

Baz, I thought that was obvious as I mentioned I prefer shifting 1 up 3 down. Like SteveA noted reversing the lever reverses the pattern :!:

 

[baz]

I believe that a lot of racers of modern machinery reverse the shift pattern to one up 5 down to enable them to change up when leant over coming out of a bend without trapping their foot under the lever.

That's interesting never heard that before,I have four bikes on the road two have left gear change 1 down 4 up triumph t160 and BMW r100 the other two have 1 up 3 down bsa road rocket,and my commando,I recently sold a bsa b44 with right hand change 1 down 3 up ,I don't have a preference at all, I just wondered why others do?

 

[gortnipper]

I don't have a preference at all, I just wondered why others do?

I dont either, but it is a bit of a bitch on the first shift after riding another bike for a good while when you try to move the brake lever the wrong way....

 

[baz]

Ashman, I totally agree with you. I got fed up with my worn out sloppy rearsets and decided to fit a reversed stock gear change pedal so there was the need to reverse the shift pattern back to 1 up 3 down :wink:

Why didn't you just reverse the lever and leave the gearbox alone?

Baz, I thought that was obvious as I mentioned I prefer shifting 1 up 3 down. Like SteveA noted reversing the lever reverses the pattern :!:

Sorry it wasn't obvious to me,I've reversed gear levers many times over the years , never worried about the shift pattern

 

[Madnorton]

Or just use Norton part 04.0578E as per the service release N3/12 - it fits Commando, Manx with AMC box, Matchless and AJS racers also, allows the pattern to be and / or lever to be reversed as you so desire.