What is SHORT SHIFTING on a motorcycle?

Short shifting? How? Why? When? Everything you need to know about short shifting on a motorcycle explained right here.
📷 SOCIAL
Instagram- / chaos_causes_
TikTok- / chaoscauses
⚙ MY GEAR
Insta360 One X3- bit.ly/Insta36...
Jacket- bit.ly/JacketH...
Jeans- bit.ly/JeansPa...
Gloves- bit.ly/GlovesOnyx
📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES- [e-mail]

[@achraf9946]

I Paid all the rpm so I use them all everytime everyday

[@optomgamer6414]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 damn true

[@hamzahghufran]

Heart says yeah bro... Wallet says Noòoòoooooooooo!!!!

[@miragef191]

Ofcourse

[@DIVA-MC-7]

😂😂😂😂😂 there you go my friend

[@DimitrisDr3am]

True, but the harder you run the engine the less time it will last also.

[@brazoon1]

I do it to save engine wear. I never understood riders who cruise around with the engine screaming at 80% RPM. In fact I even re-geared my bike (via sprockets) to lower to revs considerably on the highway. In theory, if the engine performs 20% fewer revolutions per kilometer traveled it will also have a 20% longer life.

[@CasualRiders]

I did this too, also noticed a big improvement to my fuel economy

[@nathanfenech9018]

I get what you're saying, but conversely it's 20% less fun at sny given moment. But definitely agree on not needing to be red lining it or close to it on the street. In the end most don't worry about fuel economy on a bike.

[@charlespascua9740]

Me who do it for fuel economy

[@brazoon1]

@@nathanfenech9018 I wouldn't say 20% less fun although I understand what you mean. And I guess it depends what motorcycle you're starting with, how much power you have and what type of riding you do. I do a lot of day trip cruising rides on my katana and I've found it a lot more comfortable with the revs lower. The most annoying thing is having to shift down so many gears when you need to get in the power, but the power is still there, just a bit less quick to rev. To each their own, I get it. :)

[@Chronostra]

My brother's (a 90s suzuki bandit which I frequently use) was also modified but not only the sprockets but also the mesh gearing. It still gets the low end acceleration and low rpm high speed cruise. The downside is that the jump from 3 to 4, 4 to 5 and 5-6 is quite big. It's quite balanced as I usually stay 2-4 on mountainous road and the tall 5-6 on flat cruise.

[@AST4EVER]

Before watching this video, i didn't even know that I've been "SHORT SHIFTING" my bike my whole life 😳 And my reason was exactly the same, smoother transition of power throughout the rev range, power keeps climbing....

[@A.C.StreetRacer]

I've literally been doing this for last 2 years of my riding life and didn't even knew about it.😜😂

[@doesntmatter3068]

I've been doing this for 40 years, ya don't need a "Name" for it. Running your RPM up to red every time? You will shorten the life of your engine that way IMP. Not every bike is make for racing.

[@Lunsomat3000]

Great and short explanation! Most of us are prolly doing this most of the time without really being aware of it. Nice quick reminder here, perfectly edited with top information. Thank you, very appreciated! Can you make a video about why in racing the shfiting is reversed?

[@CasualRiders]

Not all race bikes use GP shift (reverse shifting). I believe though that it enables the rider to shift into a higher gear while the bike is leaning to the left without risking the rider put their foot below the level of the footpeg and catching the ground beneath them. I stand to be corrected, but I think Mike On Bikes may have covered this in a video before

[@wanderer7779]

@@CasualRiders definitely that reason and you can't break( drop a gear) with high lean angle so it makes sense it's reversed.

[@TheOriginalCoda]

It's not really for downshifts as much as for upshifts. On circuits with long left turns where you need to upshift to stay in the power, it's uncomfortable AND dangerous to try to get your boot under the shift lever. Much better just to kick it down. For downshifts, all of these are done before the corner anyway, during braking. I was considering changing both of my track bikes over to GP shift but decided against it. I don't ride any left hand circuits (yet) and I'm not quick enough either for it to make any difference to my lap time.

[@wanderer7779]

@@TheOriginalCoda you probably should as getting used to might take a while. Also it would be one less thing to focus on later down the road as you are used to it

[@TheOriginalCoda]

@@wanderer7779 I did consider it, but not all bikes are easy to reverse without spending $$$ and I am one of those people that will rotate bikes as my needs change.

[@CasualRiders]

Can't believe I waited 2 weeks for such a short video 😮 thought you were gonna drop the bomb on us with this one

[@izzyshah095]

:(

[@salvatoredigrigoli3210]

🤣😂🤣⚰

[@CasualRiders]

@@izzyshah095 I mean no disrespect, Justin makes the best videos in the space, I simply expected more considering there was no upload last week, and I didn't get my weekly fix of chaos

[@mozzfather]

Come on, give him some room to breathe buddy 💨

[@CasualRiders]

@@mozzfather I meant no disrespect, I really look forward to my weekly dose of chaos, and it didn't happen last week. I had high expectations of this one, and it was over way too quickly. Justin makes some of the best videos in this space, and they really are the highlight of my Friday afternoons

[@yoshuavillar]

Easy to understand, well done!

[@monawoka97]

If you're riding on the street short shifting is just shifting lol. If it's the exception to the rule you might be riding like a maniac 😂

[@konstantinos433]

Maybe I take things for granted but nobody told me about short shifting. Matter of fact I randomly stumbled upon this video and this is the first time I'm hearing about the term 'short shifting'. All engines have a power band. That doesn't mean you have to be in it all the time. Thought that was common sense.

[@Lunsomat3000]

My instructor wanted to teach me to always wait until I reach the powerband before I upshift. I thought that this was nonsense as a beginner, and I think I am right. I was on the highway with 110 kp/h, the engine was screaming in 3rd gear, when I started to ignore his stupid advice and began to "short shift". Unless I really need that torque.

[@TheOriginalCoda]

I ride a Fireblade, and on the road, if I took your instructors advice, I'd be doing nearly 100mph before changing into 2nd. I hardly ever get into the powerband on the road as I'm already speeding at that point.

[@CasualRiders]

I think that may have been a misinterpretation, If you're trying to get up to speed quickly (like getting on an on ramp) then riding into the powerband before shifting is gonna get you there so you can match pace with the highway traffic when you merge into the slow lane..... But once you're there, it's perfectly fine to short shift so that your motor isn't screaming at you. I think the imperative lesson any rider can learn from this video, is that a rider should learn when to shift at the appropriate time, based on what they are trying to get out of the bike

[@TheOriginalCoda]

@@CasualRiders Totally, well said. Especially learners that may be on smaller bikes with limited power, sometimes you need to use all the available power just to be safe. Which as a learner can be a bit counter-intuitive.

[@organichotdog3807]

I short-shift from 1st to 2nd in the city because 2nd gear on my SV650 is optimal stoplight to stoplight. It allows me to pull away quickly and smoothly without having to wring out 1st gear.

[@dadifofoy8430]

I never even realized it, but I've been going by the sound all along since I started riding my motorcycle. Don't want my bike screamin' too much.

[@skillCat321roblox]

Hold up wait a minute something ain’t right 2:19

[@mikeyg6631]

Loud and proud lol! If they can't hear us they can't see us 💯

[@0101-s7v]

I never understood why some casual riders take the engine all the way to redline before shifting.... or, keeping the RPM near the redline for extended periods of time. It is unnecessary wear and tear on the engine and shortens engine life.

[@GazBeatz]

Never even knew this was a thing. I always did it because my first dirt bike had a ridiculous fmf exhaust and I couldn’t stand how loud it was haha. I liked to run it with lower rpm

[@vincentbeaudoin]

I like how they show an mt09. Shortshifting on an mt09 basically means changing to 6th at 15km/h.

[@Antivir123]

Mt09 with stock secondary can ride 45kmh on 6gear on flat 😅🤣

[@theclamhammer4447]

If you’re casually riding shifting at or near the limiter then you’ve got a lot to learn.

[@FlyingFun.]

Unless I need full power ( on a half decent bike it is rarely needed ) there is no need to rev all the way through the power band all the time. I short shift most of the time on the roads, bikes are sooooo quick anyway that full power will get you into trouble in seconds.😂

[@goldie6579]

As a street rider I mostly short shift

[@dmartinr41]

nice explanation

[@The757packerfan]

My z650 owners manual tells me to shift right after hitting 4k RPM. So, if the manual tells me to short shift, I do it.

[@scottburns2712]

Power band originally referred to two stroke engine's having very low torque and power at low revs but at certain points higher revs would provide a massive difference, unlike a four stroke where camshaft profiles produce a more linear torque and power curve. Now we have shift cams or VTEC like cams that change the power and torque curves more dramatically which could be called a power band. You would short shift an RG 500 on the street so police don't see your front wheel in the air.

[@032254855]

my 600 road bike dosen't make any power until 8-9000rpm red lines at 14000rpm

[@powamoto]

Yeah bro we ain't short shifting on the hwy only round the neighborhood love from Miami Beach 🏖 FL USA Sky Champion on Powamoto 🤘

[@FPBlackBeast]

I've been shortshifting my whole life hahaha

[@furstl]

One does not simply short shift on a 50cc manual

[@loftyintentions1985]

I go 1st-2nd, 2nd-4th and 4th-6th when I'm just chilling. That's on a gsxr 600.

[@GixxerRider1991]

Another benefit is that getting up to the higher gears quicker means downshifting can more effectively slow the bike.

[@jprospero]

Whoa, can I get the reference of the bike support?

[@zobrombie3023]

Damn, I learned something today.

[@thebluegremlin]

me with CVT, ah yes I'm shifting a dozen gears every second

[@Drt0Kkdo]

I short shift my SV650 real low to make it sound like a Bonneville lol

[@Marko-bh3pl]

Low rpms with a loud exhaust sound so good 👍

[@h0ij0i]

Last clip where Marquez overtakes two others is just crazy!!

[@deepcool5497]

I do it most often as i like smooth silent rides in city, only at the highway i avoid it.

[@take5th]

My drz is loud as hell. If you rode it past my house I would curse you. So, I’m a short shifting fool all the way to the woods. And it’s good for sand riding too, if you want to hook up the tire.

[@mutationbuilder3446]

The gsxr’ manual actually calls for you to be in 6th gear at 31 mph

[@tissapathiratna7761]

I used to do all the time. For better engine life.

[@justasnowball]

"acceleration, explained" "shifting gears, explained" short shifting, I mean it's kinda self explanatory innit? I get that sometimes it's hard to come up with video ideas but cmon.

[@anthonysmith4759]

Just watched an old episode of Top Gear. The presenter just said "I've just changed from first gear to third, so technically I've short shifted. So there we are, problem solved. Its nothing to do with changing up before the redline, or put another way, riding like a moron.

[@nicholasmcdougald3737]

I do that since with the stock exhaust i have in my mt03 sounds horrible just pass 6,000 rpm

[@DrHakennase]

Why do they invent a term for normal day riding. Its not like i pull my revs up in the limiter everytime^^ Higher gear lower rpm less fuel consumption

[@PinotNoir_]

im using a smoll 150cc bike that rev up to 11.8K, but i need to short shift on 1st and 2nd gear (at 5 or 6K) or my bike will vibrate a lot, and i do short shifting when im just cruising around the town just to save a little bit of fuel or when i forgot to change the oil..

[@anthonysmith4759]

I always thought short shifting was when you're changing up through the gears, setting off in 1st then going to 3rd and then 5th before going into top gear.

[@stuarthaysom763]

And how would you do that on a motorbike?

[@anthonysmith4759]

@@stuarthaysom763 just hold the clutch in and shift the lever twice !

[@stuarthaysom763]

Yeh,well done,you have just invented a whole new way of shifting gears on a motorbike!

[@atakanobuz]

So basic thing has been explained like have to be known to ride and to be learned specifically. 👎

[@8alakai8]

people short shift all the time when riding on the road i am not going to ride on the highway 100kmh in 3 gear all the time hust put it in 6 and cruise

[@lIlIllIlIllIlllIllIIIIIIIIIlII]

"youve probably heard of short shifting" No literally never

[@lifeiswarwarislife1972]

Makes no difference to my MT-10, drinks like a mad man at happy hour.

[@carlf3051]

Anything more than short shifting is thrashing in my book, for which there's no need for...most of the time 🤫

[@queenslander954]

Yea mate, it’s obviously when Joe Pesci rides a motorbike.

[@zareaper002]

Short shifting with a loud exhaust is a ticket avoider 🤙🏼

[@ktkace]

Goon neighbour manners imho

[@ktkace]

*good

[@fkaceng]

Hi, I have problems down shifting on semi-automatic using my heel, can i use your way of upshifting to downshift to lower gears on semi-automatic before reaching the traffic lights or cornering?

[@cartmanandkyle]

imo short shifting can accelerate you more faster

[@melihdrms1182]

didnt know this was a thing i just did it to not stress my bike

[@8alakai8]

i dont understand wy this needs to be explained they will learn you when getting your licence atleast where i live

[@mc_remzky7559]

i short shift everytime. My bike makes 10k but i shift at 4-5k

[@thexht7927]

let’s say I don’t care about fuel economy, noise, engine wear. But who tf can handle tha amount of vibration from a redline engine? I cannot stay at 80% RPM on my FZ7 2017 for more than 5 seconds. It sounds and feels really scary like the engine wants to explode

[@justinsugay1149]

Very clear and well presented. Good vid! So, most of the time in theory everyone's short shifting? Whether they know it or not... Idk if the opposite term "long shifting" (please confirm or correct me on that) would be making full utilization of the revs to redline would basically equate to jail time, death or near death constantly if that's how one rode on the streets all the time.

[@911Salvage]

The opposite of short shifting is called over-revving.

[@laynetravis]

In the city almost always im short shift and with passenger mostly

[@SoulTouchMusic93]

2:20 did you put a bike on your bike so you can ride while you ride?

[@rchydrozz751]

Not sure why, there has to be a term for riding normal.

[@mannyechaluce3814]

been doing that all my life, even with my standard transmission cars :D , racing is about the only place I think I would ever go all the way close to the red line

[@mc_remzky7559]

Exactly 🤫🤣

[@enfield7123]

I ride a royal Enfield intercepter I don't need it 😂

[@joshyjohnson5287]

I'd like to know what shoes those are at 1:45. Lol

[@jayinho]

Could you tell me which shoes is that? @ 1:45

[@Lue2900]

thinking of trading my mt09 for the r9 when it releases or an r1 any reasons i shouldn’t?

[@wanderer7779]

The only reason i can think of the 09 is way more comfortable and it's street oriented

[@pgnandt]

Like you actually have to tell people this?

[@vijayam1]

Acutely explained..

[@vlad0vlad0vlad]

yeah basicaly fuel consumption is lower, my mt-07 when riding around 3k to 4k revs it has on the dash a eco sign. Reving like a madman in the city is just dumb, you dont have where to go since its always traffic , it burns a lot more fuel and acumulate wear faster, also you become the hated asshole that wakes people up whit loud engine noise.

[@bruceglock7260]

Kind of self explanatory but well done for those that don’t ride.

[@ewizdark3038]

I always shortshift

[@smoirt5053]

I see it as why not be in a high gear if im sticking to a speed for a while. Less fuel, less engine wear, less noise for people to complain about, and more fun downshifts

[@Huribueb]

my first gear goes to 140kph. on the autobahn here is max 120kph. as long as i dont want to go to jail ill have to either not shift and stay in first or shortshift every shift😭😂

[@alozborne]

That's why I don't have a sport bike anymore :-) I got too many tickets driving around in the city, simply because I got super bored driving around in 1st gear all the time 😂 Now I have an ADV with much shorter gears, lots of shifting makes me happy! I definitely miss the instant throttle response sometimes though, but off-road adventuring more than makes up for that.

[@safayatjamil2719]

I didn't even know there's something other than short shifting. That means i never get the full potential of my bike

[@PAD32]

On race tracks, I also short shift before some left turns, when it's impossible to shift due to the lean angle.

[@sammemrys8195]

Simple and informative.✔

[@NameTopSecret]

i did this my whole life, even on cars. but when I wanted power, just pedal to the floor.

[@prenninger_jonas]

Nice Video 🔥

[@kirankandel3886]

I thought i was the only one who does that i didn't even know it called short shifting🤦‍♂️

[@Firebear31]

oh now i know what it's called. I always referred to it as "driving my bike like a car" lol

[@clintsride]

Street bikes in city: That's what we do all the time!

[@dave8549]

Short shifting is what us older bikers call rain mode

[@satyamarkandanpillai9371]

I am a short shifter!!! I like to rev the bike in its tallest great

[@cylindricalfire]

Please bring back the teal and orange in your logo. I know it's not a lot but it adds character and also, making your logo simpler just adds to the bland corporate logo bandwagon

[@nickgandy3]

2 reasons I do it. Noise and fuel economy especially urban areas

[@Choppin9946]

when people asks me how do I achieve 40km/l on my CB300R, maybe this is the video to show

[@austinbelanger641]

What shoes is those and where can I buy a pair

[@davisrases]

"Not usually a biker's main concern"? Come to India mate, our only concern is fuel economy even if we buy a 600cc bike.

[@mibfeb16]

😂

[@exodeus7959]

Please do not get on a motorcycle if this has to be explained to you. A cheap manual car will be much safer to learn on.

[@ADobbin1]

So anyone who rides on a street short shifts. So short shifting is just shifting.

[@petersmith6508]

It has to do with keeping the engine at maximum torque which gives the best acceleration.

[@bongwatercrocodile315]

No. Just no. Maximum acceleration is at peak power. Power is work done per unit of time. More work done means more energy put into the system meaning in this instance more acceleration. When i see "torque means acceleration" i immediately want to think its a troll because its just such a dumb myth but i've seen people i've known for longer time who i know are not trolls say it so who knows at this point.

[@mozzfather]

Sweet and short video, thank you! I have a "problem" and maybe you have some advise. I find it impossible to choose a exhaust for my bike. The appearance of an exhaust can be judged by looking at photos for sure, but when it comes to sound there are only very few high quality sound examples. How in the world should I make a decision??? 🤪

[@n40798]

Find a shop like this one that allows people to sample different exhausts on your specific bike: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHuraJ-gd5KfepY

[@mozzfather]

@@n40798 thanks!

[@Hakiri27]

ayo

[@ThePurificator69420]

i do this everytime without knowing what it is.... i just liked the smooth ride XD

[@GhostOfTazio]

i only do it when i feel like conserving gas. other than that i have her screaming

[@bollomator]

What a useless clip.....

[@032254855]

i have a 600cc inline four if your not doing 8-900rpm you might as well get a 50cc scooter

[@Marko-bh3pl]

You do 8k rpm in first gear in city traffic? 😆

[@032254855]

@@Marko-bh3pl no i am ether 2-3000rpm or 5000rpm bike runs like shit around 4000rpm