Why GP Shift is Always My First Mod on a Bike - Race Shift Reverse Shift - Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory

In this video, I talk about the reasons why I chose to set up my Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory for GP Shift, a.k.a., Race Shift and Reverse Shift. I've been riding GP Shift for many years, on different bikes. Maybe it should become the standard for sport bikes? Watch to find out!
Also, please like this video if you enjoyed it, and consider subscribing for more motorcycling content. 🙂

[@N0t4v41l4ble]

When accelerating and tucked in it's much easier to push down the lever and when braking body in an upright position it's easier to pull the lever. I often got a cramp to my upper leg/ass when accelerating with the standard shift pattern in my previous bike so when I got the Tuono I immediately installed a GP shifter. It solved the problem and it's also much more natural way to shift.

[@hiimchad]

Totally agree with everything you said! It's a must for me on any sport bike.

[@seancorcoran1183]

I just changed to gp last week for all the reasons you just wrote. Need some time to get used to it. Thanks for video and comments.

[@rodmiller9229]

Keep up the great and informative videos buddy, have a good one. Out in the FZ1 now as the sun has finally turned up to the party ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

[@hiimchad]

Hey Rod, thank you! You have a good one as well! Glad the sun is finally shining down over there. Enjoy your time on your FZ! 🌞🏍💨

[@victorhs258]

Cool video and clear explanation, thank you.

[@hiimchad]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed 🙂

[@PezRacer]

Hey Chad, another great video! I’ve been watching your videos for a while now, and now I can finally share that I am a proud new owner! I picked up a really nice ‘20 Tuono V4 1100 Factory with only 800 miles and some nice upgrades on it a few days ago! Thanks for all the helpful content that you post! I only got to ride it for about 30 miles, but omg, she’s a monster! I can’t wait to get out again and really start learning this bike! 👍🏼

[@rsv4pilot114]

Hey PezRacer. Saw you posted about your new Tuono. I just got a 2020 RSV4 1100 Factory. A BEAST! Hope you enjoy it as much as I'm enjoying my RSV4.

[@PezRacer]

@@rsv4pilot114 thanks and enjoy your new bike as well!

[@hiimchad]

Hey Pez! Congratulations! I’m super happy for you and wish you hundreds of thousand of delightful miles with your Tuono 😁 It sounds like you got a sweet deal as well! Not even broken in with some mods already done? Sign me up! 🥳 You’re very welcome for the videos, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed them and found them useful 🙂 Hope you’re able to get out this weekend and roll at least a few more miles onto the odometer!

[@lynxeffect84]

​@@rsv4pilot114 how much did it cost ?

[@rsv4pilot114]

@@lynxeffect84 How much did what cost?

[@douggooch5381]

Hi Chad, another excellent video, you give a very clear explanation of shift change history. It is a little confusing when you own a track bike with GP shift change and a road bike with OEM shift change. You have to really concentrate on gear changing depending which bike you are riding. I find that after 5 minutes of riding each you soon adjust and all is good. It is a shame that the manufacturers didn't all agree to GP change many years ago and it would then be the OEM standard.

[@hiimchad]

Hi Doug, thank you! And thanks for your participation and comment. 🙂 I agree, it can be a bit confusing and require some extra attention, but is pretty easy to acclimate to after a few minutes, assuming you're comfortable shifting both ways already. My WR250X is the first bike I've owned that hasn't been converted to GP shift within a week, and it's actually been pretty easy to go back and forth between it and the Tuono, I think because of the dramatically different feeling between the two bikes. You're seated much more aggressively on the Tuono in comparison, and I think that helps my brain align with the shift pattern for each bike. :)

[@theinnerdreamer7043]

Sweet bike. Kinda looks like Irvine area. Keep it up bud 👍

[@hiimchad]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed! 🙂

[@jhkhosh]

My friends neighborhood! Let's ride together!

[@Maverick800XRS]

I have always known standard shift on dirt bikes forever and now standard on my street bikes, might have to try at some point. Also was looking at my Tuono and the rear brake height is adjustable VIA the black rod that acts as the plunger into the rear brake master cylinder that is attached to the back of the rear brake pedal. loosing the lock not and turning the rod will lower or raise the pedal if you haven't found that yet, it's hidden pretty well behind the rear set bracket.

[@hiimchad]

Thanks for your comment! I'd definitely recommend giving it a shot on your street bike. Worst case, you can always put it back to standard if you don't like it. As for the rear brake, I did find that plunger and tried adjusting it, but it just seemed to cause the brake to drag if I did bring the plunger down a bit to lower the lever. Have you had success in adjusting it?

[@Maverick800XRS]

When you say drag are you talking about that it's actually applying the brakes or that your tail light stays on? cause the pedal sensor needs to be adjusted after pedal height adjustment to get the proper triggering of the tail light, adjusting the pedal will not make the brakes apply but the sensor will need to be adjusted so that it activates the tail light when the brake is applied.

[@hiimchad]

@@Maverick800XRS when I played with it, it would apply the rear brake after adjusting it. The rear would drag on the rotor and add resistance, even if there was no pressure on the pedal. Maybe I did something wrong 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sir.636]

Thanks for the video. I like the concept of gp shift but I only have quickshift up. Do you still recommend the gp shift in that case?

[@hiimchad]

I do! I have two Triumph Daytona 675Rs that are track bikes, both with QS up only, and both are GP shift. I find it much more natural for a sportbike, regardless of whether an autoblipper or QS are fitted.

[@sir.636]

@@hiimchad Okay thank you. I will give it a try.

[@theinnerdreamer7043]

Would be cool to see a cost of ownership video on the tuono.

[@hiimchad]

That’s a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion! I’ve only had this Tuono since January, so I’ve changed the oil and filter once, had the cooling system flushed and filled, and basically taken care of the chain on my own. Might not be too exciting yet, but I’ll make a spreadsheet of all the costs and see. 🙂

[@bilicki44]

I ride with reverse shifting as well. Can the Tuono reverse the linkage as a stock bike or do I need to buy aftermarket? Also what mirrors on your bike?

[@hiimchad]

Unfortunately, you either need a shift lever that flips the linkage, a race-shift QS sensor (I think Aprilia dealers can get them), or rear set that can accommodate the linkage flip. You can flip it on the spindle, but it will cause issues with the QS, as the direction the shift rod is being moved will be the opposite of what it originally was.

[@TheBlastband]

I have the GP shifter on my Tuono Factory as well

[@hiimchad]

Very nice! Appreciate your comment! Do you have the Woodcraft lever as well? Or another brand or aftermarket rearsets too?

[@TheBlastband]

@@hiimchad I have Brembo Racing Levers on mine, and a giamoto Rearset! :D

[@hiimchad]

@@TheBlastband very nice! I’ve been thinking about rearsets for my Tuono but have ended up spending money on things for my track bike instead 🤣 maybe one day! Do you like the Giamotos?

[@TheBlastband]

@@hiimchad Love them!

[@william10ify]

Hey Chad, a friend got a 2017 v4 RR and he does not find a place for a gp shifting kit, do you know any possible place to find it?

[@hiimchad]

Hey Chepo! I have a Woodcraft GP shift lever on my bike that is made for the stock rear sets. You can find it here: woodcraft-cfm.com/collections/shaft-brake-pedal-assemblies/products/08-0741-2011-18-aprilia-rsv4-gp-shift-pedal-assembly

[@MichaelBrown-re2hz]

Is there rules about which lanes are okay to split in and which ones aren’t? Just curious. I don’t ride or live in California.

[@hiimchad]

As long as there is more than one lane in the direction you are going, there are no rules about which you can and cannot split in. That said, it is best practice to split between the two left-most lanes, assuming the road/highway is more than two lanes wide in that direction.

[@winner1338]

Is it easy to change it to GP shift? I also have a Tuono.

[@hiimchad]

It's easy if you have the right part! This is the lever I have: woodcraft-cfm.com/products/08-5743-aprilia-rsv4-tuono-17-18-gp-shift-pedal-kit-for-oem-rearsets I simply put it on my stock rearseat and it works great. Very easy to install and only requires a few basic tools.

[@dancarlos1216]

I tried race shift on my bike and almost stuffed it, as a motorcycle tech I ride too many bikes in road shift and its harder to reprogram when on track. Also for me its easier to downshift when going into the corners on normal pattern and I have an old 2006 with no quick shift or blipper, I have to do it manually.

[@hiimchad]

Hey Dan, appreciate you chiming in and sharing your experience! If you ride a lot of different bikes and they're all standard shift, that makes sense, especially if you've been riding that way for a long time. I went for GP shift pretty early into riding, so it wasn't as difficult for me to get adjusted. I've been doing alright going back and forth between my Tuono and my WR250X so far too, as that bike is the first bike I've had with standard shift for more than a week in almost 7 years. What kind of bike is your 2006?

[@dancarlos1216]

@@hiimchad GSXR600. It has a slipper that I need to adjust for more slip but still isn’t the same as the new blippers, they are so smooth man.

[@hiimchad]

You really can't beat them. 🙂

[@baditteer]

do you have to change the quickshifter

[@hiimchad]

If you get an aftermarket GP conversion shift lever like I did, you can keep the stock quickshifter!

[@holidaythebengal5505]

Is it hard to switch over?

[@hiimchad]

It definitely takes some getting used to, and a strong mental effort for the first few weeks of riding, but once you get the muscle memory down, you won't need to think about it at all. Just takes some time, patience, and practice, like anything else. 🙂

[@dangeraaron91]

Just ordered mine today. I miss GP shift. Just so much easier.

[@hiimchad]

Right! I absolutely love it. This will always be my top priority mod for every new sportbike I get. Good call getting the part on order! 🙂

[@lynxeffect84]

How much is it to buy ?

[@dangeraaron91]

@@lynxeffect84 very easy. I got mine off of AF1 racing. It’s a woodcraft GP conversion. You can get it off of cycle gear or revzilla as well now.

[@dangeraaron91]

@@lynxeffect84 also, they’re around $100 or so.

[@lynxeffect84]

@@dangeraaron91 thanks bro. Thats cheap !