Quick Shifter - Thoughts? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Quick Shifter - Thoughts?

Jampy00

Jampy00

Well-known member
Site Supporter
Forum Sponsor
As I enjoy researching things I noted that the bike I currently own (HD Pan America Special) has a quick shifter as one of it's optional parts.
Not really know much about these I decided to look into it.
Being from HD it is an expensive part, one I don't feel I require right now, but also like some of the *benefits it offers

Shift in an instant. The Screamin’ Eagle® Quick Shifter provides clutchless up and down shifts without risking transmissions damage.
• When foot shift control is engaged fuel and ignition are cut within milliseconds, which unloads the transmission allowing you to fly through up-shifts without touching the throttle or clutch
• Shifter signal also blips the throttle for seamless down-shifts without using the clutch
• Precise shifts are accomplished in an instant enabling smoother, stress-free control in on- and off-road situations
• Installation requires a dealer Digital Technician update/flash

Source: Screamin' Eagle Quickshifter | Harley-Davidson CA

So I'd like to ask if anyone has one on their motorcycle, what are your thoughts on quick shifters?

Let the hate begin...
 
Given the power and intended use of your bike, I don't think it will matter all that much. Nice to have but I wouldn't pay much for it. On a less powerful bike that you need to constantly bang through gears, it can be fun.

I assume you have a slipper clutch already? If they left that out, the auto-blipper may be worth it as it can save your ass from a stupid/lazy gear change.
 
Slipper clutch standard equipment. and VVT so the bike is very forgiving unless you're really stupid...

Yes, I consider it a "nice to have" but not a "must have"
I'm more interested in the feedback from riders that have one, just for my curiosity.
 
I have one, it's nice to have but it would not be a deal breaker for me not to have it.

It does make stopping in a hurry less labour intensive.

How much does HD want for it?
 
Gary said:
Get the rpm's right, and you can up shift clutchless on almost any manual transmission.
Same on the way down. (to 2nd)
Click to expand...
Interesting, but I fear that might require too much thinking and I am sure you'd hate to get it wrong...
 
Soulcatcher668 said:
I have one, it's nice to have but it would not be a deal breaker for me not to have it.

It does make stopping in a hurry less labour intensive.

How much does HD want for it?
Click to expand...
I'd figure about $600 all in.
My post is not about me wanting to get one and justifying the purchase, more about my interest in them as I was never really aware of them.
 
Basically standard equipment (or option packaged) now on most upper mid-priced bikes now.

Love mine especially when riding serious twisties with like hairpins where multiple downshifts are required on spirited rides.
 
Gary said:
There really isn't any wrong......it will either shift (because everything is happy) or it won't, because rpm's are wrong. There's a sweet spot on every manual transmission between gears.
Click to expand...
Interesting, so in theory the clutch only needs to be used shifting down from 2nd to 1st?
 
Jampy00 said:
Interesting, so in theory the clutch only needs to be used shifting down from 2nd to 1st?
Click to expand...
It's rare when it is a good idea to shift down to first while moving in any vehicle. Once you are rolling, second should be low enough unless you come to a complete stop.
 
I'd put it on the list of things electronic aids can do better than riders (like ABS), but it's more fun to do yourself and it's never a bad idea to develop the skill to shift up and down properly manually.

I was once on a demo ride at a dealership behind a guy who was botching every one of his downshifts. He'd just dump the clutch and the rear wheel would hop violently. At the end of the ride, he climbed off and got on his own bike - which came equipped from the factory with a slipper clutch.

He had never learned how to downshift properly.

I think quick-shifters, like ABS, are a great tool. ADV bikes are super-heavy and carry a ton of momentum. When you take it on low traction environments like gravel, sand, etc., any mistakes in downshifting may upset the chassis and break traction, especially in situations like steep downhills. The auto-blip feature in the quick-shifter when downshifting is really nice in those circumstances and will probably do a better job than you to not break traction in that scenario.

Having said that, nothing beats the satisfaction of a perfectly timed rev-matched downshift. Pure bliss.

Boomer out.
 
Last edited:
Jampy00 said:
Interesting, but I fear that might require too much thinking and I am sure you'd hate to get it wrong...
Click to expand...

No thinking required.

When you're upshifting, just pre-load the shifter and roll off the throttle quickly and there's a sweet spot in the rev range where the cogs in the transmission line up and the shifter simply clicks into the next gear.

Drag racers do it all the time because it's quicker than using the clutch.

I believe you can turn off the QS on your PanAm and try this out yourself. It's super easy.
 
Last edited:
Lightcycle said:
I'd put it on the list of things electronic aids can do better than riders (like ABS), but it's more fun to do yourself and it's never a bad idea to develop the skill to shift up and down properly manually.

I was once on a demo ride at a dealership behind a guy who was botching every one of his downshifts. He'd just dump the clutch and the rear wheel would hop violently. At the end of the ride, he climbed off and got on his own bike - which came equipped from the factory with a slipper clutch.

He had never learned how to downshift properly.

I think quick-shifters, like ABS, are a great tool. ADV bikes are super-heavy and when you take it on low traction environments like gravel, sand, etc., any mistakes in downshifting may upset the chassis and break traction, especially in situations like steep downhills. The auto-blip feature in the quick-shifter when downshifting is really nice in those circumstances and will probably do a better job than you to not break traction in that scenario.

Having said that, nothing beats the satisfaction of a perfectly timed rev-matched downshift. Pure bliss.

Boomer out.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the good information.
Been riding almost 20 years without one, so I'm good for now.
As I stated, I never really knew about these until recently and while I have no intentions of getting one, bike is not equipped with one but, they are interesting.
 
bitzz said:
PLEASE, DO NOT PRE LOAD THE SHIFTER
It does absolutely nothing to shift faster or better. What it DOES do is wipe all the lubricant off the shifter forks so they run metal to metal, putting a TON of undue wear on the forks
Click to expand...

No, it wont.


I clutchless upshift *and* downshift all the time on my old GS.

250,000 kms on it, original transmission, still clicked into the gears like silk when I sold it.
 
Welp, so much for quick shifter.
Let have a long debate on clutchless shifting... ready..... GO!

Or

Taco's or Burrito's Y or N
Pineapple on Pizza Y or N

:ROFLMAO:
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom