Reverse Shift -- SOLVED!!

after weeks of searching this site and others, it became clear that reverse shift pattern would NOT be easy to accomplish on by '07. i found several "solutions", but they involved mixing parts from different bikes and aftermarket rearsets OR modifying the stock rearset, sidestand, etc.

i did not feel comfortable using any of those solutions so i started sending out PMs to members here and emails to every rearset manufacturer i could think of. the members here were responsive, but none had come up with a way to make the change. none of the manufacturers offered a fix ... until ... i heard from Dan Kyle.

dan emailed me immediately to let me know he had called Sato Racing and they verified that they do NOT offer reverse shift rearsets for the VFR. i told him what i had found online - what other owners had done. i sent him links, pictures, writeups and documents. after many emails, dan suggested i call him about this and we agreed that the main issues with accomplishing reverse shift was the clearance problems with the fairing (on the front of the linkage) and/or the sidestand (on the rear of the linkage). it seemed that everyone was trying to find a way to get reverse shift by having the front end of the linkage on the bottom of the shift shaft because aftermarket rearsets had the rear end of the linkage on the bottom of the shift lever.

dan's solution? why not swap the rear end of the linkage instead of the front? DUH!!! he consulted his Sato documentation and found a shift lever with the linkage hookup on top, contacted his supplier and a week later i had REVERSE SHIFT Sato rearsets - built by his supplier - that work right out of the box. no drilling. no dremeling. no riveting. no spacing. no safety wiring. no jerry rigging AT ALL!!

you can find the Sato Racing 2002-2009 VFR800 Rearset parts list here.

the parts that were swappped out are ...

#7 stud bolt SHORT -> LONG
#8 foot peg bearing collar 5 -> 12.5
#9 shift pedal SPD-6 -> SPD-5
#17 shift rod 160 -> 170
#20 socket head M6X20mm -> button head M6X15mm
#21 rod end collar 3 -> not included

here's what the finished product looks like:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1267255582/gallery_19336_5212_18834.jpg
SatoSpecialLH2 (Small).jpg


there are more pix in my VFRD Gallery (larger versions in my PicasaWeb Gallery).

i did a 30 mile test ride today and the function was flawless. i am SO excited to finally have reverse shift on my VFR!! the best part is -- now YOU can TOO!!

Kewlness! :fing02:
I am SO jealous, not because I want a reverse shift, but just for the micro-adjustability it offers. Alas, for the 5th Gen, I don't think you can fit anything other than stock. I had toyed with buying a CBR600 or similar shifter, and seeing iff I could have a mount for it fabricated, but it seemed like too much work. If I buy a VFR1200 I'd get the adjustability, but I can't justify the NZ$29k :(

Looks good, nice work. :fing02:

One of the reasons I bought the VFR, the shifter was a perfect fit.

If it aint Broke?

[image: View Post]spud786, on 28 February 2010 - 05:33 PM, said:

If it aint Broke?


it wasnt Broke ... it was just Backwards!! :rolleyes:

OOhhh now Im excited..
Who do we contact or is sato aware that this works.
Email Sato with changes to order ?
Extra cost ?

I have been pondering using rearsets from another bike also and was starting to send PM's.
Thanks for the persistance and work.
This post will surly be saved on my computer..

Quote

OOhhh now Im excited..
Who do we contact or is sato aware that this works.
Email Sato with changes to order ?
Extra cost ?

I have been pondering using rearsets from another bike also and was starting to send PM's.
Thanks for the persistance and work.
This post will surly be saved on my computer..

you can contact Dan Kyle (with whom i have NO affiliation). all of his contact info is on his homepage. everytime i called, a real live human answered the phone!

there was NO additional charge for the changes made to the Sato's.

[image: View Post]flasher2001, on 28 February 2010 - 06:27 PM, said:

Quote

OOhhh now Im excited..
Who do we contact or is sato aware that this works.
Email Sato with changes to order ?
Extra cost ?

I have been pondering using rearsets from another bike also and was starting to send PM's.
Thanks for the persistance and work.
This post will surly be saved on my computer..

you can contact Dan Kyle (with whom i have NO affiliation). all of his contact info is on his homepage. everytime i called, a real live human answered the phone!

there was NO additional charge for the changes made to the Sato's.
Thanks, I ran across somre of Dan Kyles knowlefdge when I was looking for info on reshimming the valves in my fork conversion, Didnt know he had a website..

Looks like the list for $520, Im waiting on my tax return and as soon as it comes in these will be ordered..

Thanks again..

Dan Kyle is "the man" with the RC51 faithful. I have a set of DK massaged 51 forks. Ironically, the RC guys run a VFR shift lever to get a reverse shift pattern. :warranty:

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the advantage to a reverse shift pattern?

[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on 28 February 2010 - 08:54 PM, said:

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the advantage to a reverse shift pattern?

"Reverse" or "GP" shifting:

The advantage exists in racing, when you are leaned over on the left side, exiting a corner, you can shift "up" to a higher gear simply by pressing "down" on the shifter.

Your foot/toe do not have to be underneath the shifter, giving you greater ground clearance on left-hand corners, all else being equal.



(just don't forget if you hop back on a bike with "normal" shifting" :ph34r:

[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on 28 February 2010 - 10:54 PM, said:

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the advantage to a reverse shift pattern?

It's used mostly (exclusively??) on race bikes. Allows the rider a smoother transition for up-shifting coming out of corners--especially left-handed corners where ground clearance is an issue with your shifting foot... You allegedly have to move or shift your body less to press down on the lever than you do if you have to push up on the lever with your toe; thus, providing a more stable platform for the limited traction situation you have accelerating/shifting/straightening up out of a corner... Hope I said that okay--had a few beers tonight...

Anyway, it can get you in trouble though if you forget which bike you're riding or have to shift under stress!!! :goofy:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_images/light/snapback.png' alt='View Post' />FotoMoto, on 28 February 2010 - 07:40 PM, said:

Ironically, the RC guys run a VFR shift lever to get a reverse shift pattern.
As do some ducatti's also.

Tim -

Thats awesome! I just pulled my side panel off yesterday and was looking at my SATO setup, kept scratching my head on how to change the pattern - the simplest solution always seems to be the best, Great Job. With the linkage flipped to the top, do you have any issue with the linkage rubbing the inside of your boot (heel) at all?

I may have to call Dan and get the swap parts for mine now.

[image: View Post]flasher2001, on 01 March 2010 - 12:27 AM, said:

Quote

OOhhh now Im excited..
Who do we contact or is sato aware that this works.
Email Sato with changes to order ?
Extra cost ?

I have been pondering using rearsets from another bike also and was starting to send PM's.
Thanks for the persistance and work.
This post will surly be saved on my computer..

you can contact Dan Kyle (with whom i have NO affiliation). all of his contact info is on his homepage. everytime i called, a real live human answered the phone!

there was NO additional charge for the changes made to the Sato's.

Hey flasher2001, what's the difference between these two parts...#9 shift pedal SPD-6 -> SPD-5, and can you take a few more detailed pics of the one that you currently have installed on your VFR? Thanks!!!
V

[image: View Post]JHKolb, on 01 March 2010 - 08:12 AM, said:

... With the linkage flipped to the top, do you have any issue with the linkage rubbing the inside of your boot (heel) at all?

no rubbing issues with the linkage, JHK! works like a charm :fing02:

[image: View Post]douglasthecook, on 01 March 2010 - 08:29 AM, said:

Hey flasher2001, what's the difference between these two parts...#9 shift pedal SPD-6 -> SPD-5, and can you take a few more detailed pics of the one that you currently have installed on your VFR? Thanks!!!
V

with pleasure ...

standard setup with Sato SPD6 shift pedal...
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1267393853/gallery_19336_5212_13542.jpg
SPD6-shiftpedal.jpg

reverse-shift setup with Sato SPD5 shift pedal...
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1267255582/gallery_19336_5212_24102.jpg
SatoSpecialLH1 (Small).jpg

closeup of SPD5 linkage...
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1267255582/gallery_19336_5212_43504.jpg
SatoSpecialLH5 (Small).jpg

let me know if you need more pix (already some in my gallery)

Ok, I see the difference now, thanks!!! Just to confirm, you said that you are using a RC-51 shifter arm, correct? Thanks again, and those look saweet!!!

Quote

... Just to confirm, you said that you are using a RC-51 shifter arm, correct? ...

no sir. ALL parts are Sato - right out of the box. the parts that were swapped from the original VFR rearsets were all replaced with other Sato goodies.

Quote

... and those look saweet!!!

thanks :fing02: i hope others here can finally satisfy their reverse shift cravings!!

Interesting mod, what prompted the need to switch? Trackdays scraping boots or somthing?


I have scrapped my boot a handful of times, 06 Tmac leading a group into the first good turn of the Cherehola Skyway once I dragged it all the way into the first deep sweeper on the NC side going west. Freaked me out a bit but I kept it in line and did not react to it, just felt funny, I just lifted my foot up on the pegs a bit and I did not scrape anymore that day but I ruined the boot and had to buy a new pair. I am not sure that a gp pattern shifter would help me with my boot scrapping issues, more of a 'got-my-foot-postioned-wrong' type of mistake. (come to think of it my avatar was taken that day)

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 01 March 2010 - 06:08 PM, said:

... what prompted the need to switch? Trackdays scraping boots or somthing? ...

no. i've not had any scraping issues with this bike ... yet! i became accustomed to reverse shift back when i was doing trackdays and have converted each of my bikes -- when able. GP shift just kinda became the "norm" for me.