heel toe downshifting...but on a bike

Yup...
The main reason for heel and toe is to rev match so you do not upset the car downshifting while you are braking for a corner.

you could use the rear brake and back it in.............of course I would only attempt this if riding under closed conditions (i.e. track days).

i dissagree with what Kid R6 said, i'm not trying to start a big debate, but sharing my thoughts.

It's much easier to control a sliding spinning wheel then a locked up wheel.

Therefore, IF you were to back it in on a bike, i'd suggest you down shift and don't match perfectly the revs and your tires will break loose enough. But if you lock that sucker up, you're practically going down. I understand that you can maybe do that on dirtbikes, but i don't thienk the physics will allow on a street bike.

[warmseth]

i heel toe to BOTH slow down quickly AND be in the right gear when i'm coming out of the turn...

and cause it's so damn fun

Heel & toe - very easy in my '87 325i or my mom's Miata. Virtually impossible in that '77 F250 my wife used to have, even with my size 11 1/2 kid's coffins. It's not normally done to help slow you down, but if that's how it works for you, go for it, I guess.

To "back it in" (never understood that term), don't use your rear brake, unless you're trying to impersonate Colin McRea around a 180 degree turn on a fire road in Finland. Stay on the gas, turn in early, use your left foot on the (front) brake, and use your back end as a pendulum around them loose- or wet-surface turns. The faster you go, the easier this gets.

Fun.

-R.

I drive front wheel drive cars, so no power sliding. I do thath brake thing and to cut the rear loose I brake with my left foot just the perfect amount to slid it, then control it with your right foot, that is already on the gas. Have fun:thumbsup

ttretas, you must drive an auto then right? cuz when we down down we need to have our left foot on the clutch.

i gotta try that move on an auto though. cool.

I do both right and left foot braking...
It requires a lot of practice and concentration - There's nothing worse than stabbing the brake when it's time to shift because you still have your left foot hovering over the brake pedal, NOT the clutch :eek

There's nothing worse than stabbing the brake when it's time to shift because you still have your left foot hovering over the brake pedal, NOT the clutch

Yeah, I hate when i do that. I did that in my wifes vehicle when coming up to a light. The pavement was bumpy and it felt like a stall was coming so I went to push in the clutch (automatic) Well I stopped RIGHT NOW and look like a total hoser. Good thing nobody was following too close.

I have a hard time heal-toe ing my car due to the depth offset too. Small feet dont help I'd imagine. I try to just get one good blip in to slip the box into my exit gear and go from there. The problem with that is if its a multiple gear downshift, and i screw it up I'm either in the wrong gear, or none and all and the corner is blown. At least with a car you know what gear your in when things get confusing...

Left foot braking works with front wheel drive, manual transmission cars as well. The key is to stay on the gas and to steer with the brake. More pressure on the brake will tighten your line, with minimal inputs from the steering wheel. It's a fairly hotly disputed technique among rallye drivers in Europe (and in the States, I imagine), but I'm having fun trying to perfect it. VW Golfs are great to practice in.

And yes, I've attempted to use my brake as a clutch many times...

-R.