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Glossary

Rev Matching

Rev matching is blipping the throttle during a downshift so engine speed comes up to meet the lower gear before the clutch is released.

What is rev matching? Rev matching is blipping the throttle during a downshift so engine speed comes up to meet the lower gear before the clutch is released. Without it the downshift arrives as a lurch, and mid-corner or on a wet surface that lurch can unsettle or skip the rear wheel. It becomes automatic with practice and it is the single thing that most separates a smooth-feeling rider from a jerky one.