Old bike, new beginnings... Let's Do This!

[ReigN]

Hi all, my cuz and I finally got our wakas sorted and what a sweet ride they both are, cuz scored himself a Suzuki GX125 and I got me a Kawasaki ZXR250 so both pretty chuffed!!!

Now, the learning begins!!! Just a quick question in regards to changing gears (im use to driving a car) does the same apply to bikes? eg. 1st,2nd,3rd for hills/slower speeds etc and 4th,5th for cruising at 50km-60km and then not sure if theres a 6th, but 6th for 70km and above?

Ahh well, look forward to hearing back from you guys and also meeting up too for a cig and smack-talking lol.

That's it for now, gotta get some more k's under my belt yeeeh boyeeee!!!

Cheers

:Punk:

[sil3nt]

Take a read of this about rpms around town http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=99671

On my bike i believe i ride around in 3rd gear in town i can even get away with 2nd quite happily. Just make sure you have some power when you twist your wrist. If the bike bogs down then you are in too high a gear. Bike engines love their revs they hate being laboured.

[Leyton]

and on my bike you ride in 2nd for around town, even thats a bit too higher gear... hehe

Depends on the bike :)

It is like a car, Just make sure that when you change up, and change down, that you are changing in 1 gear inciments, Not pulling the clutch in and down shifting missing gears etc.. bikes like to go through all the gears :)

Unlike a car you can just cruze up in 3rd, put the clutch in and slap her into 1st to take off again,

My guess is that you will be riding around town in about 3rd, and 4th for about 70/80km and 5th for the rest.. unless it's a six speed and the sixth is fairly much an overdrive for a 250, unless its one of those phyco 2-smokers.

[Tink]

This is a great thread... I love to slip gears when caged.... oops.. have to change that habit...

[ReigN]

Take a read of this about rpms around town http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=99671

On my bike i believe i ride around in 3rd gear in town i can even get away with 2nd quite happily. Just make sure you have some power when you twist your wrist. If the bike bogs down then you are in too high a gear. Bike engines love their revs they hate being laboured.

Cheers sil3nt, shoulda searched first so my bad. But yeh thanks for advice though, didn't realise they didn't like basically being nana'd, same went with my Z when I had her...doh!

[ReigN]

and on my bike you ride in 2nd for around town, even thats a bit too higher gear... hehe

Depends on the bike :)

It is like a car, Just make sure that when you change up, and change down, that you are changing in 1 gear inciments, Not pulling the clutch in and down shifting missing gears etc.. bikes like to go through all the gears :)

Unlike a car you can just cruze up in 3rd, put the clutch in and slap her into 1st to take off again,

My guess is that you will be riding around town in about 3rd, and 4th for about 70/80km and 5th for the rest.. unless it's a six speed and the sixth is fairly much an overdrive for a 250, unless its one of those phyco 2-smokers.

Shot Leyton, didn't realise I had to cycle through all the gears so oops lol (only been riding a week literally :P) but yeh have put that into play this morning on the way to work so was really helpful.

Cheers.

[Leyton]

Shot Leyton, didn't realise I had to cycle through all the gears so oops lol (only been riding a week literally :P) but yeh have put that into play this morning on the way to work so was really helpful.

Cheers.


Oh sweet! Glad you got something out of it :) Thanks for the feedback.

[Slyer]

Because of the way bike gearboxes are designed, you can only shift while moving. (At least for my bike, not sure about all bikes)
If you find yourself stationary in 6th gear because you changed all the up and then slowed right down to stationary with the clutch in, you aren't going to be able to change down at all, I had this problem a lot when learning. A lot of embarrassing moments because I was stuck at the lights in 3rd gear or something....
What you then need to do if you can't shift down is rock the bike back and forth while changing down, this usually does it. Otherwise just give it a push.

[Insanity_rules]

Score ReigN, now get out there and do some mileage. Practice makes perfect. You'll get the gears the more you ride. Oh and if you like smack talk all the better. There seems to be heaps round here!

[ReigN]

Score ReigN, now get out there and do some mileage. Practice makes perfect. You'll get the gears the more you ride. Oh and if you like smack talk all the better. There seems to be heaps round here!

So true Insanity! Just got back from lil ride(hour and a bit after curfew oops) but yeah been practicing the leaning and trusting of the bike, managed to do some figure 8's around 3kings carpark and was suprised at how they help with the tighter/slower corners/cornering lol Practice does make perfect!!! Smack talking is alll good :yes:

[Knoppies]

Because of the way bike gearboxes are designed, you can only shift while moving. (At least for my bike, not sure about all bikes)
If you find yourself stationary in 6th gear because you changed all the up and then slowed right down to stationary with the clutch in, you aren't going to be able to change down at all, I had this problem a lot when learning. A lot of embarrassing moments because I was stuck at the lights in 3rd gear or something....
What you then need to do if you can't shift down is rock the bike back and forth while changing down, this usually does it. Otherwise just give it a push.

My brother has a solution to this, He just JUMPS on the gearlever and then screems out: "THE DAMN GEARS DONT WORK!!" Then he wonders why I dont really like the way he rides the bike.

But I have learned on my 250cc quad, that if you rev up a little (to prevent stalling) and then ease the clutch out until you put a little pressure on your clutch plates (just as they bite, your wheel will try rotate a bit, but dont actually take off), then pull the clutch in and change one gear down. Repeat till in first.

I understand that the gear ratios on quads and road bikes are different, so I hope its still as easy.