Concerned about learning how to change gears

[Blinkwing]

I'm interested in learning how to ride a motorcycle but I'm concerned about changing gears.

I can only drive an automatic car, therefore my knowledge of manual transmissions/gear changing is non-existent.

I'm also deaf & can't hear anything (have a hearing aid, haven't tried wearing it inside a helmet and that's another concern altogether) so I was wondering how the instructor would teach me to change gears if I can't hear the engine revving - maybe feeling the vibrations?

Then again, I could be making a mountain out of a molehill ...

[george formby]

You will be able to see your revs on the rev counter & no doubt get a feel through the bike. Most bikes are very positive with the gear change, each gear goe's in with a positive clunk or click which you feel through your boot. Once you have spent a little time practising it becomes second nature, very much a "feel" thing much like everything else about riding a motorcycle. You become physically involved in the whole process. Thats why they are so much fun. Go for it.

[sinfull]

Molehill !!!!
Rev limiter has a red line, don't go over it ! Most modern bikes have a rev limiter that wont let you near the red line anyway !
After one or two rides you will learn what the best rev is for the next gear ie: if the bikes chugging away too low in the revs going up you'll feel it or it lurches under engine braking if they're too high changing down !

In other words JUST DO EEET !

[firefighter]

I'm also deaf & can't hear anything (have a hearing aid, haven't tried wearing it inside a helmet and that's another concern altogether) so I was wondering how the instructor would teach me to change gears if I can't hear the engine revving - maybe feeling the vibrations?.

If you have a hearing aid you must be able to hear something or you it would be pointless to have one.....a bit like prescription glasses for someone who is completely blind (not doubting you just trying to figure your limits of capability....with my very bad tinitus I can kinda sympathise/I know it's not the same but I know about hearing difficulties)

Can you hear the noise of an engine at all? More thinking along the lines of the changes in pitch than the quality of the sound.....

If you cannot hear a single little peep, pretty much what has been said above is spot-on. The only concern you really have is with letting the engine lag, or changing too early. You're much better to change up later, and down earlier, and you can feel when a bike needs to change really well. It will feel like it needs to change, being deaf may actually be a good thing as you wo'nt be changing too early due to not being used to revving an engine....

First time I rode a bike I was changing way too early as I was used to driving a car, and when I was told to rev it out I felt guilty about it because of the noise, whereas it feels right. Hope that makes sense.

[Fatt Max]

As per others, It's all about feel. The rev limiter will also help but you will really be able to 'feel' what the bike is doing and work accordingly.

Contact a local instructor and run it past them, maybe go see and have a go, you will be surprised at how connected you get with a bike

Good luck mate, go get some.....

[kevfromcoro]

wellcome to KB...
most of us are bit dissabled in one way or another.....
as said ,,,,,,, watch the rev counter...
wouldnt go red lining it if you are new to bikes...
just take it easy
sure you will get the hang of it..................

[The Baron]

Hi I ride with a deaf rider from time to time and he has no problem changing gears - just try it.

Also I ride with a person who just can't get the whole gear thing at all so brought an automatic bike.

The main point is just do it.

[kevfromcoro]

BTW
what are you riding?

[p.dath]

If it is any consolation I ride with ear plugs to protect my hearing. I think you'll be able to compensate about the lack of hearing with the feeling of the bike. You'll feel it struggling to apply power if the revs are too low, and well there is normally a rev limiter on the other end of the scale.

Personally I'm guessing the biggest issue wont be riding the bike - but being confident enough in yourself to just get out there and do it. So no more excuses - just do it!

One you have a bike and a learners licence come along to some free lessons on Wednesday nights. The sessions are called NASS, and you can read about them here:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/wiki/North_Auckland_Street_Skills

I know there is at least one other NASS member who has a hearing aide. So I think you'll be fine.

Once you have a full licence you might be able to get a bigger bike with low down pulling power, like a V-Twin. Then you wont have to worry about the revs so much.

[breakaway]

Not being able to hear is of no consequence. I often ride with earplugs / headphones with music and I can't hear any engine sound. I don't look at the rev gauge either, just feel it from the vibrations. If you're deaf, your vibration-picking-up-ability is probably a million times better than mine.

[EJK]

Just shift when the rpm needle gets to the redline. It's a good indication.

[Blinkwing]

Some nice replies so far, thanks to all that replied :)

At the end of this year, I should have roughly $6000 to spend on a bike & bike-related things.

I have no clue of how much things should cost.

So far, I've got a few things down ...

a. Protective clothing (helmet, jacket & gloves)
b. Some emergency cash set aside for maintenance.
c. The bike itself.

Wondering how much these things should cost, I don't wanna skimp out on protective clothing.

[Slyer]

$6000 is a good amount.
Depending on the bike, you generally want to keep between 1/2 and 3/4 of the way to the red line unless you are doing quite sporty riding.
As long as you aren't riding too low or high in the rev range for extended periods of time the bike won't care, it's up to you where you like to be.

Do you understand the concepts of manual transmissions? Not how they work but why you need different gears?

[bent12]

Hi
Hold it full throttle with some pressure on the gear lever, at gear change flick your clutch and engage next gear, proceed with subsequent changes to top speed and inbetween.

[onearmedbandit]

Hi
Hold it full throttle with some pressure on the gear lever, at gear change flick your clutch and engage next gear, proceed with subsequent changes to top speed and inbetween.

Preloading your shift lever is a quick way to fuck your gearbox.

[Cayman911]

Just shift when the rpm needle gets to the redline. It's a good indication.

Unless the poor bike has no rev counter, like mine :).

But first of all, welcome to KB!

you will most definitely feel it after a while, and the rev counter will definitely help you out at the beginning!

[Blinkwing]

Going to book a basic handling course this Saturday morning with a friend. Hurrah!

[CookMySock]

Try riding a vtwin with a real loud exhaust on it. You will be able to hear that for sure, and it you don't - you will be able to feel it.

Don't worry too much. Just jump on it and have a go. Everyone does it.

Steve

[bent12]

Don't harm a bike with good engineering pedigree it Japanese, pedigree motorcycle design........2.3.4.5.65

[bent12]

Yes, but a quick way to chage gear.

[onearmedbandit]

Yes, but a quick way to chage gear.

I take it your replying to me, however try using the quote function so it clears up any misunderstanding. The OP isn't trying to have the quickest gear changes, nor are they wanting to damage their gearbox when they do get a bike.

[Old Steve]

If you're only familiar with a car auto, and a car manual gearchange seems daunting, you'll find a motorbike gear change easier than expected.

A bike gearbox changes sequentially, usually one down and four up. That means you change from 1 to 2, to 3, to 4 and to 5. You can only go up or down one gear - OK double or more quick gear changes are possible. So if you want to go faster you lift the gear lever with your left foot. If you want to slow down you press the gear lever down with your left foot.

Pretty sson you'll have the hand, foot, throttle co-ordination down pat.

[Blinkwing]

I passed the basic handling skills test. It was awesome!

I have no idea why I was so concerned about the gear switching, it was far easier than I expected.

[Sentox]

I passed the basic handling skills test. It was awesome!

I have no idea why I was so concerned about the gear switching, it was far easier than I expected.

Congratulations!

Time to get a bike for the road, then?

[Blinkwing]

Congratulations!

Time to get a bike for the road, then?

Yip. Will need to go to the bank to ask for a loan sometime soon. Not looking forward to that.

[DJSin]

I passed the basic handling skills test. It was awesome!

I have no idea why I was so concerned about the gear switching, it was far easier than I expected.

awesome
so glad it was better than you'd anticipated
:)

[Blinkwing]

Thanks for all the replies so far! Quite a few encouraging ones :)

Bank loan approved, will be hunting for a bike soon with a couple of friends.

[CookMySock]

Maybe something with a rev counter and a perhaps gear indicator.

...and then put a loud exhaust on it! :lol:

Steve

[rie]

I think some of the advice here is actually quite sound (some, maybe not all, but that's just a matter of personal opinion not worth debating). I would strongly advise you to get some experience on the bike and then return to this thread to re-read some of the comments. You might find that a lot of the advice will make more sense then.

Over time, I have found that most riders stop 'hearing' their bikes - most people tend to get a 'feel' for how motorbikes operate and this drives their ability to ride. The ability to hear becomes irrelevant. Many even ride with top-end ear plugs to completely eliminate sound. So even if it may seem like you start off at a disadvantaged point, you are more likely to be starting off way ahead of the hearing riders by learning to rely more on feel, than sound. Glad you are off to a good start though, good luck finding a bike!

[ital916]

Hi Blinkwing

I may be incorrect in assuming this but did you get all your gear from motomail today. If so, then it was a pleasure to meet you and you friend. I was the guy who served you. If you have any questions or just want to kick tyres and talk bikes feel free to come hang out at motomail. (Even if you are not the same person, feel free to come hang out anyway and I can talk you through gear and just talk bikes haha).

Regards

Dushy

[Blinkwing]

Hi Blinkwing

I may be incorrect in assuming this but did you get all your gear from motomail today. If so, then it was a pleasure to meet you and you friend. I was the guy who served you. If you have any questions or just want to kick tyres and talk bikes feel free to come hang out at motomail. (Even if you are not the same person, feel free to come hang out anyway and I can talk you through gear and just talk bikes haha).

Regards

Dushy

Yip, same guy! Pleasure to meet you as well :D

[Blinkwing]

Got my bike, did the theory & got my temporary license.

Having a blast on it!

Drove the bike home at around 2210 to break the news to my mother (being a poor broke uni student sucks)

MUM: *steps into my room* Whose bike is that?
ME: It's mine.
MUM: Who's here? *looks around*
ME: It's mine.
MUM: Who's here?
ME: It's mine.
MUM: You're joking.
ME: Mum, that bike is mine.
MUM'S FRIEND: Is that your bike out there?
ME: Yup!
MUM'S FRIEND: I'm not supposed to say this, but that bike is beautiful!
ME: I know right?
MUM'S FRIEND: I just spent the last 5 minutes admiring it!
MUM: *standing there watching this banter go back and forth*
MUM: Oh bloody hell.
FRIEND'S HUSBAND: Hey bro! *holds up a couple of beer bottles*
MUM: He bought that bike out there!
GLEN: Eh? Can ya ride it?
ME: Yeah, I've been on it 120kms so far.
MUM: Did you push it here?
ME: No, I can ride the damn thing.
MUM: Oh well, just don't kill yourself, you know what happened to my knee!

Amusing conversation. She reacted better than I expected :P

[GOONR]

Haha, Nice one. Enjoy clocking up the miles!!

Edit: you obviously have started to get a hang of the gears then.

[rie]

ME: Yeah, I've been on it 120kms so far.
MUM: Did you push it here?
ME: No, I can ride the damn thing.

LOL! Love it.

[Ryder]

gear change is a lot easier that you would imagine. for me, my struggle was and sometimes still is hill starting! lol its all in your head. just like the struggle i have with hill starts. i have been riding for a few years and the more i tell myself that the easier or smoother it goes each time! just remember not to look down :)