I have some beginner's questions to ask

**xlibrax** · 4th December 2011, 15:28

1. Do you always have to start the gear from 1st? If so, why and why not 2nd or 3rd gear

2. Which step is the right one for gear shifting.
1. Pull in clutch
2. Throttle off
3. Shift gear

Or

1. Throttle off
2. Pull in clutch
3. Shift gear

3. At which gear do you have to let go of the clutch smoothly? From What i know is it's 1st gear.

4. I'm having a bit trouble with downshifting..I have seen most of the videos from youtube but I don't get it. For example, you have to match the rpm with the engine speed and inorder to do that "blip" the throttle?? What is this mean?

This post might be little messy because i'm writing from my phone. Sorry about that.

**Hitcher** · 4th December 2011, 15:46

The clutch, gears and throttle are overrated, particularly when combined.

Try jamming the throttle open at about 4,000rpm. That will be one thing less for you to think about. You'll be surprised at how much simpler riding will be.

And brakes. Also overrated. Motorcycling is all about going, not stopping.

**LBD** · 4th December 2011, 16:09

Originally Posted by xlibrax

1. Do you always have to start the gear from 1st? If so, why and why not 2nd or 3rd gear

This post might be little messy because i'm writing from my phone. Sorry about that.

Find an experienced coach....

**FROSTY:Me** · 4th December 2011, 16:18

Get you bike to a wide open space and practice. Youll find the answers to your questions pretty fast.

**Berries** · 4th December 2011, 16:21

Originally Posted by LBD

Find an experienced coach....

A decent one will start from second gear. Shit for parking though.

**Teflon** · 4th December 2011, 16:26

**Madness** · 4th December 2011, 16:35

Tip #1: The key to mastering the art of riding a motorcycle will not be found on your phone. It's not an App.

**Aristocat** · 4th December 2011, 16:43

1 - You could start from 2nd or higher on some bikes, depending on gearing. I have never started from any gear other than first; but then, my first gear goes to 150 km/hr plus.

2 - All of the above, at the same time. You pull in the clutch as you throttle off as you shift gear.

3 - The lower the gear/speed, the more noticeable your clutch action will be. Same as a car. I tend to give it a fair bit of clutch slip in first; by 6th you're just in and out.

4 - Blipping is the action of giving the bike a handful of throttle as the clutch is in whilst you're downshifting. It becomes second nature after a while. If you don't, in some circumstances (assuming you don't have a slipper clutch) the rear wheel will chatter or lock. It'll sort itself out; but most of us want to increase traction, so the blip is the go. More important the further up the revs you are; not so important at low revs.

Sounds like you need to get the hang of clutch and throttle; i.e. the basics. Practice, practice, practice. Especially where there aren't other distractors; i.e. a carpark or deserted back road.

What bike do you have?

**xlibrax** · 4th December 2011, 18:38

Originally Posted by Aristocat

1 - You could start from 2nd or higher on some bikes, depending on gearing. I have never started from any gear other than first; but then, my first gear goes to 150 km/hr plus.

2 - All of the above, at the same time. You pull in the clutch as you throttle off as you shift gear.

3 - The lower the gear/speed, the more noticeable your clutch action will be. Same as a car. I tend to give it a fair bit of clutch slip in first; by 6th you're just in and out.

4 - Blipping is the action of giving the bike a handful of throttle as the clutch is in whilst you're downshifting. It becomes second nature after a while. If you don't, in some circumstances (assuming you don't have a slipper clutch) the rear wheel will chatter or lock. It'll sort itself out; but most of us want to increase traction, so the blip is the go. More important the further up the revs you are; not so important at low revs.

Sounds like you need to get the hang of clutch and throttle; i.e. the basics. Practice, practice, practice. Especially where there aren't other distractors; i.e. a carpark or deserted back road.

What bike do you have?

Hi,
Thanks for your comment and I have suzuki fxr150.
so.. I need to practice and practice and practice.

It would be really nice to have someone who knows when practicing but I'm the only one around me who rides bike..

**Subike** · 4th December 2011, 18:48

can you ride a push bike mate?

If so stick to that on the street..

go to RIDER TRAINING SCHOOL

and you might live

**Tigadee** · 5th December 2011, 08:36

Xlibrax - It happens almost all at once but it's clutch and throttle off, then shift.

Some throttle off only and then shift but that works only for shifting up, not down.

**MSTRS:Me** · 5th December 2011, 09:24

Master the basics before you try any of the 'fancy' stuff.
For moving off...
Clutch in, click into first, slowly release clutch lever as you open the throttle, move off. Road speed builds and you shift up to suit....clutch in/throttle off together, click up into second. Release clutch lever and open the throttle to continue acceleration. Rinse and repeat.
For slowing down...
Changing down - clutch in, throttle off, click down a gear. Release clutch, but leave throttle closed. Rinse and repeat.
For sharper acceleration (or a steepening road)...
Changing down - as above BUT open the throttle when the clutch is released. If the gear you're in still isn't right - rinse and repeat.
Some bikes change down a little better if you blip the throttle. All this means is when the clutch is in, you give the throttle a quick upwards twist as you press down on the gear lever.
You have a FXR - rear wheel lockup when changing down is extremely unlikely, unless your revs are very high for your road speed, and you're going from 2nd to 1st on a wet road, AND the rear wheel is on a painted line at the moment of clutch release.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 5th December 2011, 10:08

definitely pull clutch in THEN Throttle off.

nice trollage by the way: no newb is that NEW

**bogan** · 5th December 2011, 10:16

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

definitely pull clutch in THEN Throttle off.

nice trollage by the way: no newb is that NEW

I dunno, as far as trolling goes that would be exceptionally piss-weak. Could well be somebody who is new to manual transmission vehicles and doesn't have anyone around to give them personal help.

In either case, I'd recommend finding someone to teach you, in a wide open area. Ideally a farmbike in a paddock.

**Old Steve** · 10th December 2011, 20:15

Yeah, release the clutch slowly on first gear.

Bikes have "wet clutches", this means the clutch plates run in oil so will not burn out.

When riding slowly, like coming up behind cars at a roundabout, you can balance your foot brake and slipping the clutch so you ride as slowly as you need to to get to the give way line as a gap in the traffic occurs. Then dump the clutch, ramp the throttle open, grab second and you're through the roundabout just like that.