Newbie downshifting question

**MyGSXF:Me** · 11th December 2007, 09:41

Give Andrew @ Roadsafe a call.. http://www.roadsafe.co.nz/

Last I spoke to them, they are heading to Auckland at some stage to run a training weekend up there.. they're ferkin brilliant!!!!!

Jen

**Mike748** · 11th December 2007, 16:16

In traffic I prefer changing down early with just a little brake pressure ........... the engine note as it catches up n winds down is really addictive.... damn, need to go for a ride now! ........... oh and it helps me with gear selection too.

**fireball** · 11th December 2007, 16:29

for me its what ever feels safe at the time....
i have noticed westie drivers are better than those on the shore so i am more relaxed when out west with my gear changes (will stay ion a higher gear for longer when slowing for lights)
while on the shore i drop down through my gearbox using engine breaking making sure im in a lower gear as i reach the lights so if things go bad (they do more often than not) i have enough revs to get me out of there...

its all a feeling and experience thing for me all i can say is practice its more fun that way!

**TOTO** · 17th December 2007, 23:29

Originally Posted by bugbug

Hi everyone, Ive got a newbie downshifting question for you....Whenever Im slowing down for a red light, I usually apply the front and rear breaks and pull in the clutch and ,in rapid succession, downshift to first gear and glide until I come to a stop. Is this the right way to come to a stop? Is it bad for the clutch/gears? Should I use the engine breaking capacity of my bike to slow down? Should I instead slow down a bit and downshift one gear then slow down a little more then downshift again, etc until I stop? Cheers!

I actually have a related question. On my New HYOSUNG, when I downshift for the lights and downshift all the way to first, then when I'm at the lights I can not go to Neutral

, but I noticed that sometimes when I downshift only to second and then pull the clutch and stop then I have some chance of getting to neutral bun not always. any sugestion on how to get newutral on traffic lights ? Is it just for hyosungs or most of you have gone trough this. Help aprechiated coz tired of aqueezing the clutch.

Thanks.

**Ocean1** · 17th December 2007, 23:55

Originally Posted by TOTO

I actually have a related question. On my New HYOSUNG, when I downshift for the lights and downshift all the way to first, then when I'm at the lights I can not go to Neutral

, but I noticed that sometimes when I downshift only to second and then pull the clutch and stop then I have some chance of getting to neutral bun not always. any sugestion on how to get newutral on traffic lights ? Is it just for hyosungs or most of you have gone trough this. Help aprechiated coz tired of aqueezing the clutch.

Thanks.

What happens when you try for neutral from 1st? Does is just not move at all or does it jump right through to 2nd?

**TOTO** · 18th December 2007, 07:33

Originally Posted by Ocean1

What happens when you try for neutral from 1st? Does is just not move at all or does it jump right through to 2nd?

It Goes straight to second gear ay. This morning I stopped on traffic lights on second, then eased it down to newutral - so it worked, but I had trouble putting into first after that , I had to press down hard 4 times Until I got the first. Is it suppose to be like this or is my bike temperamental ?

**scracha** · 18th December 2007, 08:02

Brake whilst downshifting through gears. Clutch should be pulled in at the last minute to maximise engine braking. Prescribed method is to just snick it down into first when you're nearly at a stop...just before you put your left foot down as your right foot should be covering the rear brake. If you can't get neutral then don't worry about it, just sit in 1st with the clutch in. In heavy traffic, it's preferable to be in gear ready to move off quickly anyway.

Useful tip, especially in wet or uneven surfaces is to come off the front brake and just use the rear when you're down to about 10kmph.

For emergency braking, don't even worry about the gears. Just brake, come to a stop. Look behind you and if there's something coming (and the bike's stalled or not in 1st) drop the bike and run like @#$ck.

Under no circumstances should you STOMP or need to push hard on the gear lever. If you come to a stop in 2nd or 3rd (or 1st for that matter) you might have to let the clutch out slightly or rock the bike back and forth a little to get it to change gear.

**Katman** · 18th December 2007, 08:26

Originally Posted by TOTO

I actually have a related question. On my New HYOSUNG, when I downshift for the lights and downshift all the way to first, then when I'm at the lights I can not go to Neutral

, but I noticed that sometimes when I downshift only to second and then pull the clutch and stop then I have some chance of getting to neutral bun not always. any sugestion on how to get newutral on traffic lights ? Is it just for hyosungs or most of you have gone trough this. Help aprechiated coz tired of aqueezing the clutch.

Thanks.

Check your clutch adjustment. It's possible you have too much freeplay and therefore the clutch is not fully disengaging.

**R1madness** · 18th December 2007, 08:43

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Do it real smooth and on most modern bikes there's no need to use the clutch at all.

I agree with everything you say except this statement. Its so wrong its not funny. You have no idea how many gearboxes we rebuild every year because someone has read on the net that its ok to change gear without the clutch. It might work for a while but the consequential damage is bloody expensive to fix. It might not show up at first but i bet you a free gearbox rebuild that it will happen.

**TOTO** · 18th December 2007, 09:02

Originally Posted by scracha

Brake whilst downshifting through gears. Clutch should be pulled in at the last minute to maximise engine braking. Prescribed method is to just snick it down into first when you're nearly at a stop...just before you put your left foot down as your right foot should be covering the rear brake. If you can't get neutral then don't worry about it, just sit in 1st with the clutch in. In heavy traffic, it's preferable to be in gear ready to move off quickly anyway.

Useful tip, especially in wet or uneven surfaces is to come off the front brake and just use the rear when you're down to about 10kmph.

For emergency braking, don't even worry about the gears. Just brake, come to a stop. Look behind you and if there's something coming (and the bike's stalled or not in 1st) drop the bike and run like @#$ck.

Under no circumstances should you STOMP or need to push hard on the gear lever. If you come to a stop in 2nd or 3rd (or 1st for that matter) you might have to let the clutch out slightly or rock the bike back and forth a little to get it to change gear.

O cool, didnt know this about 2-3 gear and rocking the bike. useful. thanks

**Ocean1** · 18th December 2007, 09:35

Originally Posted by TOTO

It Goes straight to second gear ay. This morning I stopped on traffic lights on second, then eased it down to newutral - so it worked, but I had trouble putting into first after that , I had to press down hard 4 times Until I got the first. Is it suppose to be like this or is my bike temperamental ?

I see it's new, I'd talk to the dealer, at least to register a query in case it's a fault.

It should get a bit smoother, but if you're still having trouble after a couple of thousand K I'd get them to check it.

**Ocean1** · 18th December 2007, 09:52

Originally Posted by R1madness

I agree with everything you say except this statement. Its so wrong its not funny. You have no idea how many gearboxes we rebuild every year because someone has read on the net that its ok to change gear without the clutch. It might work for a while but the consequential damage is bloody expensive to fix. It might not show up at first but i bet you a free gearbox rebuild that it will happen.

A broad generalisation to be sure.

My background is mostly dirt bikes, and I have had occasion to strip several gearboxes over the years. But any damage has been to bearings, shafts or shifter drums/followers, the only box on which I found serious wear or damage to dogs was on a bike I'd just bought.

Off road I do in fact use the clutch at least half the time, depending mostly on traction requirements. Perhaps I've been lucky, but I suspect it's more to do with learning how to match revs accurately and consistently.

The Buell's box feels less positive, and there's very little backlash in the drivetrain so it's difficult to get right. I rarely shift that without the clutch, and I think there's less reason to do so on the road.

**Leaf** · 18th December 2007, 12:55

Originally Posted by TOTO

It Goes straight to second gear ay. This morning I stopped on traffic lights on second, then eased it down to newutral - so it worked, but I had trouble putting into first after that , I had to press down hard 4 times Until I got the first. Is it suppose to be like this or is my bike temperamental ?

I had similar problems when i first got my GTR. As i added more km's it has definantly got easier to find neutral (and also easier to skip neutral when shifting from 1st to 2nd...an embarassing pain in the ass initially!). However a good tip is to drop to first while still moving then quickly tap up to neutral before the bike has come to a complete stop. Its much easier to find N when the bike is still rolling a bit.

**kevfromcoro** · 18th December 2007, 13:26

Originally Posted by katman

Change down one gear at a time, letting the clutch out after each gear change. Using the inherent engine braking means the bike is still under your control rather than coasting to a stop with the clutch disengaged.

As he said..use your gears. you know where you are going ..if you are coming to a roundabout or have to slow down ..start slowing down by downshifting

**TOTO** · 18th December 2007, 18:42

Originally Posted by kevfromcoro

As he said..use your gears. you know where you are going ..if you are coming to a roundabout or have to slow down ..start slowing down by downshifting

Thanks , kevfromcoro. how do you find neutral on the trafic lights ?