I need help with my gear changes! Any advice?

**Ixion** · 15th August 2006, 10:18

Probably not the best practice , though not a major sin either.

Motorcycle clutches usually have a fair of drag , being wet clutches. Sitting for a prolonged period with the clutch disengaged will generate significant heat which can lead to accelerated wear (easy as to burn out the old cork clutches that way).

There is also the risk of a cable snapping leading to a possibly hazardous leap forward.

On the other hand there can be cases where it is wise to be prepared for an instant move - particularly if the last vehicle in a queue. Always keep your eyes on the rear view mirror watching for the idiot behind you who is not going to stop before he hits you, and be ready to leap forward into your bolt hole (you DO always have a bolt hole preselected, don't you?).

**ZeroIndex** · 15th August 2006, 10:21

Originally Posted by XR250 Si

Having just recently done my learners course and basic skills test my mind hasn't gone foggy just yet. My instructor told me, when using the bike don't worry about putting it into neutral when I come to a stop. Just clutch in and sit in 1st. Is this a good thing or a bad habit?

Still a couple of weeks away from purchasing my bike as a shipment of new XR250s is arriving at the end of the month. Do I buy a red one or a black one? Choices, choices. Red means danger, so maybe I take that one

. Anyway, my point? Well, I'm probably going to be a bit rusty on the gear changes when the date comes around

.

if it's at a traffic light, and you've got nothing better to do with your left hand, leave it in 1st.. if anything (in my opinion), might actually be better, cause oil gets to go all around the clutch plates (possibly cooling them a tiny bit/more lubricating), ok, i probably don't know what i'm talking about, but yeah, no problem in leaving it in 1st..

**TLDV8** · 15th August 2006, 11:06

Originally Posted by XR250 Si

My instructor told me, when using the bike don't worry about putting it into neutral when I come to a stop. Just clutch in and sit in 1st. Is this a good thing or a bad habit?

I am in neutral gear in the last couple of feet when pulling up to traffic lights.(You have to pull the clutch in at some point,neutral is just a click away ?)......... On a mechanical note,multiply the number of clutch springs by their poundage.That is the sideload on the clutch side bearing in the engine case when the clutch lever is in... so for me,i do not sit at lights in gear unless i know they are going to change a short time after i pull up...fwiw

**ZeroIndex** · 15th August 2006, 14:59

Originally Posted by TLDV8

I am in neutral gear in the last couple of feet when pulling up to traffic lights.(You have to pull the clutch in at some point,neutral is just a click away ?)......... On a mechanical note,multiply the number of clutch springs by their poundage.That is the sideload on the clutch side bearing in the engine case when the clutch lever is in... so for me,i do not sit at lights in gear unless i know they are going to change a short time after i pull up...fwiw

hmmm.. that's a good point.. well done.. I'll try that..

**gijoe1313** · 15th August 2006, 20:59

Originally Posted by Ixion

On the other hand there can be cases where it is wise to be prepared for an instant move - particularly if the last vehicle in a queue. Always keep your eyes on the rear view mirror watching for the idiot behind you who is not going to stop before he hits you, and be ready to leap forward into your bolt hole (you DO always have a bolt hole preselected, don't you?).

Hmmm thanks Ixion, thats something I haven't factored in!

I'm going to actively ensure that I'll do that also - does that mean leaving plenty of room between you and the cager up front and being on the right wheel track? Would love to have more advice on boltholing!

**The_Dover** · 15th August 2006, 21:03

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

Would love to have more advice on boltholing!

I may be able to help you there too

**GIXser** · 16th August 2006, 21:01

Originally Posted by The_Dover

Come over tomorrow bro and I'll see if I can identify what you're doing wrong. I'm only a K or two away. PM me for the address.

I promise I wont kill you.

He wont kill ya, but have ya seen pulp fiction,,?, mate dont go cos you'll hear , "lets wake up the GIMP"

**gijoe1313** · 16th August 2006, 22:17

I think I was meant to have a power pole shoved up somewhere where the tailpipe doesn't shine!

Hmmm...have to reconsider what his advice on "boltholing" could possibly mean now!

**Ixion** · 16th August 2006, 23:43

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

Hmmm thanks Ixion, thats something I haven't factored in!

I'm going to actively ensure that I'll do that also - does that mean leaving plenty of room between you and the cager up front and being on the right wheel track? Would love to have more advice on boltholing!

It means that wherever you are, stopped or riding, you always have a pre identified place to go if something nasty happens. So if you're stopped at the end of a queue of traffic, you identify that if necessary you can dive into the gap between the lanes. Or to the right (or left ) of a car - wherever, so long as its somewhere you won't get hit. Riding along you keep a running inventory - "I could turn into that drivway - room to move over to the right ,nothing behind me - I can nip in between those parked cars - that side street- that driveway - the verge there"- just constantly updated as you ride.

The first instinct of a cager when things go pear shaped is to hit the brakes. and in a cage that's usually the best thing to do. But bikes aren't as stable as cages under braking, and we're more easily squashed. So it's better to use our advantage, which is manoeuverability. Go to where the danger isn't. That's easier if you don't wait until you're in the shit to figure out where you can go to. So, always have a bolthole identified in your mind, ready to dive into. After a bit, it becomes automatic you don't even think about it. Just when that dork pulls out in front of you, instead of hitting the brakes and coming off, you nip into your bolthole, and carry on.