Motorbike gear changes?

Sound like a stupid question? I've been riding for just a few months, and one of the reasons I decided to ride in the first place was the involvement with the machine that, something you don't get with the average car.





So after experiencing the English winter commute (mpt as bad as I thought it'd be), I've started wondering about my gear changes. To cut this short, what constitutes 'bad' gear changing, accelerating quickly and slowing down?





For example, how much damage am I doing if I kill the throttle, slam the clutch open, knock the gear up (firmly and quickly but not harsh, more a flick of the boot than a kick) then drop the clutch as I yank back on the throttle (all very quickly)?





And for decelerating, how essential is it to blip the throttle as I slow down, or is it fine to just slowly engage the clutch each time I drop down a gear while braking?





I know the idea is to match engine speed with each gear change, but is that for smoothness, or for bike health?





Cheers

Motorbike gear changes?
Sounds like your doing it right to me. A fast shift (.4 of a second or less) is actually one of the smoothest ways to shift since your revs never even have the chance to drop therefore requiring no blip at all and there will also be virtually no clutch slippage. Truth be told though the smoothest, least damaging way to upshift is actually a well executed clutchless quick shift. What you do is put some pressure on the shifter not enough to put it in gear but enough where you feel it start to move slightly than gently roll off the throttle and the shifter should move automatically under the pressure you were applying with your foot the whole time. This method results in absolutely no drive lash, no clutch slippage, and no stress on the gearbox. However you must make sure your doing it right or you will problems in the worst way and DO NOT use this method to downshift ONLY upshift this way.
Reply:Blipping the throttle on decelorating is only ness when your changing down gears quick and need to match the revs to the low gear for a smooth change. Sometimes i will change down gear at the right time by letting the bike slowdown on a closed throttle, and the engine will naturally increase revs as i go down from say 3rd to 2nd.


matching is for both smoothness and the bikes health as clunky gear changes that lock up the back wheel or cause the motor to go well intot he red line isnt good.
Reply:Drive it like a car


First pull in the clutch, select first gear, pull the revs up slightly, disengage/release the clutch slowly, and away you go,


Change up gear by releasing the throttle pulling in the clutch, move up the gear releasing the clutch pull back the throttle (keep doing this until you are in top gear)


when slowing down, let go of the throttle pull in clutch, drop down gear, release clutch (SLOWLY) keep doing this whilst breaking or until you are in a low gear ie: 1st or 2ND then if you come to a stop start from the start again


Best of luck
Reply:Why not get a power commander with a quick shifter that allows for clutchless up shifts without losing power.
Reply:Depends a lot on your bike, but I have had Suzukis and you don't need the clutch at all going up the 'box just flick the throttle closed and snick the gear up, then power back on. coming down the box let the baby rev - but not into the red. you don't need to blip the throttle at all because it's generally a synchromesh 'box these days. My best advice to you is to ride as smoothly as possible at all times, yeah you can give it a handfull of throttle just apply it smoothly, same goes for braking give yourself as much time as possible - harsh braking won't do much for your tyres and you only have 2 in contact with the road (at least I hope you have)
Reply:Smooth smooth smooth. Otherwise you will wear the clutch out, front and rear sprockets, chain, tyres, and cost you a fortune.


If you don't learn to ride smoothly, sooner or later your will hit a patch of ice or diesel and finish up following the bike up the road until you catch it up and OUCH.


Ripping the throttle open also rips you're tyres to bits, so unless you have a shed load of dosh to chuck away, try a bit harder to get it right. A.P.
Reply:Varies- I used to race a Bultaco where I only used the clutch for starting off. Poor bike- I'd be winding up third gear and just as I hit that hard left turn, I'd stomp the shifter into second. The engine would overspeed and sometimes the chain came off, but I never hurt the transmission.





Other bikes might be less robust, so it's hard to say what you're doing. Most modern bikes have synchro-mesh mechanisms that allow you to shift into a gear without matching the engine speed precisely.





What matters to the rider is the consequences of *not* matching speed. If you are going a bit fast, downshift and and let the clutch out quickly, you run a slight risk of losing traction on the back wheel. Not good, unless that's what you want to do. If you shift up too soon, you will lug the motor, but probably not lose traction.





Good question. I think good bikesmanship is about being smooth, not so much about driving hard or easy.





If you're a winter biker, good on ya!!
Reply:Hmm, bear in mind that if you are riding a V-twin, if you do change down when the engine speed is too fast, you run a higher risk of locking up the back wheel than if you were riding a 4 cyclinder/multi-cylinder bike.





Rubber side down!!!



skin rashes