New rider. Just bought a Harley. How to correctly stop?

Question

Do I shift to first gear after I am completely stopped or do I shift to first gear and THEN apply the brakes to stop?

Answer 1

Brakes are for stopping, shifting is to match velocity with engine speed. Ergo, shifting is not for stopping. If you downshift too much and let the clutch out, the rear wheel will start sliding just long enough to send your two ton Harley sideways. The result is called a "highside" crash, and if you don't understand it then you need to educate yourself better about motorcycling.

Motorcycles aren't bicycles, they're not cars, and they're not toys. Buy a book titled "Proficient Motorcycling" and take an MSF course before your lack of practical understanding makes you another statistic.

Or wreck your pricey status symbol, I don't really care. I just love motorcycling and would rather see more competent riders on the road.

Answer 2

Look up on the Internet how the gears are designed for most motorcycles -- they're set up with little pegs that go into holes. When a motorcycle is completely stopped, nothing is spinning and therefore you might be trying to push a peg into hard metal for a very long time. You therefore want to try to get the bike into first before you stop completely, and I wouldn't want to buy a bike from anyone who tells you otherwise. If one of your gears "pops out" the peg or the hole is no longer squared off, who knows what other problems might be found on that used bike.

You also DON'T want to downshift to first above 15 mph or so. The over-revving engine will try to slow down the bike -- this is called engine braking if done in a controlled way. Engine braking has its place where it's control over the rear wheel and so you can use it for minor corrections of speed in a turn, but that's a more advanced topic. Definitely take the beginner MSF and actually listen up, they should tell you about all of this; don't be a moron and learn things the hard way.

Answer 3

Down shift while decelerating, ideally you should always be in the gear appropriate to start accelerating again (Say the light turns green before you have to come to a complete stop).Use the front brake as your primary brake and the rear as secondary,(60-40) or (70-30). Half the time I'm in first when I stop and half I shift to first when stopped, it has to do with the distance covered while braking. You should always be in the gear appropriate to the speed you are going,(You don't want to be going 40-50 and let the clutch out with the bike in first.) Down shift one gear at a time as you go progressivley slower, the reverse of what you would do as you acceleate and shift up.

Answer 4

It depends on the situation. If it is an emergency, concentrate on the brakes and get the bike stopped. Worry about what gear you're in later. If it's a nice slow stop to an approaching red light ahead, while slowing down shift down. Sounds like you should take a riding course real SOON.

Answer 5

First of all, I just bought one yesterday, and congradulations to you. Not my first bike, so here's what I've learned so far. Your breaks need to settle correctly, so at first don't grab them or ride them hard... they need to settle in the proper position (check the manual for how long to allow for this). Also, you want to allow yourself enough time to break without creating a situation... as in practice safe riding, if you do that, you'll hardly ever jam on the breaks. As for shifting, downshifting keeps you in the gear you need to be in... it helps when you want to go up in the gears because you're already in the right gear. You should also be in 1rst gear when you stop (not neutral), so you can take off if you need to. Just be careful, take it easy, and THE most important rule of the road other than take curves cautiously lol... PRETEND YOU'RE INVISIBLE. Just be careful, and the rest will come. Enjoy.

Answer 6

If you are coming to a stop, just hold in on the clutch, and when you come to a stop (braking), shift down to first.

Another way, if you're timing lights, or not sure if you're actually going to stop, but need to slow down is to downshift (while slightly braking, pull in on the clutch, kick down a gear, and let out on the clutch - you'll downshift or "engine brake").

Just be careful. If I had any better advice for you, based on your question, it would be to take the MSF course.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Get on your brakes right away and downshift to match your engine speed to road speed as you slow. I wouldn't suggest downshifting into first and engaging the clutch because the engine braking would be pretty significant. Once you've slowed the bike and are prepared to stop using your brakes you can pull in the clutch and shift into first so you're ready to start up again.

Answer 8

If you have to ask a question like this, I suggest you not ride at all until you take a motorcycle safety riders course and get your motorcycle license. I also suggest you wear a helmet at all times.

I have been riding daily since 1969 and had my first wreck this year a Kid ran right out in front of me and I could not stop and went over his trunk and landed head first on the hot June pavement. My half shell helmet saved my life, just two days ago a guy was killed having a similar wreck but he had no helmet and died.

Answer 9

First thing: Pull in the clutch lever, then apply the front & rear brakes at the same time. Go back home and read the owners manual from cover to cover, it tells you all this inside. save your self some time.

When you get good, you will be able to brake and shift into neuteral approaching the light.

Answer 10

gads..use your gearing to slow down...apply the brakes 75% to the fronts about 25% to the back and when you are stopped you should be in first gear if not then click it down to 1st...also learn to plant your left foot instead of doing like a goofy footed bird and come to a stop using both feet