*If lift up all the way from 1st gear, will it put me in Neutral or 2nd gear? * If I am in one of the higher gears (5/6) do I have to downshift thru all gears to back to N?* When slowing down during a turn, do I apply pressure fully on brakes or only partially?* "Roll off"/"Roll on" throttle. which means away/toward you? *Why would I shift into lower gears ("engine braking"), when I could just use the brakes?
2006-12-21 06:41:01 · 10 answers · asked by JA 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
How do keep track of what gear you are in? I feel like I forget if I am in 4th or 3rd gear and I get confused. Also, "rolling on" and "Rolling off" throttle; which is toward (increase speed) and which is away from you (decrease speed)? I'm taking the motorcycle course tomorrow but I want to be prepared because I'm a very, very novice motorcycle rider...
2006-12-21 07:09:48 · update #1
Part 1
If it's a Honda, the gearing is as follows from all the way down to up. 1, N, 2, 3, 4, 5, . You can feel between 1st and 2nd is neutral.
You can shift past neutral in one shift. To get it into neutral is half a shift between 1st and 2nd. Kinda tricky at first.
If it's Kaw, Yamaha neutral is all the way down.
Part 2) Yes, you have to go thru ALL the gears one at a time.
Part 3) It's a good habit to get into from the beginning to down shift, let the clutch out slow a bit, down shift again, slow some more and so on. I don't use the engine as a brake after 2nd gear while slowing down, it tends to make the rear tire break loose.
And don't skip gears like from 4th down to 2nd while slowing down. You could easily overspeed your engine if you let the clutch out going too fast.
The reason for maintaining proper gears durring down shifting, is in the event you have to increase your speed, you will already be in the appropriate gear.
As far as using the brakes, I personaly use my front brake most while slowing down on pavement.
One more thing, After comming to a stop, always make sure you're in first gear. It's quite embarrasing to fall over in the intersection from being in neutral, or third gear trying to go.
Good luck, and find a back road with minimal traffic to practice.
2006-12-21 07:01:26 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Thats alot of questions...
The shift pattern depends on the bike but usually 1st is all the way at the bottom and the rest are up. If you are in 1st and lift all the way up you will be in second. If you lift slightly up, you will be in nuetral. Nuetral is between 1st and 2nd (in most cases)
If you are in a higher gear and are slowing down you do not need to downshift through all of the gears if you dont want to. Just pull in the clutch and keep tapping down on the shifter.
When you are slowing down, you can use your discretion but what most do (especially when riding agressively) is downshift before the turn, and then apply the brakes (mostly the front brake). You want to downshift before the turn so that you are in a low enough gear to power you out of the turn.
In mid turn you want to leave the throttle slightly open. Not so that you are accerating, just to keep the bike stable in the turn and to not have too much weight/pressure on the front wheel.
I've been riding for years and I forget what gear I'm in. Its no big deal. Just as long as the motor isnt bogging out or revving too high you are OK. If you really like to know what gear your in, they sell illuminated gear indicator kits that you can put on the bike that tell you what gear your in. Twisting the throttle toward you (couter clockwise) accelerates.
Have fun, be safe, and welcome. You'll meet a ton of great people. Dont be too shy to ask questions and dont get in over your head. Everyone starts somewhere.
2006-12-21 16:34:45 · answer #2 · answered by NY1Krr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1st to 2nd: as long as you are accelerating and lift the shift lever all the way up with your foot, you will not go into neutral. when slowing, yes you will need to go down through the gears. when entering a turn you should break before entering, that way, you can accelerate through the turn helping to better control the bike. "roll on" means to accelerate and "roll off" means to realease the throttle (in a smooth "rolling" method). you would want to use engine breaking in a few different situations as nedded: if you need to quickly stop or slow, you would downshift while applying the breaks. this method used all four limbs simultaneously (right hand and foot on both breaks, left hand applying clutch, left foot shifting down to lower gear). doing this you will also have to release the clutch in the lower gear to engage the engine breaking.
you would also want to use engine breaking if you were entering a turn at a high speed. the lower gear gives you a higher rpm wich will ad traction to the road. I advise that you first become comfortable with your bike and normal riding condition before trying anything like this. Good Luck fellow Rider! Enjoy the freedom of the road!
2006-12-21 16:13:52 · answer #3 · answered by Mike s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Years ago the federal government mandated all shift patterns on bikes sold in the US to be the same. 1 down and 4 up, with neutral between first and second. So if you're in 5th and want to get to 1st what do you think you are going to have to do? That's right...go down through all the gears one at a time. You're thinking to hard about this. Riding a motorcycle is not that difficult and just about anybody can master it quickly. Remember I said "just about anybody".
2006-12-21 16:04:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any modern bike I know of sold in the US has neutral between 1st and 2nd, with second "at the bottom". There is a half-shift to go from either 1st or 2nd to neutral; a full shift will go from up 1st to 2nd, or down from 2nd to 1st. But bikes are a bit different. My previous FZR600 was very smooth between 1st and 2nd in either direction, but my newer VFR800 definitely needs a deliberate shift to go either up or down between 1st and 2nd. I have hit neutral unintentionally several times, but its not a big deal.
Not sure by what you mean concerning applying the breaks fully. Any modern bike with decent brakes will lock them up if you apply enough force; just like in a car. With a bike, you have seperate control for front and rear. You have to be aware that most of the breaking potential comes from the front break, as weight transfers to the front in hard breaking.
My advice is take an MSF course
http://www.msf-usa.org/
THey do a good job preparing novice riders, and you'll generally qualify for an insurance rate discount.
2006-12-21 15:01:52 · answer #5 · answered by Sinbad339 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rolling on is to open the throttle/increase speed, equivalent to stepping on gas pedal in a car. Roll off is the opposite. Using downshifting to slow down is up to the rider, usually used in addition to breaking. Reduces the chance of locking the breaks which leads to nasty surprises such as your rear wheel sliding from under you. Generally the feel for when and how hard to use breaks comes with experience.
2006-12-21 16:49:28 · answer #6 · answered by silver_moon_73 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Mr Knowitall on all except the braking. While most of your stopping power is from the front brake, the rear should be applied the most with the front just added to reduce the stopping distance. Pay attention in class and practice. Class is the place to make your mistakes before you get on the road.
2006-12-21 15:53:42 · answer #7 · answered by Ernie C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I glad to hear you are taking the motorcycle class. All there questions will be answer in class.
Good Luck and Be Safe !!
2006-12-21 15:43:53 · answer #8 · answered by Pamela 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shift pattern depends on the bike, I am relatively certain.
2006-12-21 14:45:15 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Goodkat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its easy-er to go down from second to neutral
2006-12-21 15:53:41 · answer #10 · answered by quasar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋