Downshifting issues... sometimes - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

ZacFields · 07-28-2007, 08:38 PM

Hey all,

I have a question that's been nagging me ever since I got this bike: Every now and then I'll have a problem downshifting from a stop. For instance, the first time this happened I had the bike in neutral and I was trying to shift it into first gear, and I couldn't get it to shift. I had the clutch all the way in and I was pushing down on the shifter and nothing was happening. After playing with it for a few seconds it finally went down for me.

The other time it happened, I was in 5th and was rolling to a stop and I forgot to downshift. So I was at the stop and I had the clutch in and was trying to shift down, and I think I only got it down to 3rd before it stopped downshifting.

So overall my 2 questions are this:

1. From neutral, does anyone know how come every once in a great while I have some difficulty shifting down to first?

2. Shifting down from 5th, do I need to get it shifted down to 1st before I come to a complete stop? Is that why I was having trouble getting it to downshift is because I was in 5th gear at a dead stop?

Sorry for the n00b questions guys, the MSF course is August 19th and I feel stupid asking these questions to the more experienced people I'm riding with.

Zac