Changing gears

[HondaSpirit99]

Last night I noticed a couple of times when I shift down to get into first at a stoplight if I don't make it to first before I stop; my bike won't go down to first while I'm sitting there waiting for the light. So.... I might be stuck in 2nd or 3rd and have to start off like that since I can't get it to first.

I've always driven automatic cars so I wasn't sure if I should get down to first before I stop or should I be able to down shift just sitting there? I know ideally you shift down in line with speed and should be in first (still practicing that), but there isn't a problem with my bike if it wouldn't downshift at a stand still is there?

Thanks.

[Clint]

Motorcycle transmissions are not designed to be shifted while sitting still, aside from N to 1. Do your downshifting as you approach a stop. If you choose to rest in neutral, cover the clutch and watch your rear view.

[themeatmanlandry]

I find that letting the clutch lever out a tad and then trying to shift again often solves the problem. Like Rowdy said, you *should* be in first when you come to a stop.

Try letting the clutch out a tad and re-trying the shift.

[Basso]

Originally Posted by themeatmanlandry

I find that letting the clutch lever out a tad and then trying to shift again often solves the problem. Like Rowdy said, you *should* be in first when you come to a stop.

Try letting the clutch out a tad and re-trying the shift.

Hold the brake in while you do this.

[GregR1]

Originally Posted by Basso

Hold the brake in while you do this.

don't really need to think about that since you're only letting the clutch out a tad for a very short time - just enough for the plates to grab, move the tranny gears a fraction of a turn, and then disengage the clutch again. this will line up the dogs a bit better.

besides, your right foot should be on the brakes regardless.

[Basso]

Originally Posted by GregR1

don't really need to think about that since you're only letting the clutch out a tad for a very short time - just enough for the plates to grab, move the tranny gears a fraction of a turn, and then disengage the clutch again. this will line up the dogs a bit better.

besides, your right foot should be on the brakes regardless.

I thought he was stopped and couldn't shift? I can't have my right foot on the brake and use the left to shift down at the same time when the bike is stopped. Anyway, I just recommended it because sometimes the bike jumps a hair unless you really have the clutch all the way in. Happened to someone at my MSF class...wouldn't shift down, they didn't have the clutch squeezed completely in, wasn't holding the brake...bike lurched. She didn't fall, but was quite shocked by it.

[650Doug]

My Nighthawk does the same thing sometimes. Sometimes, I don't get back to first gear before the complete stop; %%%% happens.

Whatever gear I'm in when I do stop, I just ease out the clutch, as suggested above, just a bit, not even a quarter of the way out; listen/feel the engine begin to slow, then pull the clutch back in, and kick the thing down the rest of the way.

My right hand is holding the front brake while I do it, my right foot is holding me and the bike up.

If you want to get a feel for all this, (it's easier and faster than it sounds), practice in your driveway or something, before you're in traffic again.

You'll get it.

[robertc729]

In the event that you are not in first when you approach a stop as you should be, you could always roll the bike an inch or two backward, or let the clutch out a bit.

[HondaSpirit99]

Thanks for the tips.

I always try to make sure I'm in first, but if I forget now I know a couple of tricks.

[womper]

being a newbie, i have a question in regards to shifting down from neutral to first when the bike is still in motion.

while i have the clutch pulled in i shift down from 4th to 1st but it stops at neutral. can't jam it into 1st at all. Even letting out the clutch completely in neutral doesn't work until i'm stopped, then it works.

I'm just wondering if this because the bike was going too fast and i didn't down shift to match the speed of the bike?

this only happens sometimes, and i'm sure it's not the bike, but instead rider error (me)

[GregR1]

Originally Posted by womper

being a newbie, i have a question in regards to shifting down from neutral to first when the bike is still in motion.

while i have the clutch pulled in i shift down from 4th to 1st but it stops at neutral. can't jam it into 1st at all. Even letting out the clutch completely in neutral doesn't work until i'm stopped, then it works.

I'm just wondering if this because the bike was going too fast and i didn't down shift to match the speed of the bike?

this only happens sometimes, and i'm sure it's not the bike, but instead rider error (me)

my bike WILL shift into 1st when rolling, but either quite violently or fairly smoothly. the rather big difference in gearing from 2nd down to 1st makes the shift hardest of them all. you can likely get it to pop into 1st if you rev the throttle a bit while doing that shift (helps the gears match their speeds quite a lot), or just doing it when your bike is rolling at a speed-walking pace.

also, i think that the throw on the shifter peg is quite a bit bigger to go down into 1st than any of the other gears, so you might need to keep tabs on that.

[Anville]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Motorcycle transmissions are not designed to be shifted while sitting still, aside from N to 1. Do your downshifting as you approach a stop. If you choose to rest in neutral, cover the clutch and watch your rear view.

THANK GOD. I could NOT get the bike into gear sitting at a light and killed it many times. I though the bike had a problem. Im coming from a manual car mind you, but I am truly realizing that bikes and cars are WORLDS apart.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by womper

I'm just wondering if this because the bike was going too fast and i didn't down shift to match the speed of the bike?

this only happens sometimes, and i'm sure it's not the bike, but instead rider error (me)

Yes and yes!

The last shift to 1st should NOT be done any faster than a crawl. When it won't go, it's likely the bike is telling you that you are still moving too fast.

How's your idle speed? If it is too low it will make this problem worse.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by womper

being a newbie, i have a question in regards to shifting down from neutral to first when the bike is still in motion.

while i have the clutch pulled in i shift down from 4th to 1st but it stops at neutral. can't jam it into 1st at all. Even letting out the clutch completely in neutral doesn't work until i'm stopped, then it works.

I'm just wondering if this because the bike was going too fast and i didn't down shift to match the speed of the bike?

this only happens sometimes, and i'm sure it's not the bike, but instead rider error (me)

Your M50 will hit the rev limiter at right about 30 mph in first gear, so any speed below about 20 mph, and it should slip right into first gear. I know I never had a problem with mine at that speed. Of course you don't want to let the clutch out at that speed, unless you like hearing your back tire squeal.
Only two mechanical things come to mind that might be causing your problem.
1. Your clutch might need adjusting. When you are sitting at a stop with the bike in gear, and the clutch pulled in, does it want to creep forward?
2. Contrary to what Easy Rider said, I have never had a problem with shifting if the motor is idling to slow, but I have had shifting problems on bikes where the idle is set to fast. No offence Easy Rider, I've just never seen that happen.



Of course it could be that you broke something when you did that giant wheelie. Just Kidding.

[womper]

i tried what you guys said and it seems that i was just downshifting too quickly.

i just shift down to first now when the bike is slow enough (about 20-30 mph) and it goes in no problem.

ie: i take my time shifting down where i should be (so that if i need to speed up i'm in the speed range) and i never have any problems.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Rickster

2. Contrary to what Easy Rider said, I have never had a problem with shifting if the motor is idling to slow, but I have had shifting problems on bikes where the idle is set to fast. No offence Easy Rider, I've just never seen that happen.

Depends upon a lot of variables, like model and age and rider but, in general, the closer the engine speed to the transmission "speed", the easier the shift should be (even if the clutch is dis-engaged, because of the liquid coupling effect).
SO......
In theory, a lower idle speed should make downshifts more difficult AND a higher one would make upshifts more iffy.......this is all for a conservative rider (and an idle speed WAY out of spec.) 'cause at WFO none of this would be noticeable !!!

I have noticed that downshifts are a tad easier with a higher idle speed (maybe it's all in my head; God knows there is plenty of ROOM in there!) but have not noticed (or tested) the upshift part of the "theory" on a bike. I am, however, old enough to have driven a truck with a non-synchronized transmission and matching engine speed there was critical.
(Yes, I am older than dirt!)

[TFee3]

I just bought a new C90T, and it REALLY clunks when shifting down (but that's ok, most of them are noisy). I can shift into 1st gear at 50 if I wish. I just can't let the clutch out, unless I want to eat my handlebars!

[Wuby The Wabbit]

on my dirt bike, I always had to rock the bike to get it into 1st, and it always made it alot eaiser to get it into nuetral as well. just a thaught.

[gschwamborn]

So i'm glad to have read this thread because like "HondaSpirit99" I too have been having the same problems

Originally Posted by HondaSpirit99

Last night I noticed a couple of times when I shift down to get into first at a stoplight if I don't make it to first before I stop; my bike won't go down to first while I'm sitting there waiting for the light. So.... I might be stuck in 2nd or 3rd and have to start off like that since I can't get it to first.

I've always driven automatic cars so I wasn't sure if I should get down to first before I stop or should I be able to down shift just sitting there? I know ideally you shift down in line with speed and should be in first (still practicing that), but there isn't a problem with my bike if it wouldn't downshift at a stand still is there?

Thanks.

I too am a new rider and thought maybe there was a problem with my bike. I'm glad to know i'm not the only one! I found out by trial and error that rolling the bike forward or backward alittle did the trick and my dad also told me about letting the clutch out a little and then retrying!

I also find that if i down shift too quickly i can get stuck in neutral and until i'm stopped can't go into first.

Just wanted to thank you all for the great tips and advice. Hopefully in the future i can avoid all these little pains

[HondaSpirit99]

Thanks everybody. I ended up having to stop quickly the other day and did not get to down shift to 1st before I came to a complete stop. I let the clutch out a little and was able to shift to first at a stop.

Thanks for the help!