Technique 3 :      How do you shift gears?

This is an area that many new riders worry about -- but there is no need.  You are going to find shifting very easy. It is a simple 3 three step process that you will master in a single exercise.

Step 1: Squeeze in the clutch while simultaneously rolling off the throttle.

Step 2: Move your left foot -- press down to downshift, lift up to upshift.

Step 3: (reverse step 1) Eeeeease out the clutch while simultaneously rolling on the throttle.

Doing Steps 1 & 3 smoothly makes for smooth shifts, Step 2 is just moving your foot to shift.

Lets do a shift by setting up a situation: You are riding slowly with the traffic around you, in 2nd gear.  The traffic starts to thin out and smoothly accelerate, and so do you (rolling on a little throttle... ie rolling the throttle back towards you).  The sound of your engine tells you it’s time to upshift, so you begin with Step 1.

 

Step 1:  Simultaneously pull in the clutch while rolling off the throttle. [Roll off the throttle with the clutch in... that stops the engine from racing at a high speed with no drive going to the rear wheel.]   Step 2:  Just move your toe! In this case, because you are upshifting, put your toe under the gearshift lever and lift it (that will put you in 3rd).   Step 3:  Simultaneously eeeeease out the clutch while you roll the throttle back on. Nothing more than a reversal of Step 1... that’s all there is to it!!!

Lets do that again, but this time we’ll launch from a dead stop, like starting out from a stop sign.  You are stopped, in 1st gear (which means you are holding in the clutch -- otherwise there would be power going to the rear wheel and you would not be stopped, but moving into the intersection ahead!!!). Both feet are on the ground. You are ready to launch as soon as the vehicle you’ve been waiting for is through the intersection. [This will take you through an entire launch sequence.]

You are stopped at the stop sign with the clutch in, and the engine in idle (when the throttle is rolled full forward the engine is idle).   To launch: smoothly add a little throttle as you eeeeease out the clutch through the friction zone and smoothly accelerate. Lift your feet to the pegs when the gyro affect balances the bike.

You’ve accelerated, and are ready to shift to 2nd gear

Step 1:  Simultaneously pull in the clutch while rolling off the throttle.   Step 2:  Upshift   Step 3:  Simultaneously eeeeease out the clutch while you roll the throttle back on continuing to accelerate.

You continue accelerating, and ready to shift 3rd

Step 1:  Simultaneously pull in the clutch while rolling off the throttle.   Step 2:  Upshift   Step 3:  Simultaneously ease out the clutch while you roll the throttle back on.

You go to 4th gear

Step 1:  Simultaneously pull in the clutch while rolling off the throttle.   Step 2:  Upshift   Step 3:  Simultaneously ease out the clutch while you roll the throttle back on.

Suddenly you realize you shifted so smoothly you’re doing 50 in a 35 MPH zone, just as you pass a police car parked along side the road!!!  Not wanting to flash your brake lights and admit your error or draw additional attention to yourself... you downshift quickly by...

Step 1:  Simultaneously pull in the clutch while rolling off the throttle.   Step 2:  Downshift!!!   Step 3:  Eeeeeeeease out the clutch while with the throttle still in idle (this is known as engine braking -- using the engine to assist in slowing).

... and pray the officer didn’t see on his radar what you saw on your speedometer!!!

That is all there is to shifting, both upshifting and downshifting.  Steps 1 & 3 take a little coordination, but nothing you cannot handle... and you just have to throw your toe between Steps 1 & 2 and you’re shifting with the best of them!

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