Am I downshifting right? HELP!

[Sev]

Here's the problem with what you're doing, say you're in 5th gear and slowing down with your breaks coming up to the light, you're in fifth slower slower slower, all of a sudden it turns green. But you're out in front. Though that new hummer right behind you isn't slowing down. You need to get moving, and NOW, but you're only doing 15mph, he's doing 50!!! YIKES. You better gun it... in 5th at 15mph you're barely going to move.

You need to practise matching the engine speed to the wheel speed, because you need to be ready to pull forward any time.

[backrevin]

To steal again from Winston Churchill
Personally I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.

... the post from Sev is a great bit of teaching.

Thanks!

[BubbaGump]

I just started riding about 5 days ago on a new 06 GZ250. I was planning on taking a MSF course but they are all filled up so I'm learing on my own.

You really need to be patient and take the course. Any idiot can go fast, but what the course teaches you is low speed manouevers, emergency braking and collision avoidance. If you can manage a bike at low speed, higher speeds (posted speed limit) won't be a problem. Shifting takes practice and the course gives you that opportunity.

[dieziege]

what sev said... and it is true everywhere, not just at lights. Even on the freeway you need to keep yourself near your power band as you slow down.

I made exactly this mistake riding home from work today... I'm cruising along doing 70MPH and I reach an interchange... everyone is slowing down, so I slow down, keeping some throttle in the whole way.. and then I'm past the constriction, everyone starts speeding back up... but I'm about 4000 RPM below my power band and headed up a fairly steep hill. I open the throttle, and the bike just sits there... I had to shift down three gears to match the acceleration of all the cars....

[Prechrysler]

Do it! Downshifting that is. It's not tedious when it becomes habit. All the cool motorcyclists downshift.

[MotoF150]

downshift without the clutch if ur going slow it won't harm ur bike.

[camthepyro]

Are you being sarcastic, or is that another one of you dumb "O Ring" comments?

[Jamers!]

Are you being sarcastic, or is that another one of you dumb "O Ring" comments?

what? you mean you pull the clutch in when you shift? whats the matter with you, everyone knows the bike shifts just fine without the clutch



JWF

[MotoF150]

OH Come ON!!!!! If you guys never shifted ur bike without using ur clutch then ur really a rookie, or ur just plain dumb! DID ANY OF YOU GUYS "EVER" RIDE A DIRT BIKE??????? a pro dirt bike rider never uses a clutch!!! thats the way he wins races!!!! GEEEEEZZZE !! Tell me did any of you guys ever make a mistake and shifted ur bike and forgot to use the clutch? Did it hurt ur bike? Some of you guys have no clue! When im creeping up to a stop sign on my bike going 3 to 5 mph i downshift without using my clutch and I have over 6000 miles on my bike and the clutch and gears are ok.

[dieziege]

Dirt bike racers also tend to use automatic cluches.

http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/z-start/z_start.htm

All the DB racers I know have either installed one, or are planning to install one... and I know a bunch 'cause dirt bikes are EXTREMELY popular around where I live.