Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I did take the msf course and yes they did tell us to downshift during a stop but that was usually from 2nd gear and when I forgot to do it during the course it wasnt too big of a deal to shift down to first after the stop tho technically wrong. My Q was shifting down after a stop from 4th gear which wasnt mentioned in the course because we were never at that high of gear. I understand now after the responses here that the shifting should be done while the bike is moving and coming to a stop. I want to add that I never stall I can go 0 to 60 in a blink of an eye

NinjaRyan wrote: I want to add that I never stall I can go 0 to 60 in a blink of an eye

ooooooohhh ...wow!

seriuously though... i wasn't referring to anyone specific when i made that comment about stalling.

what suxors is when you are doing 10-15mph over the speedlimit and some cager is tailgating you. I only have 4 gears on my bike but when you go from stop to go it helps having low end tourque to get you away quick enough for them to not run you over (although I have yet to not leave them in the dust lol).

it helps having low end tourque to get you away quick enough for them to not run you over

Thats why you buy an v-twin SV

hehe someday someday .

ofblong wrote:some bikes (like mine) wont allow you and/or will be very very very hard to get into first from 4rth when you are not moving.

Ditto my bike. Try this a couple of times with my bike and the resulting case of "shiftlessness" will cure ya....

NinjaRyan wrote:Lately I have noticed that I am not coming to a stop properly. What I'm doing wrong is that I pull the clutch in apply the front break and back break but find myself for example in 4th gear at the stop. During the stop I contiue to shift all the way to first. Is this proper or improper? Or should I pull in the clutch in shifting all the way to first while coming to a stop without ever realeasing the clutch or should I shift down one gear at a time to a complete stop? Or does it really matter?

I pull in the clutch and just keep tapping the shifter down, WHILE I brake. If I'm slowing from near highway speed, I make sure to wait until I'm below 25 mph or so before going to first gear.

P

I haven't been on the street yet, but when I ride pillion I hear how DH shifts.

If the light/intersection is far enough ahead, he progressively downshifts to use the engine to slow the bike and he ends up just easy cruising to a stop.

But if its quick stops in city or unexpected, he clutches and and brakes, and quickly taps down to 1st or 2nd.

Shorts wrote:I haven't been on the street yet, but when I ride pillion I hear how DH shifts.

If the light/intersection is far enough ahead, he progressively downshifts to use the engine to slow the bike and he ends up just easy cruising to a stop.

But if its quick stops in city or unexpected, he clutches and and brakes, and quickly taps down to 1st or 2nd.

engine breaking is not recommended as it is very hard on the motor.

Depends on how hard you do. Do you never decelerate and downshift?

If it breaks, get a new one.