How do you keep track of what gear your in...

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sharpmagna · Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:32 pm

I tried counting, but sometimes my mind is focused on something else and I forget what gear I'm in. I change gears by feel, so I sometimes forget to count too. It's fine if I'm in 6th and I need to downshift, but it is annoying when I'm in 6th and I think I'm only in 5th and I try to upshift.

I'm also getting proficient in telling what speed I'm going at a certain RPM and in what gear for whatever reason. It helped when my speedo cable broke (long story) and I didn't know how fast I was going. I could usually tell if I knew what gear I was in and what RPM if there were no cars around me that I could pace.

earwig · #2 Unread post by **earwig** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:01 pm

I'm not sure about everyone, but once you ride your bike for a while you will just know by how it feels/sounds. If you are going to downshift more than 1 gear at a time and not sure what gear you are in make sure to let out the clutch very slowly so you don't lock up your rear wheel.

VermilionX · Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:09 pm

when i forget... i do a quick check on my rpms and speed and i pretty much figure it out.

i have a gear indicator but it doesn't work anymore... TRE side effect.

jmillheiser · Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:13 pm

I usually have little problem telling what gear im in. Even though I cant hear the engine of my bike above 40mph.

if you really need to hear your engine to tell what gear your in I would suggest a louder exhaust.

m1a1dvr · #5 Unread post by **m1a1dvr** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:53 pm

I cant hear my engine either at high speeds. So I feel the vibrations. I noticed that in higher RPMs it vibrates alot.

jmillheiser · Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:17 pm

mine doesn't vibrate much so I cant use that method LOL.

if im just cruising I know what gear im in by the speed im going.

if im in the canyons I usually dont know exactly what gear im in, I just use whatever gear keeps the bike at the low end of its powerband.

roscowgo · #7 Unread post by **roscowgo** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:44 am

The only time i really think about it is at a stoplight, when i make sure to click it all the way down.

Otherwise its like driving my truck to me, my feet and arms just do their things and i look where i wanna go. *does not work quite so well when you're swivelling your head trying to figure out where that squirell just went*

zed · #8 Unread post by **zed** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:19 pm

I started with and still do the counting thing. At first, half the time I still forgot what gear I was in. After some time though I started to remember and now I seem to know what gear I'm in most of the time. I think it's a combination of counting and learning to correlate speed and engine sound.

icariz83 · #9 Unread post by **icariz83** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:19 am

Well on my SV I just know what range I'm in. If I'm going 30-45 I'm usually in 3rd but on the main roads of 55 I'm in 4th or 5th with 6th only for highways.

On the Triumph I just look down at the gear indicator, I haven't mastered the speed on it yet.

Kal · #10 Unread post by **Kal** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:11 pm

Kind of like Roscowgo I don't really care. I change up when the engine wants me to and down when I'm using the engine breaking. The only time I'm bothered by it is at lights or if I have pulled an 'urgent stop'. At those times I just bang the lever down several times and maybe up it up into neutral if I need reassurance.