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i always shift down to first when i come to a complete stop but was wondering if that is necessary for a rolling stop at a stop sign. u know, rollin stop, when u come to a stop sign but ur still doing about 5mph or so.

I would recommend it... alot of bikes will lug in second gear at 5mph. You'd end up slipping the clutch alot more to compensate for that. It's not a big deal to go down to first.

I think it really depends on your bike. Check your owner's manual and you will find a section on upshifting and downshifting and it will give a range of mph when you should do either. Many bikes with good low end torque will "pull" well in 2nd or 3rd gear from a standing stop. Others with most of their torque designed for the high end of the power band will buck and snort if you try to pull out in a higher gear.

If your bike pulls well in a higher gear at low speeds, downshifting to first will cause it to lurch and you don't want that in an intersection.

Hope this helps

Greg

Don't people stop at stop signs anymore? Twice this year I've had someone bump into me at a stop sign (once on the bike, once in the truck). Both times the excuse was, "I didn't think you were going to come to a complete stop".

Cops love to see people doing this. I didn't used to be such a stickler for coming to a complete stop until the first time I got a ticket for it. $85 because I didn't take the extra 1.5 seconds to come to a complete stop.

To answer the question, yes. I'd shift down to first. You're certainly going slow enough for 1st gear and you don't want to lug the engine by accelerating from stop sign in a higher gear.

always match the speed of the bike to the appropriate gear. you might be able to keep it in second by lugging the engine, but try doing it in a right hand turn, killing the engine, then dumping the bike. take the extra second and shift to first.

I've seen way too many collisions caused by failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Why would you even risk you and your bike to save a second or two? Shift to 1st and come to a complete stop, save your clutch, your bike and you a lot of pain...

thanks a lot guys. i'll be shifting down to first every stop sign. i usually do come to a complete stop unless there are no cars around and i can cleary see each stop spot at the intersection.

id say first regardless, just giving your more torque to Have a fast TAke off

MakeCarsStandSTill wrote:id say first regardless, just giving your more torque to Have a fast TAke off

Exactly. if for no other reason, in case a cager brehind you has failed to stop for the sign and you need to get out of there asap.

That 1 or 2 extra seconds to come to a complete stop could save your life one day.