Why Can't I stop Doing This?

[Flipper]

Confession moment.

It seems that almost everytime I ride, I will shift into neutral instead of second at least once.
I get so mad at myself and upshift kind of extra hard after that.
It usually happens when I MOST need to accelarate out of my current position.
Why the heck do I do this.
I don't even have to look down for the green light anymore, I can feel and hear it.

Will I ever outgrow this?
I at least feel better admitting it.

Flipper

[The549]

I accidentally did that in front of some house party today. I got 30 heads instantly turning the way of 10,000 rpms as I slipped out of second. I'm not much for that kind of attention, so that was weird.

Pull up more!

[Dragonhawk]

I used to do that too.

Simple way to avoid it - never upshift into second gear.

I always go from first to third. Pull away from the light in first gear, get moving, click up TWICE. That way, if you DO mess up and your first click takes you into neutral, your second click takes you into second gear.

If you do NOT mess up, you shift to second-gear on the first click and third-gear on the second click.

I taught myself that on about my second or third day of riding, because I was having the SAME exact problem you are. Once I figured out the technique of "2 upshifts" upon starting, I've never once had an accidental shift into neutral.

[Fast Eddy B]

I used to do that too.

Simple way to avoid it - never upshift into second gear.

I always go from first to third.

Surely there has to be a better way. I've missed shifts before, into neutral, but so rarely that skipping second gear seems like punishing yourself for something that could be fixed mechanically, or with a little polished technique.

All bikers, please would you use second gear?

[Veda]

I also had this problem when I first started. At least once every ride for maybe my first 200-300 miles I would land in neutral instead of second. Then I stopped doing it. I'm not sure if as I got more confidence and I started making a more solid upshift gesture or what. I think with practice it is something you'll just learn to avoid.

Although you might also want to consider what you're wearing for shoes when riding. That may help.

[Sev]

Sometimes an oil change will clear that up.

Other then that, all I can suggest is to not rush your shifts, and try to be decisive each time you hit that shift lever.

[KingRobb]

I dont know if your bike has seperate fluid for transmission or if it shared with oil.....but the reason gear will float is frequently to much tranny fluid.

Second is a good gear dont skip it......ATGATT (all the gears all the time) BWAHAHAHAHAHA

[Nalian]

Second is a good gear dont skip it......ATGATT (all the gears all the time) BWAHAHAHAHAHA

[The549]

You gotta be more angry when you shift. I end up riding pretty angrily a lot, just because a motorcycle is a motorcycle...

[storysunfolding]

Shift to third?

Ride angry?

I don't think either is good advice for learning to ride or really... ever.

Make sure that your footwear doesn't have a soft toe. That will take up some of the force from shifting and create this problem. If you have small feel you may need to move your foot forward on the peg so your toe is more directly under teh shift lever. You might also try to shift using the bony top of your foot instead of your toe.

Ensure that your motorcycle is getting the maintenance it requires. Like Sev said, old oil can cause this problem.

Finally, practice and shift with authority. Don't start letting the clutch out until you've clicked into gear and enjoy your riding.