Total Motorcycle Community Forums

As I stated in my 1st post,I am considering buying a new(used)bike in the near future,but I still have some unanswered questions about bikes,sport bikes in particular.I am having trouble understanding the shift pattern on these bikes.I have read that there is a reverse shift pattern on some bikes out there for bikes that hit the track alot,which is clicking up one is 1st,down a click is neutral,then 2nd and so on.My question is on a reg. sport bike what is the normal shift pattern?ie:hondacbr600,is clicking up going through the gears1,2,3,4,5,6 or wat?
and yes I am planning on taking a msf.thanks in advance!

The shift pattern on 99.9% of all bikes sold is Down for first, up for second and all gears after that. Neutral is located between first and second gears, it takes a practiced toe to click it into neutral sometimes.

'Race pattern' shifting is just exactly the opposite of what is described above. It is done by flipping the shift linkage 180* but not many bikes you are likely to encounter will be set up that way, so don't lose any sleep over it.

Hold up your left hand.

Your thumb is first gear, your index finger is second, pointer is third, ring is fourth, and pinky is fifth.

That little bit of webbing in between first (thumb) and second (index) is neutral.

So, from neutral a stomp gets you into first, from there, a solid lift will be second, third, fourth, fifth.

If you don't press up ALL the way from first you will end up in neutral. Neutral is a 1/2 step.

Unless like BuzZz said, and it's got a race shifter, then everything is flipped. But the likelyhood of running into a street legal one of those is very low.

Out of curiosity why are they reversed on racers?

My theory (I'm sure there will be others) is that it is faster to stomp down on the shifter than to lift up on it. On a racebike, accellerating out of a corner as fast as possible, the faster shifting gives an edge. Downshifting is less hurried so lifting up to shift costs no time.

ok thanks alot for the reply guys,I am(was)mixed up about that shifting.I had a chance to ride a friends 94 honda cbr600 and it seems that the shift pattern is opposite,I had tried to take off with it only to have the bike stall on me and my friend laugh in my face,he came over a clicked into 1st and away I went with no more problems after,but that was last summer...maybe spring?and I am going to be looking at some used bikes and I don't want to seem like some kinda clown when I go over the bike.thanks again.

If it makes you feel better I have a story.

After taking the MSF course I wanted a motorcycle but could not afford one. So after 3 months I saw one on a lemon lot (my 78 Honda CB750K cruiser) that I purchased for US $200.

In those three months I had forgotten the shift pattern - but I thought I had not. So I am driving the beast home and I come to a stop sign. I pull up on the shifter (thinking I was putting it into 1st) getting me into 3rd gear. I try to start off and stall the beast.

It took me about 5 minutes of thought to figure out that the problem was not with the machine. Fortunately I didn't drop it or get rear-ended.