- This topic has 12 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 10 months ago by nau_lax21.
Downshifting before a quickstop.
-
AuthorPosts
-
June 29, 2008 at 12:25 pm #1627linuxpimp20Participant
Hi. I have a question on the proper way to downshift before a quick stop. Say your in third do you pull in the clutch and tap once to go to 2nd then to first or do you have to release the clutch each time. In the class we only did the quick stop from 2nd gear so that was easy you just had to do it once then brake. Also is that the way people shift down for a stop sign or do you see it again and slowly go down the gears till you get to first? Thanks for reading and thanks for any replies in advance.
June 29, 2008 at 1:12 pm #8047megaspazParticipantAssuming by quick stop, you mean emergency stop, then you wouldn’t do all the “proper” downshifting. In a car, you wouldn’t downshift. The most I can think of emergency stopping in a car would be to maybe go into neutral, but the natural reaction in a car would be to grab a handful of steering wheel, engage the clutch and brake. After stopping, then go into gear and motor away. It’s kind of the same thing with a bike. You just grab brake, in a controlled way to not lock the brakes, and slip the clutch… which is just pulling in the clutch lever and downshifting to the gear you want with the clutch lever continually pulled in.
Heck, even in a non emergency stop, I still don’t do a “proper” downshift with all the engage/release the clutch lever.
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…June 29, 2008 at 3:02 pm #8048linuxpimp20ParticipantDuring the MSF course we had to get into second and get going 15-20 mph then do the brake and had to down shift back to first or else you got points off on the exam. So I was under the assumption you had to do that even say in 3rd or 4th. But your saying just brake and then you can get back into first to get going? So even at a stop light you’d just brake to stop and then while your stopped down shift into first to get going again? And you’d just hold the clutch in and keep pressing down till your in first? I read or heard somewhere that down shifting through the gears quick is alright but up shifting without letting out the clutch each time can mess up your transmission. As you can tell I am a real beginner. lol. So far I have only taken the bike out a quarter mile down the road to an industrial road with lots of parking lots and little traffic. So practicing stuff like quick stopping and trying to be smooth with controls until I feel comfortable to go on the roads with traffic. Thanks for your reply.
June 29, 2008 at 3:17 pm #8050bam37Participantthe only reason you ever need to get back into first gear is if you are completely stopped! Works the same way in a car, if you are in second you can go slowly with no gas, so when you downshift you need to judge how fast you are going and what RPM’s you are at and can just downshift to the appropriate gear.
For example, you are slowing down for a stop light but it turns green while you are braking, you can just downshift to say 2nd or 3rd and take off. If you go to first your RPM’s with REV up big time if you are going like 20 mph or so…
it just takes practice
June 29, 2008 at 3:56 pm #8053megaspazParticipantFYI, you’re in the proper rpm range, you can upshift the bike without using the clutch and it doesn’t hurt the bike one bit done correctly. Of course the operative words being “done correctly”.
http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/0704_sprp_riding_skills_series/index.html
Edit: to answer the op’s scenario (Again assuming emergency stop situation):
You can slip the clutch while you’re in the act of emergency braking. A little more to think about maybe, but I think preferable than trying to find 1st gear from a higher gear when completely stopped. As a matter of fact, as a “safety” feature, if you’re in a higher gear, most bikes won’t let you slip into 1st when stopped. The most you’ll get to is neutral, in which case you’ll have to release and re-engage the clutch lever to shift into 1st. Hence the reason, if you’re committed to stopping completely, get into 1st while in the act of stopping.
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…June 29, 2008 at 11:56 pm #8062bam37Participanti agree with megaspaz, i’ve never done upshifting without a clutch, i dont know if i want to try it with my new 250R, maybe down the road…
June 30, 2008 at 3:31 pm #8089BuddParticipantFrom experience, do not downshift into first at 15-20mph even if the rpms are below 5k in second. You will lock up the back tire. Scary! Dumb rookie mistake, won’t happen again. When approaching a stop I tend to shift down while breaking, leaving it in second until I know I will have to actually come to a stop. Then, when I know the car behind me stops and if the light is long you can slip it into neutral. First will make a distinctive sound, so you you should know when you are not there.
“I am the best I am at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
June 30, 2008 at 3:53 pm #8092megaspazParticipantWhile it’s not good to downshift into first @15-20mph, I don’t think it’s the actual getting into 1st gear that locks up the rear wheel. AFAIK, you only lock up the rear wheel if you’re jamming down on the rear brake hard, which I guess is a possibility in an emergency situation. The only real thing I can think of by downshifting to 1st gear (actually down shifting to any lower gear from a higher gear) without blipping the throttle or using a couple of throttle jerks, is instability in the chassis. I’m guessing this instability might’ve caused you to depress the rear brake more. But, I agree you should only get into first as soon as you’re right on the verge of coming to a complete stop.
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…June 30, 2008 at 6:03 pm #8101BenParticipantIn an emergency stop I just grab the clutch, hit both breaks, and worry about shifting once I am at a stand still. Usually that menas just tapping down on the lever until I hit first.
Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles AdminJune 30, 2008 at 6:18 pm #8104shagglesParticipantI do shift all the way down in a quick stop and I don’t release the clutch between each shift. Just hold it in the whole time. In MSF class they told us we should shift down into first because if there’s a car coming up behind you that isn’t stopping and you need to get moving again quickly you’ll stall your engine if you’re in a higher gear.
July 1, 2008 at 4:54 am #8136AnonymousGuestI just finished the MSF course — their reasoning behind getting it into first was that, should you need to come to a full stop in an emergency, you may need to get going again with some urgency — for example, if you stop to avoid the car in front of you, and then hear the car behind you skidding.
Taking that into account, any thoughts?
July 1, 2008 at 5:21 am #8139megaspazParticipantThat’s the only reason why i stomp on the gears while i’m braking so i can get into 1st in case that happens. Bear in mind, you really need to be quick enough to brake and stop in a place where you can move quickly. Stopping right in front of the bumper behind the middle of a car isn’t going to do you any good and you’ll just be the filling in a car sandwich, which is why you always need to have an exit strategy.
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…July 1, 2008 at 7:59 am #8148nau_lax21Participantim not sure about whether or not its good for the transmission to downshift multiple gears without letting up on the clutch to go to the gear… but id rather have a damaged transmission than a damaged body. seeing as a bike has the capability of stopping quicker than a car, its probably a good idea to downshift to 1st (or at least 2nd) so you can get going as soon as you stop enough to avoid whatever caused the emergency stop.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.