down shifting at a red light

[Sig_Girl]

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I have a 2012 cbr250. I find that if I forget to downshift while I go to a spot light, my bike has trouble downshifting stopped. I have to kind of roll the bike foward and backward to shift into 1st.

Is this normal? Anything wrong with my bike? Any fixes for it?

 

[PLau]

Normal.

Fixes:
Shift before you stop.

You should be shifting as you slow down anyways.


PS. Your "Location" says "Noth York" rather than North York. My apologies if you did that purposely.

 

[soto]

Normal. It is best to downshift as you're slowing down anyways so you are always in the correct gear.

 

[Jimsun]

if it's too hard, try downshifting before you're completely at a stop. Not only is this more convenient, it can save your life if you ever see a huge 18 wheeler about to ram you over.

There are times where the clutch won't down/up shift. When this happens, it's normal to roll forward or backward then shift.

 

[Joots]

Yeah, this is normal. it's essentially components not lining up in such a way as to allow it to shift in exactly the position you stopped in. by rocking the bike forwards or back, you're just shifting the position of the components to allow them to mesh together. while moving this isn't an issue, because everything is moving.

 

[shootingrubber]

It's normal. If you can't get it into first while stopped, let the clutch out a little. Then once you find the right spot you'll suddenly find you can shift down much easier.

 

[Apollo95]

It's normal. If you can't get it into first while stopped, let the clutch out a little. Then once you find the right spot you'll suddenly find you can shift down much easier.

Agreed. i do the same thing.

 

[regder]

One of the things that got ingrained in my head from the RTI training course is downshifting as you're slowing down. Very good habit to get into, and you get to blip the throttle and make noise

 

[Apollo95]

One of the things that got ingrained in my head from the RTI training course is downshifting as you're slowing down. Very good habit to get into, and you get to blip the throttle and make noise

keith code always says, "brakes are cheap, engines are expensive"
i try to use the brakes instead of engine braking. i gear down but maintain clutch so as to not put pressure on the engine and other components instead of brakes.

 

[Jimsun]

keith code always says, "brakes are cheap, engines are expensive"
i try to use the brakes instead of engine braking. i gear down but maintain clutch so as to not put pressure on the engine and other components instead of brakes.

its a bike not a truck or car. These things have 10k rpm. As long as u rev match around 3-5k you wont hurt it at all.

 

[SeaBreez]

keith code always says, "brakes are cheap, engines are expensive"
i try to use the brakes instead of engine braking. i gear down but maintain clutch so as to not put pressure on the engine and other components instead of brakes.

Really? I must have missed the training and have been doing something wrong... (for the last 3 decades). I torque the snot out of my bike, gear down hard and generally push it to the limit.

 

[klr_guy]

Really? I must have missed the training and have been doing something wrong... (for the last 3 decades).

Me too. Silly me with my 25 years of riding, wrong all these years...

 

[Apollo95]

nothing against you guys. but i trust what keith code says over your with your DECADES of experience.



lol

also i doubt you're still riding the same bike for 30 years.

 

[Joots]

nothing against you guys. but i trust what keith code says over your with your DECADES of experience.



lol

Don't believe anything someone says without some of your own thought. What if Keith Code said walking off a cliff is the best way to corner? huh? what would you do then sir?

 

[Apollo95]

im not starting an argument.
your points are valid. im not disagreeing, just sharing a different perspective from a VALID source.
sometimes i gear down. most of the time i try to put the pressure on brakes where it's meant to go, that's all. i reserve "engine braking" for when i sense need.

no trolling needed. wishing everyone safe riding, and stopping Cheers.

 

[Benny!]

Keith codes advice is more track related. Where you are way more agressive with the stopping etc. slowly coming to a light won't kill the clutch or tranny. But why not just do both to make everyone happy.

 

[Joots]

I wasn't trying to troll either or anything. Just trying to make a valid point. In the end, I don't think properly done engine braking is going to damage the engine. If you don't want to engine brake, that's your choice.

 

[klr_guy]

i reserve "engine braking" for emergencies.

Really? That's the last time I'd be worried about engine braking. Good luck out there.

 

[soto]

Context is everything - I remember KC even advising to downshift without the clutch during braking for a corner.

I think what he means by not engine braking is that as soon as you're off the throttle you should be on the brakes or you're wasting time.

Ultimately downshifting when slowing down is a matter of safety. Even if it were bad for the bike (which it isn't compared to all the other things we do) I'd still do it cause it's good for me.

 

[Griffin]

Any downshift braking is affecting the rear wheel only. It is also far easier to upset the traction of the rear wheel when downshifting then by using the brakes. As well as the wise words of Keith Code.

I downshift while braking only to have the bike in the correct gear to accelerate. It isn't for any braking advantage. I use my front brakes for stopping (other than trail braking or braking in gravel) - downshiftiing is purely to keep the engine revs where I want them when I hit the gas.

And although I've been riding well over three decades, I'm always willing to learn from someone who knows more than me.

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