Noob Question about downshifting

[key3thermal]

Forum Sponsor

Which safety course did you take? They didn't cover downshifting at all, or did they just not go very in depth?

I took it at learning curves, they said come too a stop then downshift to one. I don't like this idea in the Toronto traffic, where i constantly need to shift on the 250r.

I tried with out throttle blip a couple of hours ago, this is what happened:

I was in 6th gear, i pull in the clutch shift down to 5, let the clutch out slowly and the bike slowed down way to much too fast!!! Now should i be giving it some throttle? So if i am then would it be:

1. clutch in
2. shift to 5 from 6
3. give it some throttle
4. let the clutch out slowly
?????????

Sorry if im not picking this up fast enough i just started learning.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

I personally down shift until I'm in about 2nd (when coming to a red light) it's a bit easier to take off espeically if you don't come to a complete stop. Only because I ride the same bike and 1st gear in this bike is really short, if I made any sense at all

 

[djltoronto]

I took it at learning curves, they said come too a stop then downshift to one. I don't like this idea in the Toronto traffic, where i constantly need to shift on the 250r.

I tried with out throttle blip a couple of hours ago, this is what happened:

I was in 6th gear, i pull in the clutch shift down to 5, let the clutch out slowly and the bike slowed down way to much too fast!!! Now should i be giving it some throttle? So if i am then would it be:

1. clutch in
2. shift to 5 from 6
3. give it some throttle
4. let the clutch out slowly
?????????

Sorry if im not picking this up fast enough i just started learning.

If deceleration on a 250 in 5th is way too much deceleration, why not just leave it in 6th.


How can 5th gear decell ever be too much?

 

[djltoronto]

I took it at learning curves, they said come too a stop then downshift to one. I don't like this idea in the Toronto traffic, where i constantly need to shift on the 250r.

I tried with out throttle blip a couple of hours ago, this is what happened:

I was in 6th gear, i pull in the clutch shift down to 5, let the clutch out slowly and the bike slowed down way to much too fast!!! Now should i be giving it some throttle? So if i am then would it be:

1. clutch in
2. shift to 5 from 6
3. give it some throttle
4. let the clutch out slowly
?????????

Sorry if im not picking this up fast enough i just started learning.

http://www.wikihow.com/Match-Rev-Downshift-a-Motorcycle

 

[short stop]

I took it at learning curves, they said come too a stop then downshift to one. I don't like this idea in the Toronto traffic, where i constantly need to shift on the 250r.

I tried with out throttle blip a couple of hours ago, this is what happened:

I was in 6th gear, i pull in the clutch shift down to 5, let the clutch out slowly and the bike slowed down way to much too fast!!! Now should i be giving it some throttle? So if i am then would it be:

1. clutch in
2. shift to 5 from 6
3. give it some throttle
4. let the clutch out slowly
?????????

Sorry if im not picking this up fast enough i just started learning.

Geez, it doesn't sound like they've really covered the basics of riding if that's all they taught in regards to downshifting.

When you say it decelerated way too fast, I'm guessing it engine-braked hard? If that's the case you downshifting too early. Slow down and make sure you're in the appropriate speed before downshifting. You could also let out the clutch slower, and/or give a little more throttle while releasing the clutch.

Shifting in general takes time in order to smooth out the kinks. Practicepracticepractice, and you'll get the hang of it. There are many threads on GTAM in regards to downshifting techniques. Do a forum search and do some more reading.

 

[key3thermal]

So this is what i should be the downshifting process?
1. clutch in
2. shift to 5 from 6
3. give it some throttle
4. let the clutch out slowly

 

[Sushii]

I usually always downshift around 4-5k RPM but i also blip the throttle but once it gets under 4k, i dont need to blip the throttle and it'll be smooth as butter.


I have tried down shifting without rev matching and the rear has fishtailed on me.

 

[Sushii]

So this is what i should be the downshifting process?
1. clutch in
2. shift to 5 from 6
3. give it some throttle
4. let the clutch out slowly

Yes that is correct but take note that if you are stopping you BLIP the throttle, dont give it continuous throttle or the bike will launch forward if you disengage the clutch.

As for #4... i usually just dump the clutch but i blip so its fine.

 

[key3thermal]

Yes that is correct but take note that if you are stopping you BLIP the throttle, dont give it continuous throttle or the bike will launch forward if you disengage the clutch.

As for #4... i usually just dump the clutch but i blip so its fine.

Alright. Thanks everyone for the help. Time to practice now.

 

[GSXMAER]

heres the way I SHOW friends how to shift

go to big parking lot....noob gets on back without helmet so they can hear (ride slow of course)
I call out the gear im in and clutch positions
they FEEL & HEAR the correct way the bike performs gearing up and down
then later (with helmet) I show them engine braking and what happens when their in the wrong gears
everyone picks it up REAL fast...

 

[key3thermal]

heres the way I SHOW friends how to shift

go to big parking lot....noob gets on back without helmet so they can hear (ride slow of course)
I call out the gear im in and clutch positions
they FEEL & HEAR the correct way the bike performs gearing up and down
then later (with helmet) I show them engine braking and what happens when their in the wrong gears
everyone picks it up REAL fast...

Nice, works with me lol!

 

[mgbmike]

Just to put another thought in your head, if you're riding on wet roads, be real careful, because you can fishtail. There's less traction back there!

 

[Dohhh]

Downshifting is an art form to be mastered. I dunno how you guys ride your bikes but if i didnt rev match the way i ride it would be uncomfortable as hell for one, and id be getting a new clutch every 2 weeks. lol

 

[Baggsy]

You downshift to the gear appropriate for the speed that you are going.

Check in the owner's manual to get an approximation. It's different for different bikes.

Don't try to downshift to slow down. Use the brakes for that.

A lower gear requires a little more throttle to go the same speed.

Over time you will learn what is appropriate for your bike.

If you get close to a light and you've slowed to a crawl you can shift all the way down to second, and then to first if you need to stop, or crawl along until the light changes in second.

I tend to only be in first gear when I'm starting from a stop or stopping. Otherwise, I'm in second gear.

 

[short stop]

Yes that is correct but take note that if you are stopping you BLIP the throttle, dont give it continuous throttle or the bike will launch forward if you disengage the clutch.

As for #4... i usually just dump the clutch but i blip so its fine.

I'm confused. What do you mean about blipping while stopping?

 

[slowbird]

I'm confused. What do you mean about blipping while stopping?

I think it was meant that when slowing down you Blip the throttle right before you let the clutch out...not holding the throttle open.

 

[rmemedic]

I think it was meant that when slowing down you Blip the throttle right before you let the clutch out...not holding the throttle open.

That's what I think he meant as well... That's where the word "blip" comes in.
When I do it, it's a really quick stab of the throttle with the clutch in, clutch goes at when the throttle is back to the "closed" position, but it's all simultaneous and isn't really a 1-2-3 sequence as some movements happen at the same time...

Next step after this, is learning how to blip while using the front brake and keeping the proper brake pressure in the fingers.

 

[gixxeranyone]

You downshift to the gear appropriate for the speed that you are going.

Check in the owner's manual to get an approximation. It's different for different bikes.

Don't try to downshift to slow down. Use the brakes for that.

A lower gear requires a little more throttle to go the same speed.

Over time you will learn what is appropriate for your bike.

If you get close to a light and you've slowed to a crawl you can shift all the way down to second, and then to first if you need to stop, or crawl along until the light changes in second.

I tend to only be in first gear when I'm starting from a stop or stopping. Otherwise, I'm in second gear.

OP, please listen to what Baggsy just told you. Everyone is totally messing you up here and you are totally overthinking it. Do not try to list what you need to do, feel the bike, learn your bike and what gear is appropriate for which speed.

 

[daveyflakes]

+1. I think Baggsy has hit the point here. Engine braking is not a replacement for using the brakes. It's more of a way to coast to a stop using the engine.

I also took my M1 Exit at Learning Curves and we DID cover downshifting. We even covered "blipping". I believe the drill was to ride in a straight line, shift up to 3rd, then back down to 2nd, 1st, and come to a stop. If I remember correctly, they told us to let the clutch out slow. And once you got that, you could try adding some throttle blip before letting the clutch out.

 

[espro]

I'm sorry but some of the advice here is bad. Telling them to just use their brakes, no mention of matching the gear to their speed? What happens if they're stopping for a light and it suddenly goes green, but they're in 5th gear and now slowed to 20 and applying brakes? They're gonna try to open the throttle and stutter their way through, or slam their way down to first. What if they were going faster when the light changed, are they just going to know exactly what gear to move into? What if they need to perform an emergency maneuver? You should be matching your gear to your speed during deceleration. I'm really not a fan of telling someone to shift down all the way once they've actually stopped, that's stupid.

Search youtube, there should be countless videos about this. I'm really disappointed that Learning Curves didn't teach this skill to you better, I've taken their course and it was covered (though I had previous riding experience). Basically, as you're slowing down and you need to downshift, you pull in the clutch and blip the throttle (blip just means quickly twist {open} the throttle for a split second to raise the engine revs, you're not opening the throttle completely), downshift and let the clutch out. It's written step by step but performed smoothly almost as one combined action. The result of this is engine braking. As long as you're not overrevving the engine on the downshift, the engine will be fine - you can't go from the top of 6th gear and downshift into 5th, you need to slow down first. This isn't a replacement for braking, but it's a skill to apply in appropriate situations. You should know how to do it

Look for a copy of Keith Code's Twist of the Wrist DVD, it will teach you a lot of techniques including the one rmemedic mention, learning the blip the throttle for downshifting while applying the proper amount of front brake.

Forum Sponsor