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Up shifting question

TOYJ

TOYJ

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I ride a 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250, it's my first bike and I bought it late last August and it was on the road by September so I only rode it for about 4 weeks before storing it for the winter. This year is my first full season of riding and I'm really enjoying it.

My question is shifting from 1st to 2nd while in a turn starting from a stopped position. In my riding course they told us you shouldn't shift gears while in a turn. I find that when I am stopped at red light and I'm waiting to make a left turn I can't complete the turn in 1st gear because the engine is revving so high that I need to shift into 2nd midway through the turn. Is this wrong?

I know the 250 is a smaller engine and naturally revs higher so should I ignore the urge to shift up to second and just complete the turn in first or should I be shifting midway through the turn?
 
TOYJ said:
...it was on the road by September so I only rode it for about 4 weeks before storing it for the winter.
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Winter's not for another three months. What's your hurry?
 
If you can shift smoothly, without the bike jumping when you shift into second, then go for it. That being said, you can rev the heck out of it as well to make it through the turn. It's all about being smooth.
 
I'm not worried about hurting it. It just seems like the engine is whining more than it should given what I am trying to do. Is there any reason you shouldn't up shift in the middle of turning. They probably told us in the course but I don't remember. Is there a downside to doing it?
 
Shifting in intersections is not great even if you're just going straight. The main reason is if something goes wrong with the shift, the middle of the intersection is not the best place to be having that trouble.

Having said that, I usually shift as well :)
 
Jayell said:
Winter's not for another three months. What's your hurry?
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It was my first bike and I wasn't completely comfortable riding yet so I decided to store it in the middle of October. Also, I'm finding my bike is a bit hard to start even now in the morning. I was told it's because my 2008 Ninja is carbed and not FI. Just this morning it took me 3 tries before the engine would stay on and not sputter out. I'm assuming as it gets colder my bike will be even harder to start no?
 
I recall having the same concerns when I had my 250r. If the intersection (left turn) isn't that long of a distance. I would just rev the engine higher as req'd to maintain a safe consistent turn , then shift to second once the lane straightens out. If it was a larger intersection and the turn radius was more gradual , I would shift up as required. The same thinking applied when going through an intersection from a stop. Sometimes I would shift to second prior to the turn. For example if you're the 3rd vehicle waiting to make a left , you may have some time - distance to shift into second just after you start moving and just before you start turning.

The above is just my experience and comfort level when I was riding the 250r and may not necessarily be the best advice for you.
 
You should be able to hit about 50 km/h in first no? I would think that would be enough for most intersections, but shifting in a turn isn't the worst thing if you are smooth.
 
On the 250r I was lucky if was doing 40 km/h at 9000-10000 rpms in 1st. The bike didn't have much left after that. The engine would just get louder and you really weren't going any faster.
 
Okay, thanks for all the input. I'll try to be more aware of what I'm doing in a turn tonight on the way home from work. I notice this is an issue at the intersection of Overlea Blvd and Millwood. The intersection is a "T" because Overlea ends at Millwood and it's an immediate left turn once the light changes. I think as I'm rounding the corner is when I shift to second. I think my concern of the over revving may be a bit exaggerated because I have an aftermarket HMF exhaust which makes it louder.

250R-ICE - Did you have any issues starting your 250 in the mornings when it was cold and damp like it has been the last few days? I've been starting my bike with the choke wide open and letting it idle while I wipe off all the dew and then back it off a little bit at a time when it starts to idle higher.
 
The Ninja 250r's are notorious for running too lean from the factory causing issues during cold starts. Best thing you can do is shim the needles. Do this makes them far more responsive and much easier to start in the cold.
 
matthew said:
If you can shift smoothly, without the bike jumping when you shift into second, then go for it. That being said, you can rev the heck out of it as well to make it through the turn. It's all about being smooth.
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I agree.

A few reasons newer riders may not want to be shifting while turning:

  • keeps the mind focused on the turning, not the shifting
  • can upset the handling of the bike if it is not smooth, possibly causing a traction issue
  • if you blow the shift and hit neutral instead of second, you may dump the clutch and lift the front wheel - not great when heeled over
  • on a tight left you can jam your foot under the shifter

That being said, I up shift on a long sweeping turn.

CafeRay said:
+1, you should only be using first to get moving.
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Hmm, well I'm usually well above 50 kph (often closer to 100kph) before I shift from first. :D
 
I shift in corners all the time, down shift too....

We were taught not to shift during corners due to noobs potential to upset the bike from lack of experience and lack of finesse.

Once you are fluid with your shifts i dont see a problem with it.

regarding shifting through intersections and having "issues"

It wont make your bike stop on the spot....coast through the intersection.

What happened to riding being a "rebellious" sport?

Everyone here wants to go all clinical and down to the last bulletin point in the instructional manual.
 
The concern is that on a left turn everyone will be rushing to get through the light.
If you happen to stall halfway through the turn the vehicles following might give you an unwanted enema.
 
I would (and I did) experiment with shifting in turns, just as anything else on the bike. Maybe not on the 4th week tho.

TOYJ said:
250R-ICE - Did you have any issues starting your 250 in the mornings when it was cold and damp like it has been the last few days? I've been starting my bike with the choke wide open and letting it idle while I wipe off all the dew and then back it off a little bit at a time when it starts to idle higher.
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That's normal and that's exactly how you start it. It's not the way of your bike trying to tell you "don't ride me in this cold(!)".
I rode full-year on my first two seasons, on the Ninja 250. Some days were as cold as -10C. And I NEVER had the bike not starting.
 
I never really had any issues. I would start the bike with the choke fully open , let the bike warm up for 3 mins. Then ease offf on the choke for another minute. I left my idle rmp higher than most - mine was set at 1500 rpm and I found this made my cold morning starts alot easier.




I QUOTE=TOYJ;2083266]Okay, thanks for all the input. I'll try to be more aware of what I'm doing in a turn tonight on the way home from work. I notice this is an issue at the intersection of Overlea Blvd and Millwood. The intersection is a "T" because Overlea ends at Millwood and it's an immediate left turn once the light changes. I think as I'm rounding the corner is when I shift to second. I think my concern of the over revving may be a bit exaggerated because I have an aftermarket HMF exhaust which makes it louder.

250R-ICE - Did you have any issues starting your 250 in the mornings when it was cold and damp like it has been the last few days? I've been starting my bike with the choke wide open and letting it idle while I wipe off all the dew and then back it off a little bit at a time when it starts to idle higher.[/QUOTE]
 
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