Estimated reading time: 2 minutes 50 seconds
Motorcycle riding is all about being in the right gear, at the right speed, at the right time. Gear-shifting involves upshifting (going up the gears) and downshifting (going down the gears) in response to changing speeds and road conditions. Mastering gear-shifting is easy, once you know how.
NOTE: Down-shifting at high speeds, if done improperly, can be harmful for the clutch and gearbox (transmission) of the motorcycle.
Getting the motorcycle in motion and up-shifting
1) Start the bike:
a) Ensure that the bike is in Neutral.
b) If it’s not in Neutral, pull in the clutch lever and then start the bike. (Keep it pulled until the gearbox is put into Neutral or the bike is set in motion. Leaving the clutch lever suddenly will stall the bike)
2) Pull in the clutch lever completely.
3) Select 1st Gear.
4) Now, to get moving:
a) Let out the clutch lever till friction point.
b) Add a little throttle.
c) Now, let out the clutch lever completely to allow for full clutch engagement – full power transfer to the rear wheel, while rolling progressively on the throttle. 5) Get moving and build speed. (roll on the throttle progressively)
6) Now it will be required to shift to 2nd Gear.
7) To up-shift to 2nd Gear: a) Leave the throttle completely (all the way back). b) Almost simultaneously pull in the clutch lever completely. c) Select 2nd Gear. d) Let out the clutch lever gradually (but not as gradually as at the time of 1st Gear)while adding throttle as needed.
8) Repeat the same process for each up-shift.
NOTE: Motorcycle gear shifting is a quick process. All of the above happens quickly. It should be practiced till it becomes habitual.
Take a look at this video:
METHOD I: This method makes use of the brakes to first slow down to a speed suited to the lower gear, then downshifting is done.
1) Leave the throttle completely (all the way back).
2) Pull in the clutch lever completely.
3) Slow down suitably (using both the brakes) to a speed which is appropriate for the lower gear. Bikes are precise machines, each engine RPM and gear combination will lead to an exact speed.
NOTE: 2 (clutch lever pulling) and 3 (slowing down suitably) can be done before/after each other or simultaneously as well. If the speed does NOT drop too low for the required gear such that it needs clutch lever pulling to prevent engine stall, slowing down can be done before pulling in the clutch lever. Else, slowing down can be done after the clutch lever has been pulled in.
4) Then, select the lower gear.
5) Gradually let out the clutch lever, completely.
6) Now add throttle as needed and continue riding in the lower gear.
METHOD II: This method makes use of the throttle during the down-shifting interval to rev-match the engine and wheel speed, before downshifting. The goal of rev-matching is to get the engine running at a speed which will be suitable for the lower gear – quicker method but needs more practice.
1) Leave the throttle completely (all the way back).
2) Pull in the clutch lever completely.
3) Select the lower gear.
4) Add a quick short blip of the throttle. (Quickly add a little throttle and then leave it completely – all the way back).
5) Soon after, let out the clutch lever quickly. Note that the more there is a delay in letting out the clutch lever, the more the engine RPM/speed will drop during this interval, which is undesirable in this technique.
6) The lower gear has been selected, continue riding in the lower gear by adding throttle as needed.
