New rider and want some Gear Shifting Selecting Tips?

2012 EDIT/UPDATE: After 2 years of practice and riding my shifting is closer what it should be. I don't quite shift at redline but I do hit around 8k. I also "cruise" at 6.5k as the bike was built to run (regardless of gear/speed other than 1st and heavy stop and go traffic). My original comments are still a good starting point for NEW riders or somone who has never owned a high RPM 4 inline bike.

In response to a recent question and some of my own shortly after taking the MSF riding coarse and practicing on my first ride:

NOTE: Refer to your owners manual for ride specific tips and/or watch/listen to your RPMS.

1st gear is a start up gear not a crusing gear. (However if you or someone you know has a Rebel 250 that statement might not be 100% true LOL - But I have a 750...)

You shift into 2nd gear around 12 mph and/or shortly after you get going and are stable.

I'm no expert and still a new rider but this is my normal shifting pattern (while aiming for 4-5 k crusing rpm - which is normal for our XJs):

1st 0-12 or very short distances - ie 1/2 blocks between stop signs, parking lots, uturns, etc.
2nd 12-30 in town
3rd 30-45 slower country roads
4th 45-55 slower highways
5th over 55 - my local limit is 65 mph

This is how I'm currently riding and shifting my FIRST season and before a proper carb job. I mostly go by what feels good, 5k rpm and the speed limits I deal with: 20-35, 45, 55 & 65 mph. (I'm no speeder but I do have a lead foot and quick wrist :twisted: )

Being in the city you'll (legally) be using 1-3 mostly, probably 3rd based on limit and rpms.

 

Just want to throw in that 1st gear works much better for my bike on tough slopes than the other ones. Might be that the PO tuned the bike for more low-end pull, and this may be gone now that the carbs are redone. I just haven't been able to ride now that the covers are at the paint shop.

 

A couple pointers - -
If you have the throttle and clutch cables adjusted just right, then load some pressure with your toe on the shifter before the shift, then the quick act of letting off the gas and half-clutching can produce very fast and smooth shifts.

If you are in slow, stop-and-go traffic, you can set off in 1st, get some speed up in 2nd, then double-shift to 4th. Or go from 1st to 3rd depending on traffic speed. (shift fully and completely or you could find a false neutral)

A mod for easier clutching - - add 10MM to the clutch arm (using a welder)
Gives about 30% less clutch effort. And a larger engagement "zone".

 

The BEST advice you can give regarding Shifting is:

Don't LUG the Engine.
Keep the rpm's up and the Engine not working hard against the load.

Lube the Clutch Cable.
Keep the Cable taunt without any Free Play. (Zero Lash).
Get the WHOLE Throw of the Throw-out Arm and the Shifting will be smoother and less likely to "Clunk" into gear.

 

Heck, I'll throw in too. Try not to cruise in traffic with too low an RPM even though it feels and sounds nice. You might need a quick burst of speed to get out of some idiots way and not having to downshift first makes a big difference.

 

Ride the bike you willkinda learn by feel and such when you need to shift. It maybe dangerous to watch the tach and speedo insted of traffic.

 

Once you start adding-up some miles ... you won't even have ti think about a shifting. You'll just be doing it and getting better every ride.

Pretty soon, ...you'll know the Bike and start "Matching-revolutions" making down-shifts as you power through a cloverleaf, leaving one highway and picking-up the next.

You up and down for passing and getting-up grades.
Drop down and wrist for putting-on power to blow by slower traffic.

Then, you'll become one with the Bike and rip through the gears with the Throttle wide open, ... taking the Tach all the way over to the Danger Zone to display how nicely YAMAHA looks on the back of your bike, to the guy next to you, on his Honda, at the red light.

 

Hey Timetoride, I can't quite get my head around that mod... Yes it will lighten the lever, but wouldn't it shorten the travel of the clutch arm and therefore not release the clutch as much? i.e. a smaller engagement "zone

 

And Rick... lay off the Honda riders, we all have to start somewhere, How would we know how good Yams are if we didn't try the more inferior machines? sometimes we have to start from the bottom :wink:

 

After a summer/fall of riding I shift a little differently, but I still follow my general rule of gear vs. speed range.

Only now i might stay in a lower gear for longer depending on traffic or how long I expect to be at a borderline speed.

Riding in 2nd gear at 30-35mph in town is loud (more so with my faring now installed) but the engine was designed for higher revs and sometimes traffic and frequent stops makes 3rd gear impractical.

I'm sure I'll get better and change my habits but my rule of thumb should help new riders on our high rev XJs.

 

I love cruising in town doing 60km/h in top gear. But i may try to stay outta 5th in town after i get the exhaust patched up (was fairly loud).

 

Awesome thread Bob, great advice for new riders. The XJ is my 3rd bike and my other 2 were inline-4s so it's not much new to me. I can barely imagine those poor guys riding twins with such a low redline :lol: .

 

Great write up !!! Thanks!!!