How to properly shift gears on a motorcycle?

shift gears on a motorbike

For shift gears on a motorcycle, you have to disengage with the left lever then lower the selector to switch to first gear and release the clutch. To change to the other gears (2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6), it's the same principle, but you have to move the gear selector up.

Shift gears can be complicated for a beginner motorcyclist. When you know the technique, there is actually nothing complicated.

Whatever the model, the speeds always happen the same way. There are some slight nuances depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

Be careful before hitting the road, be sure to master this aspect which is essential for driving on public roads.

Through this article, we teach you how shift gears on a motorcycle so as not to stall.

How do you shift gears on a 125?

The models of motorcycles are many. Simply, each of them works the same way. shift gear on a moped such a Yamaha DT 50cc and on a large engine like a Yamaha R6 is generally the same.

If you know how to drive a moped, then you can drive anything. Be careful not to be surprised by the difference in power.

Gear shifting on a motorcycle of displacement 125 thus remains identical to the others motorcycles. First gear is always down.

You have to squeeze your clutch, put your foot on the speed selector then you press down.

You will hear a click, this is a sign that the speed went well. It is necessary, at this precise moment, gently and gradually release the clutch lever while starting to move forward.

When to change gear on a motorcycle?

At a certain engine speed, it is necessary engage a new gear or downshift if the engine is under-rev.

The gear change will not necessarily take into account a certain number of turns. The engine speed of a single cylinder and a twin cylinder, for example, is different. It cannot therefore be relied upon.

You can refer to the manufacturer's manual for specific details depending on your model.

The engine speed for pass the reports essentially depends on the rider's handling and his riding style.

  • dynamic and sporty driving: the rider will tend to shift higher in the revs as he seeks to quickly gain speed by opening the throttle fully.
  • eco driving : conversely, by favoring eco-driving on a motorcycle, the gear will be engaged earlier in order to avoid over-consumption of fuel.

How to avoid stalling on a motorcycle?

Stalling on a motorcycle can happen in different situations. It is often by careless mistake that we end up stalling.

An under-revving engine can stall

You do not have downshifted gears according to your pace. Result of the accounts, the motorcycle ended up grazing and stalling.

To avoid this process, simply downshift when your speed decreases.

Some riders do this to save gas. However, beware of the under-diet, it does not allow you to consume less.

Stopping without being in neutral causes the motorcycle to stall

It can happen to forget to return to neutral before stopping. We have all experienced this forward propulsion effect when we release the clutch lever stationary and you forgot to return to neutral, which can also be called neutral.

To avoid this, you will surely have already understood, before releasing the clutch when stationary, you must always reset the gearbox on neutral. You can view the neutral point on the speedometer by means of a green light with the N logo.

How to learn to start a motorcycle?

start a motorcycle can be done in several ways. It depends on the type of motorcycle you have and the options it presents.

Kick start your motorcycle

In most cases, in enduro and 50cc, there is no electric starter. It is therefore necessary to start the motorcycle with the kickstarter.

To do this, you must first remove the kick from its location. Then taking appropriate support, the rider places his foot on the kick, pressing it slightly until you feel compression.

Feeling the compression, you raise your foot to raise the kick. This time, it is necessary to press the kickstarter with a sharp blow. It is possible, in parallel, to accelerate reasonably.

When the motorcycle has a set of keys, you must of course switch on the ignition before kicking. This does not apply for motocross for example, because they do not have a neiman or a key.

S3 Minot shows you in video how to do it:

Start your motorcycle with the electric starter

This is the easiest way to start your motorcycle. You just have to switch on the ignition then press the button of the electric starter and you're done!

When his electric starter is broken, the other methods make it possible to continue to use and thus start his motorcycle.

Start your motorcycle with the stroller

It is also possible to start your motorcycle by pushing it.

For this, you must first engage a gear. In fact, most often it is the second.

Once the gear engaged, disengage and start pushing the motorcycle. Once you have gained enough speed, you release the clutch lever continuing to push it until it starts.

Don't forget to put the ignition on to avoid pushing for nothing.

You can approach the stroller start from another position. A friend can also push you which will allow you to stay seated on the motorcycle and concentrate on the starting process seen above.

Forzer explains the process in the video:

How to succeed in a hill start on a motorcycle?

The hill start can be a concern when starting out. It's the same principle as in a car. You have to remain calm in the face of the situation and keep a good position in order to be fully at ease.

Here are the steps to follow for a successful start in the hills:

  1. Brake so as not to roll back and risk falling
  2. Disengage and shift into first gear
  3. Accelerate while letting go clutch lever and the brake gradually

There is no mystery technique, you just need to master these three steps to easily succeed in your start in odds.

How to pass a report on the fly?

A gear ratio can be passed without using the clutch. Mechanically speaking, it does not damage the engine in any way if done correctly.

To shift into gear, during the acceleration phase, quickly let go of the throttle then shift into gear thanks to the selector without disengaging.

To downshift, on the other hand, you have to let go of the gas slightly to go down a gear.

How not to damage your shoes with the gear selector?

If you don't wear motorcycle boots to drive, you surely don't want to ruin your brand new Nikes.

To do this, there are ways to protect your shoes from speed selector.

There are products to protect his left basketball. This accessory is hooked around the shoe to avoid friction with the selector. Some riders similarly use a sock as a last resort.

protect your shoes from the gear selector

Another trick, you can buy and place around the speed selector a rubber. This also helps to reduce the risk of damaging your shoe.

rubber to protect the selector

Learn how to shift gears on a motorcycle video

Finally, we leave you with the famous youtuber KIKANINAC. In its early days, it designed a tutorial video to help you learn how to shift gears on a motorcycle.

The entire shifting process is extremely well detailed. The motorcycle used in this video is a 50cc Derbi.

Changing gears on a motorbike, is it like in a car?

In principle, pass a gear and downshifting is done in the same way as in a car. On both vehicles, a clutch system is present which is broadly similar.

However, on a motorcycle, there is no gear lever, this is the selector. We do not then pass the speed by hand, but by foot. This is the only difference that needs to be considered.

We hope to have answered your questions. Do not hesitate to use the comment space if this is not the case.

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