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How to change gear on a motorcycle
How to change gear on a motorcycle
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How to change gear on a motorcycle
In the world of four-wheeled vehicles, automatic transmissions are the norm.
When it comes to the world of two-wheeled motorcycles, however, shifting gears is usually up to you. (Unless you're on a scooter, an electric motorcycle, or one of the many Honda models equipped with a DCT.)
And while shifting can be a hurdle for new drivers, doing it well requires just a little coordination between the clutch hand and gear shift foot on the left and the throttle hand on the right.
This article aims to provide information for various levels of riders, from complete beginners to more experienced riders looking to learn advanced "clutchless" techniques. So browse the subheadings until you see something you like, then dive in.
The Basics: How to Shift Gears on a Motorcycle
If you are a completely new cyclist, here are the basic steps of proper gear shifting technique.
From a stop
- With the engine running and the throttle closed, pull the clutch all the way in with your left hand.
- Shift into first gear with your left foot. You should hear and feel the transmission click into gear.
- Slowly release the clutch with your left hand while simultaneously (but gently) opening the throttle with your right hand until the motorcycle begins to roll forward.
- As you continue to open the throttle with your right hand and the bike picks up speed, gradually and fully release the clutch with your left hand. You're coming!
Upshifting while moving
- Pull the throttle closed with your right hand.
- Pull the clutch lever with your left hand.
- Shift to the next higher gear with your left foot. As before, you should feel the transmission click into gear. If you release the clutch and the bike doesn't move forward, you're in neutral between first and second gear. Pull in the clutch and shift again.
- Slowly release the clutch with your left hand while reopening the throttle with your right hand.
Shifting down while moving
- Pull the throttle closed with your right hand.
- Pull the clutch lever with your left hand.
- Shift down to the next lower gear with your left foot.
- Slowly release the clutch lever with your left hand. If you're downshifting for a hill or to allow for quicker acceleration, open the throttle as you release the clutch. However, if you're downshifting in preparation for stopping, you only need to apply enough throttle to match the engine rpm to your road speed so that the bike slows smoothly.
At first, coordinating these actions will require deliberate thought and may seem a bit awkward, and cyclists are often overzealous with their movements. Remember that throttle control comes only from the wrist (and not the entire arm) and that shifting actions should be performed with a quick, deliberate push from the foot.
Rest assured that with practice all these movements will become more fluid, and over time the movement will become so natural that you won't even think about it.
Refine your understanding and technique
If those shifting CliffsNotes weren't enough for you, let's dive a little deeper and better understand the mechanics of shifting so we can do it more efficiently.
To propel a motorcycle down the road, power is sent from the crankshaft to the transmission, then to the final drive (which can be a chain and sprockets, belt and pulleys, or shaft), and finally to the rear wheel. Between the crankshaft and the transmission is the clutch, which acts as a progressive coupling device between the two.
When we talk about shifting gears, the term is appropriate because we're changing the pair of gears through which power flows. When the motorcycle accelerates on the accelerator or decelerates due to engine braking, there's a load on the gear faces. This load must be relieved for the gears to change position.
This is where the clutch comes in. By pulling the clutch lever, you disengage the crankshaft from the transmission, thus unloading the transmission so the gears can move to the next position. The crankshaft and transmission are fully engaged when the clutch lever is out, and progress to full disengagement when the lever is fully pulled in.
You'll have to fully disengage the clutch to shift from neutral or to stop while in first gear, but once you're rolling you can actually shift gears without pulling the clutch lever all the way in.
"Flying" the clutch is a term we use to describe quickly and partially pulling the lever to momentarily release the transmission so you can upshift or downshift. It's an important technique, as it allows for quicker and smoother shifts.
And, apparently, there's a way to shift even faster, without using the clutch at all.
Clutchless transmission
You know how we said the clutch disengages the crankshaft from the transmission to unload the gears and allow them to shift? Well, the same unloading effect can be achieved by briefly and quickly applying the throttle and then re-applying it.
At that instant after you press the accelerator, the transmission is unloaded. If you time your gear shift to coincide with that momentary unload, the bike can be downshifted. No clutch required.
To get a feel for the timing, it can be helpful to gently preload the transmission with the ball of your foot. This way, as soon as you press the accelerator, the gear lever lifts and the gears change. Over time, you'll be able to coordinate the movements of the accelerator and transmission to perform smooth gear changes without using the clutch. This is the fastest way to upshift, both in terms of gear changes and road speed.
There's also clutchless downshifting, but it requires even more precision and finesse and offers no real performance advantage. It's fun, though, and a good skill to have in case you break your clutch lever or cable during a ride.
To downshift without a clutch, you'll need to use a technique called "blipping" the throttle, which is when you decelerate with the throttle closed, but very quickly open the throttle partially to unload the transmission and allow for a gear change. As with clutchless shifts, you're timing your shift with that momentary window of peak revs and low transmission torque.
Clutchless downshifting works best when you're braking on the brakes, as it helps match the engine rpm to the road speed. However, this means pressing the accelerator while squeezing the front brake lever, which can be a tricky combination to master.
Furthermore, part of the fun and satisfaction of riding a motorcycle lies in perfecting the many techniques required to operate it. Hopefully, after reading this article, you'll be better equipped to tackle the task of shifting gears on a motorcycle, regardless of your current skill level.
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