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Shifting while stopped

4.3K views 29 replies 25 participants last post by  goddsmack  
#1 ·
I've noticed on my K7 GSXR600 that it's hard to shift under the following scenario: If I stop with the clutch held and then try to downshift to neutral from 3rd 4th 5th or 6th the bike won't shift most of the time. I either have to roll forward or let out on the clutch a little. I THINK this is normal, however, this is my first sportbike. Sorry for the stupid question.
 
#5 ·
Coasting to a stop in a high gear is a BAD habit, What are you going to do if you are about stopped in 5th gear at a light ...and then a car behind you hammers on the brakes and comes sliding towards you. Good luck trying to grab the right gear in a panic, Its better to be in the gear to get you out of a situation
 
#11 ·
what everybody said above, as your slowing down you want to down shift and click all the way down to first gear/neutral whatever your preference is, i like to be in first at a light
 
#12 ·
yezzirr.. you never know what's coming up behind you- like everyone said- definitely downshift while slowing- not only does it get you in the right gear at a light, but you remain in better control of the bike while slowing, should you need to suddenly accellerate before you stop, or anything else unexpected. bottom line, you don't know what can happen, so arm yourself as best you can.
 
#13 ·
Hey thanks guys. I knew I could ask this stupid question here without being beat up. I do in fact downshift while rolling, but there has been a few times where I just coasted to a stop with the clutch in.

Thanks guys
 
#15 ·
I couldn't agree more with most of the people here. When coming to a light I will hold the clutch in but shift down to the gear that I want. I won't coast for more than 50 feet and always keep an eye on the mirrors. I used to have the habit of hitting nuetral and coasting but every once in a while you will be right at the point of dropping your feet when the light changes and the cars in front of you move and you have to shift to take off. If there are a few cars behind me at a light I will put the bike in nuetral but that's only if I believe the light is going to be red for a while. A couple of buddies get pissed at me because I will stop 6-8 feet behind the white line when there are no cars following. Once the explanation is given that room to take off and safely avoid cross traffic is explained they don't think it's so crazy any more.
 
#16 ·
What's the max speed you shouldn't downshift into 1st.

I've noticed a few times when down shifting there's a nice clunk when the bike goes from 2nd into 1st.

Is this normal? I thought maybe I'm downshifting into 1st while I'm going too fast (15-25 mph.)
 
#20 ·
I hold the clutch in while coasting but shift to the proper gear for the speed so when the up coming traffic starts to move again or the light turns green I don't have to do any gear changes. If it's just a stopsign I will shift all the way down to first when I am about 25 yards from it.
 
#22 ·
just like everyone else has been saying, theres no reason why u shouldnt be down shifting while your slowing down/stopping. when im stopping for a light or a stop sign i down shift to slow the bike down along with my brakes. its a good habit to get into because itll let you stop a lot quicker and it will also give you quick exceleration if you need to get out of there quickly beauce ull already be in the right gear
 
#24 ·
Not me my bike stays in 6th gear all the time. When I stop I just ride the clutch and take off in 6th so I never have to shift and can go really fast. No seruiously though I do as everyone else says I downshift on the way to the stoplight and try to hit first gear when I am about 15 yards from my stopping point. I will hit neutral if I am going to be sitting at the light for a while but I tend to just keep it in gear all the time.
 
#25 ·
I agree about it being bad to come to a stop ona high gear.....used to do it a lot until i looked like an idiot once..i always use to have the habit of coming to a red light at whatever gear I was in and then downshifting..well one day there was this dime piece next to me and we were coming to a red light..she was breaking her neck at me and I wanted to pull up next to her and see whats up...anyways when we got to the red light i was in a high gear and the light switched to green all of a sudden..i musta looked like a squid freaking trying to get in gear and almost loosing my balance..lol...and dont act like that has never haoppened to any of you
 
#26 ·
If you downshift when stopping alot of times you dont really even need your brakes until you are ready to stop completely. Always downshift and get in the habit cause if your out tearin up some curves and come in to hot and in top gear you have alot smaller chance of saving it than if you are already downshifting. You should use that extra stopping power to your advantage AND save some brakes. Plus, those of you with 06 and 07's have you ever tried downshifting real fast more than one at a time? Well, it doesnt work so well that shit gets all jammed up and jacked up. Same on the 06 600 and 07 750. Anyway, to wrap this up, Be Carefull and Ride Safe....:thumbup:
 
#27 ·
I learned to downshift as I'm coming to a stop from my old bike. But still like today, I downshifted to about neutral and coasted a few feet and stopped at a light. Then held the brake. Then when i noticed the light about to turn green, I stepped on the shifter and damn thing would not shift to freakin first gear and stayed in neutral. Tried it again and didn't work, so I just tried to shift to 1st without the clutch held in and sure enough the bike did go first (I outta thank it for making me look like a fool, especially when there are chicks nearby...:headshake). It does it to me alot and what I've noticed is basically it happens if I roll somewhat backwards in neutral (I was on slightly a hill) or i coast and not let out the clutch in neutral before I stop. You just essentially have to be moving forward, no matter what. That's the only bad thing about this bike or apparently other bikes, judging by what you guys are telling me. I mean the damn syrnchos should be able to line up with the gear and allow you to shift just like a car...but noooo....lol.
 
#28 ·
I was braking really hard when I car pulled out in front of me, and came to a complete stop in 6th gear on the shoulder, and had an extremely hard time getting it back to first. I asked my friend what it was all about, and he said to blip the throttle to add a little load so it will shift.

I downshift as I'm slowing down and use it to slow down with the brakes... Agree of course as well, better to remain in gear in case you have to get out of the way in a hurry.