“My motorcycle shifts rough between first and second gear.” I read a lot of blogs and forums and this is a fairly common concern. Learning to ride motorcycles correctly can be a life long pursuit. I thought I would post a quick article for people who are concerned about their motorcycles rough shifting and provide a solution that has worked for me. Maybe some guy frustrated by his rough shifting motorcycle will find this on Google and have a more enjoyable ride by mastering his finicky motorcycle transmission.
A lot of motorcycles have a rough shift going in to first gear. It is very typical for a motorcycle to have a thump sound and maybe even a slight lunge forward when shifting in to first gear. Some motorcycles are even a little rough shifting in to second gear once you are under way. What is frustrating to some riders is that it does not shift rough every time but just on occasion or every few shifts. More than one rider has wondered if something is wrong with their motorcycle's transmission.
Here is a solution that has worked for me to get a consistently smooth shifting motorcycle.
Next time you are out on a ride try this: pre-load your shifter before shifting in to second gear. What do I mean by preload your shifter? It's simple, while in first gear and rolling along, start to apply upper pressure with your toe on the gear shift before pulling in the clutch. Not enough pressure to cause the bike to shift but just enough so that you can feel the gear lever through your shoe. If you apply pressure like this before pulling in the clutch your bike should shift to second as smooth as butter when you pull the clutch and roll off the throttle.
Try this next time you are out for a ride. With a little practice this becomes second nature and you can enjoy consistently smooth shifts as you cruise down the road.
Want more tips to ride better with more control? You Got it!
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