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normally ill down shift once and start applying the brakes personally...i want people to see the big bright red lights when im slowing down.....makes me feel safer and with all the distractions in todays world...i do the same thing with my Manual car
This is probably the best video I've watched on this subject! I've been watching 100s of videos trying to find exact proper ways to gear change, stop and clutch control for beginners. And this is by far the most instructional video. Thanx Petro!
these new gen 1100’s push 205whp with exhaust and tune and an additional 23HP with exhaust and tune isn’t exaggerating. 240 -15% = 205 whp (stock 217hp)
@@PetroHeadwith a Grabro tune they will do about 220Hp to the crank and about 205WHp. If you get a stage 3 tune with velocity stack, air filter etc etc you will get a bit more.
Genuinely the best video on gear shifting out there. I swear the videos on how to ride spent so long on friction zone then just gloss over gear shifting. Thanks so much ❤
That’s pretty standard for super bikes. My first gen cbr1000rr does the same and it’s about to have its 20th birthday. Can break every speed limit in the US without ever leaving first gear haha
@@PetroHead stock gearing is 83 for first. You think it can’t hit rev limiter in the easiest gear cause of its age? lol wut. Ohhh I see the confusion. I said first gen 1000rr meaning the first proper 1000rr, the sc57. Which is the 7th gen fireblade.
My little CBR300r gives it everything just to cruise at 80 (hwy speed where I live). It's a ton of fun in the corners but I'm super ready to have more top end power.
Omg this was so helpful! I am a new rider and have learned all of the basics but was having trouble putting them all together to actually be in traffic situations. Thanks so much.
Great detail video. Learn quite a bit more about the transmission of the bike. It sounds like a transmission of a car so i should be good with that. Thank for it PetroHead!
Out of the thousands of videos online this was the first one that I actually commented on regarding motorcycles. As a new 500 ninja rider myself I thought it was like a car that you come to a stop in neutral that you do not go into first gear if you're rolling. Thanks for the information. Stay safe
i am saving up for a bike and i am planning on taking a class next year in spring. i’ve been watching a lot of videos trying to get as much info as i can. a lot of videos show how to ride and stuff and what everything does but i realized i didn’t know when to shift gears and how it all goes together and this video helped me sooooo much with understanding it. thank you!!!
cant tell you how much i appreciate and been needing a video like this I got a Honda Cb400SF Version S haven't driven it much because i was worried i wasnt going to be to maneuver and manage gears in traffic like my semi auto.
Must be nice. Here in the U.S. all you got to do is pass a written test and then a driving one including quick stops, swerving cones, u-turns, and counter steering
I still have a doubt should we wait till the rpm indicator blink or can we shift gear according to the speed we want . In Which way we get great performance and mileage.
Thank you for making this video. I'm the one who requested it. I'm still not clear on slowing down. Am I hitting brakes first then shifting down, or shifting down and then hitting brakes, or both at the same time? Thank you for coming back to your channel.
There are 2 answers to that question. 1) IF emergency stopping, forget everything about shifting and doesnt matter what gear youre on, pull the clutch in and apply 50/50 pressure to both back brake and front brake. Make sure you use BOTH brakes, and at the same time and dont jam on them or youll wreck yourself. And 2) For controlled ,everyday proper way of stopping, you SHOULD always downshift first, as downshifting on its own will start to slow you down. Obviously you have to close the throttle a little and everytime you downshift and then try to rev match (open again the throttle a little to match the lower gear's "higher" rpm). And so you need to downshift till you get to 1st and 1st will give you so much stopping torque that it feels natural but you can also stay at 2nd and then just pull in clutch and then brake to a complete stop, THEN you can go to first once stopped. But under normal conditions you should always downshift to 1st ideally and all of this engine braking caused by downshifting, can be further exemplified by applying lightly the brakes too as your down shifting for a quicker stop. But for example when you have impatient cars behind you tailgaiting you and you all come to a stop, I would view that as an emergency stop and you can just hold in clutch and start braking. Sorry for so long of a message but remember that if you use engine braking aka downshifting, always tap the brakes very lightly so that your tail light goes on and cars behind you can see you. VERY important.
@@ahmedawad563 No prob bro. I like to keep myself reminded of these things as i just started riding again after a 12 yr hiatus and i want to become an instructor.
@@carlcarlssen4299 I wish you the best of luck. You wrote a detailed answer that a complete beginner like myself could understand and apply in the real world, without actually seeing you do it, which says something about your teaching skills.
I have enjoyed every bit of this video. So far the best video I have watched on shifting gears. Very helpful. Can you do a video on shifting gears on hilly and sloppy surfaces?
Wow, I never knew the purpose of the clutch, and how we should use it properly. I don't think you had a chance to advertise how a monster your bike is😂
1) Shifting doesn't have a singular formula suitable for all cases. You can shift earlier and keep the revs low when travelling on a highway and let the engine take it easy while you WILL have to keep the revs higher when eating through mountain twisties to make use of engine braking. 2) Engine braking and Shift braking are NOT the same thing!!! Get this well: engine braking is when you close the throttle and the bike slows down naturally because there's no more power at the rear wheel. Shift braking is you downshifting, getting the revs high and -hopefully- closing the throttle. You MUST use engine braking and MUSTN'T use shift braking under any circumstances. 3) Each bike has a unique rev-range that provides the peak torque. Know your bike, read the manual. For my bike it's around 6400-6500 rpm. So for me, shifting sometime between 5500 and 7500 rpm would be good as a rule of thumb. Everything changes in rain/frost/dusty conditions. You should avoid revving high in those conditions to avoid slipping even if your bike has traction control. Never depend on technology to correct your poor riding choices. 4) When downshifting from high gear to the first, you can either do incremental or block downshift. For faster stops, block downshifting may work better while for when you have days to stop, incremental downshifting may be the better option. Either is okay in either case though. So, there's no cut and dried answer for "when should I shift". It depends...
I'm on my first ever bike, and the manual happened to tell me when to shift. It's an Indian Chief Bobber, and the instructions say: 1st - up to 15 mph 2nd - up to 25 mph 3rd - up to 35 mph 4th - up to 45 mph 5th - up to 50 mph 6th - >50 mph As a beginner rider, I was relieved to have the instructions tell me when to shift. Check your manual, it may tell you best practices for shift points. Every bike is different.
Two Questions from a basic rider learning: 1.) You demoed a coupled of times that we don't technically need to drop to 1st gear, could we technically do that quite a bit? 2.) What damage could be done if one was to learn to do that all the time?
Which one would you prefer as a beginner? Slowly shift down to first gear or would it be okay to go full stop, then go to first gear? Wouldnt there be a long term issue with the engine/transmission with the latter?
If you're coming to a stop, shift down into first gear and just before 1st gear becomes sluggish, pull the clutch to disengage the transmission and come to a gradual stop. (but never pull clutch to disengage transmission without using brakes otherwise, your bike will run away)
@PetroHead Absolutely....... You will experience engine braking as you come down through the gears while braking and that's natural. Just don't kick down from high revs as you'll lock up the back wheel or worse...... Riding a Varadero 125 downhill doing around 60mph coming into a sharp bend and kicked down from fifth to fourth braking hard with a view to hitting third on the way out. Loud bang and rear wheel locked up as I snapped a rocker arm. Turned out I was actually in fourth gear which would have been redlining it and kicked into third!!!
@PetroHead hey, i have a question, how were you able to shift to low gear w/o squeezing or using the clutch? sorry, new to this kind of bikes. just wanna know.
@@PetroHead bro I'm looking at these comments of people generally curious and asking questions and your responses are rude asf u need to fix your attitude bro straight up
I respond appropriately. I genuinely make videos to help people and 99% of the comments speak for themselves but hey, if you want to be specific about something, go ahead and email me and we can discuss. I do like feedback.
Can you explain when to shift down when your making a turn like around a sharp corner but your not coming to a stop? Should I just downshift as I slow down for the turn and then stay in first/second until I can speed up again? I’m just afraid I’m going to stall on a turn but it seems weird to have to go all the way down to first everytime I turn (but I’m also on a 300 so I’m doing a lot more shifting, my 1st gear goes to like 15mph lol)
This is what i need. just bought my first bike. imma gonna start with the KTM Duke 200. soon after i master the basics, time to switch to higher CC. Thanks to this.
THIS is what I’ve been looking for. When coming to a stop, should I hold down the clutch together with my brakes as I come to a stop in 1st gear ? Or should I come to a stop completely and then pull in the clutch ? That’s been confusing me
As a new rider, when I approach a corner I downshift , and before turning the bike I keep it in the friction zone for a slow maneuver. Is it advisable?
Thank you for this video. I’m gonna watch it a few times before I go thru my neighborhood. Are you supposed to hold the clutch wen going around curves or turns slowly I’m scared I’m going to kill it making turns in my neighborhood
I have Rsv4 2018 model, Holding the clutch while red light is for 120 seconds makes my hand paining, shifting in N is what is do most of the time in dead traffic or Red light
Thank you so much... can i ask about the safest appropriate rpm for cruising 200 miles long distance , and how many miles can i nonstop trip before turning the engine off on 650cc twin cylinder Kawasaki versys 650cc.... no quick shift option for this bike only slipper clutch...
Thanks for the video. I been looking for something like this for weeks lol My concern is stalling my bike while making right/left turns if stayed in 2nd or 3rd gear. I do understand that i must dowshift but just incase i miss it. I have made turns in 2nd for the most part and havent had any issues but wanted some peace of mind!! Great video man!
Does starting from 3rd gear not hurt the bike? Also can you downshift while you are stopped at the stop sign before continuing thru it? Thank you for the video man!
Who knows.. at a traffic light it’s more important to get going than to worry about hurting the engine. My guess is no it won’t hurt anything. It’s not like you’re doing this for fun.. you forgot to shift down cuz you’re still Learning. Second question.. yes but do it on your approach before the stop so you’re ready to take off once again.
Love how excited you are about the bike. I think you mentioned it does 92 in first gear...every time you put it into first lol. Beautiful bike congrats! Ride safe. :)
I have a question and I hope I can explain it the right way... (Scenario), you get it at 6 th gear.. you need a lil more torque... So you squeeze the clutch and step down to go faster.. ok coo from that point.. to slow down and shift gears down.. do you squeeze the clutch and step down to on the brake.. but if you step down to make it go faster... How do make it down shift..again?
Hey Petro Head !! I have a Question … How would you Prepare and Pack for a 10hr ( solo ) trip on your Motorcycle … What are some of the things you would have to consider for a safe trip ??? What’s the best time to Leave Out….Early Morning or Mid Afternoon Say From Nashville Tn to Panama Beach FL What Route would YOU take if you took that trip ??
Hi sir, i was wondering if you could make a vid on how to start quickly. Because i recently started riding and i always start extremely slow. Also, how did you change gears without using your clutch, gas? 1 more thing ahah, when you stop for a traficlight in 3rd gear, cant you just shift down to first gear while standing still or will that ruin your motorcycle? Thanks in advance
@@PetroHead when you stopped at a red light, and it went green, ur bike went fast from the get go. so im wondering on how you did that. sorry if my english is bad, i dont speak it often
Maybe I'm that much of a noob, but how were you downshifting without your hand on the clutch when you had your hands on the tank? Or is that the point? It's forcing the engine to run lower and cause "engine braking"?
Don’t get bitter. I’ve helped millions of people become better and safer riders. If you paid attention, at 00:37 you can find the answer.. maybe 3rd time is a charm..☺️
Just new to biking - due to take my CBT here in England next week and I'm confused. At the very beginning of the video, how the hell did you change up to, and then down from third gear without engaging the clutch ??
Just got a new Kawi Z500 SE, andI love it, but I feel like the gear shift indicator flashes really early. It feels like the bike wants to be in sixth gear by the time I hit 50 mph. Do you know why this might be happening? I'm a new rider so I have no idea haha
Don’t really on the technology of the bike. Learn to listen to it and when you should shift. Higher rpm’s always mean to shift. Check out the owners manual, it’ll give you an idea on when to shift at what mphs
I have not ridden a bike but I am thinking about it. I can drive manual in a car. I don’t understand how you can slow down and downshift without pulling the clutch. I literally saw you slow down from 4th to 1st without pulling the clutch. In a car you need to pull the clutch to downshift but in a motorcycle you can downshift without engaging the clutch?? Edit: sorry I see you said you have a special type of shifter.
if i don't make it to 1st before im completely stopped can i not just down shift right there while stopped? or are you performing high gear takeoffs to teach how to do it?
@@HoldenEsck Problem is sometimes you'll find the gear change really clunky trying to come down from fourth to first when stopped. Guaranteed to need first gear when still in third with lights turning green.
most of your braking in traffic and at lights is downshifting and engine braking, and lightly hold your brakes so your brake light comes on. Usually when I'm 20-30 ft from the stopped car in front of me I pull the clutch in and just use the brakes for the final bit, and I'm in 2nd here and go to 1st as I pull the clutch in and roll while braking. I do it the same way MSF teaches the emergency stop, just without squeezing the shit out of the brakes. Engine brake down to 2nd (while making sure you're triggering your brake light), then all four limbs are using their levers to the stop. But yeah you can shift down to 1st while your stopped, but really you shouldn't be higher than 2nd by the time you stop. Engine braking does the majority of the work
Does the autoblipper work so well that if you tap your foot quick enough your gear indicator reads like you skipped a gear? At like 10:15, you go down to 4th from 6th & 5th is never seen. It looks like an h pattern shift, but bikes have sequential boxes. Basically I’m asking is the autoblipper just that good & sensitive to your inputs or have you figured telepathy with your bike & you just think of a gear & a single input from your foot puts it in the desired gear?🤣
What's your opinion on the aprilia? I really want one but I know everyone talks maintenance cost and reliability issues. Have you had any issues with your bike and would you recommend it ?
Finally! This was what I was looking for. I tried to look up videos about this topic a few months ago, and a real life example of which gear to use and when, I managed to find just one, and it was a decade old video. Googling just gave the theoretical answer of 1st gear = 0 to 15, 2nd gear 15 to 30, etc. Could barely find a practical, real-world example Can you make a video with this same format on which gear is best for going uphill or downhill? Thank you.
The google answer is true for cars that have lower torque and are more susceptible to stalling in the wrong gear. Uphill will require more torque so lower the gear depending on how steep you have to climb (more steep climb = lower gear) and downhill you will have gravity accellerating your descent even if you are zero throttle, so again you may want to downshift to get some engine braking against gravity to keep your speed in check.
Hello, great video!! I just started taking my driving lessons in HK. Just wondering why you don't need to press your clutch when downshifting? Is it depends on the bike?
So you don’t need to pull the clutch in to slow down in gears? Just some foot break and kick it down? Confused me a little when you didn’t pull it in. Awesome video though👍🏼
First gear needs the clutch to engage, all the other gears can shift without using the clutch. Some bikes have quick up/dn and others only have up. When you clutch less shift, the QS momentarily cuts power to the engine to shift smoothly into gear.
@@PetroHead Absolutely........ Or you can kill the throttle and kick up in the same millisecond for upshifts which also cuts power to the engine. (Needs must, four days with broken clutch cable on Suzuki GS850G! )
I just took my MSF course, purchased my first bike & I’ve been watching many videos on UA-cam. I watched one video where the guy said if you’re a “good” rider you’d always take off in 2nd. I was so confused 😭
Holly god someone didn’t skip the first 28s of the video!! Can you tell all the low IQ people who commented about how I shifted without using the clutch? Lol
🚀 Ready to take your motorcycle skills to the next level? Download my FREE 120-page 'Motorcycle Mastery' ebook and start riding with confidence TODAY! Click here to grab your copy: www.motorcyclemastery.com
This was a highly requested video.. Hope you find it helpful. Any other requests?
I don’t recommend using engine braking as you slow/stop, UNLESS you employ some rear or front brake to show your brake light.
Why? People do it with their cars all the time.
normally ill down shift once and start applying the brakes personally...i want people to see the big bright red lights when im slowing down.....makes me feel safer and with all the distractions in todays world...i do the same thing with my Manual car
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
This is probably the best video I've watched on this subject! I've been watching 100s of videos trying to find exact proper ways to gear change, stop and clutch control for beginners. And this is by far the most instructional video. Thanx Petro!
Glad it helped!
Was just going to say this puts me a bit at ease about venturing out to my first gas stop
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
Honestly this was THEEE best video describing real world events with shifting or down shifting I have ever seen!
240hp? I thought they had 217 at the crank and 190ish at the rear wheel. You should do a Dyno video of that beast. That would be an awesome video
Did I say WHP? It’s tuned.
@@PetroHead Yeah. I get it. 240? Maybe a bit farfetched. I don't think a tune gets you from 217 to 240. Still a cool bike and awesome sound.
these new gen 1100’s push 205whp with exhaust and tune and an additional 23HP with exhaust and tune isn’t exaggerating. 240 -15% = 205 whp (stock 217hp)
That's a fact for sure
@@PetroHeadwith a Grabro tune they will do about 220Hp to the crank and about 205WHp. If you get a stage 3 tune with velocity stack, air filter etc etc you will get a bit more.
Genuinely the best video on gear shifting out there. I swear the videos on how to ride spent so long on friction zone then just gloss over gear shifting. Thanks so much ❤
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
1st gear does 90 holy shit
That’s what I said! Damn
That’s pretty standard for super bikes. My first gen cbr1000rr does the same and it’s about to have its 20th birthday. Can break every speed limit in the US without ever leaving first gear haha
Your first gen will do about 78 mph in first. Even less now considering how much HP it’s prob lost because of age.
@@PetroHead stock gearing is 83 for first. You think it can’t hit rev limiter in the easiest gear cause of its age? lol wut.
Ohhh I see the confusion. I said first gen 1000rr meaning the first proper 1000rr, the sc57. Which is the 7th gen fireblade.
My Hayabusa does 30 km/h to 310 km/h on 6th gear. 😄
My little CBR300r gives it everything just to cruise at 80 (hwy speed where I live). It's a ton of fun in the corners but I'm super ready to have more top end power.
Omg this was so helpful! I am a new rider and have learned all of the basics but was having trouble putting them all together to actually be in traffic situations. Thanks so much.
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
Newbie here, 2wks in and teaching myself to ride on the road after getting my Ls. This is absolutely amazing, ty for Ur help and tips! Tysm ❤️
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
Great detail video. Learn quite a bit more about the transmission of the bike. It sounds like a transmission of a car so i should be good with that. Thank for it PetroHead!
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
Out of the thousands of videos online this was the first one that I actually commented on regarding motorcycles. As a new 500 ninja rider myself I thought it was like a car that you come to a stop in neutral that you do not go into first gear if you're rolling. Thanks for the information. Stay safe
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
I’m New to Riding ( 1 month Out of The Motorcycle Course ) and I REALLY Appreciate this content !!
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
YAYYYY IVE BEEN WAITING! Woohooo thanks for this!!!
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
This video is amazing and just what I needed after my first few days of riding and feeling semi clueless. Thank you
i am saving up for a bike and i am planning on taking a class next year in spring. i’ve been watching a lot of videos trying to get as much info as i can. a lot of videos show how to ride and stuff and what everything does but i realized i didn’t know when to shift gears and how it all goes together and this video helped me sooooo much with understanding it. thank you!!!
cant tell you how much i appreciate and been needing a video like this
I got a Honda Cb400SF Version S haven't driven it much because i was worried i wasnt going to be to maneuver and manage gears in traffic like my semi auto.
No problem. Download Motorcycle Mastery next.
Everything I need in one video..my best so far . Good job bro !
I just launched my 120 page Motorcycle Mastery ebook for beginner / intermediate riders like you. Go check it out www.motorcyclemastery.com
I really do appreciate this video it definitely helps a lot since I just bought my first bike yesterday a 2024 Honda CB500F
Very thorough video covering mistakes and possibilities of incorrect gear shifting and i've watched a lot of tutorials as a new rider. Thanks!
Been looking for a vid like this for months. Getting a bike next summer and I needed this
Didn’t realise this is a learners video. All these skills are taught and tested in the U.K. before you can have a license. Nice bike btw.
Must be nice. Here in the U.S. all you got to do is pass a written test and then a driving one including quick stops, swerving cones, u-turns, and counter steering
This is literally the first thing you learn so yeah it’s a learning video lmao.
Best Video for beginners like me. my instructor told me none of that before i went on the streets with him.
Just got my license. Thanks for the information.
when you were showing demo on the freeway , getting on getting off the freeway how were you able to gear up / down without pulling in clutch?
QS
I still have a doubt should we wait till the rpm indicator blink or can we shift gear according to the speed we want .
In Which way we get great performance and mileage.
What do you mean by ‘rpm indicator blink?’ If you can explain better maybe I can help you.
Thank you for making this video. I'm the one who requested it. I'm still not clear on slowing down. Am I hitting brakes first then shifting down, or shifting down and then hitting brakes, or both at the same time? Thank you for coming back to your channel.
There are 2 answers to that question. 1) IF emergency stopping, forget everything about shifting and doesnt matter what gear youre on, pull the clutch in and apply 50/50 pressure to both back brake and front brake. Make sure you use BOTH brakes, and at the same time and dont jam on them or youll wreck yourself. And 2) For controlled ,everyday proper way of stopping, you SHOULD always downshift first, as downshifting on its own will start to slow you down. Obviously you have to close the throttle a little and everytime you downshift and then try to rev match (open again the throttle a little to match the lower gear's "higher" rpm). And so you need to downshift till you get to 1st and 1st will give you so much stopping torque that it feels natural but you can also stay at 2nd and then just pull in clutch and then brake to a complete stop, THEN you can go to first once stopped. But under normal conditions you should always downshift to 1st ideally and all of this engine braking caused by downshifting, can be further exemplified by applying lightly the brakes too as your down shifting for a quicker stop. But for example when you have impatient cars behind you tailgaiting you and you all come to a stop, I would view that as an emergency stop and you can just hold in clutch and start braking. Sorry for so long of a message but remember that if you use engine braking aka downshifting, always tap the brakes very lightly so that your tail light goes on and cars behind you can see you. VERY important.
@@carlcarlssen4299 Thanks a bunch for this detailed answer. As I am confused about this concept too.
@@ahmedawad563 No prob bro. I like to keep myself reminded of these things as i just started riding again after a 12 yr hiatus and i want to become an instructor.
@@carlcarlssen4299 I wish you the best of luck. You wrote a detailed answer that a complete beginner like myself could understand and apply in the real world, without actually seeing you do it, which says something about your teaching skills.
@@ahmedawad563 I appreciate that brother. Stay safe. P.S. Always be extra vigilant of Teslas around you.
I have enjoyed every bit of this video. So far the best video I have watched on shifting gears. Very helpful. Can you do a video on shifting gears on hilly and sloppy surfaces?
Yes, I'm developing a new course and will be including that in the course. Thanks.
I'm so happy I learned manual on a car. This thing is essentially the same which is cool, the only thing I have to work on is my balance and awareness
Good stuff. My Motorcycle Mastery ebook will definitely be helpful in learning all that and more (free) link in description.
@@PetroHead yeeess pleasee.. im gonna need all the help I can get
Wow, I never knew the purpose of the clutch, and how we should use it properly. I don't think you had a chance to advertise how a monster your bike is😂
1) Shifting doesn't have a singular formula suitable for all cases. You can shift earlier and keep the revs low when travelling on a highway and let the engine take it easy while you WILL have to keep the revs higher when eating through mountain twisties to make use of engine braking. 2) Engine braking and Shift braking are NOT the same thing!!! Get this well: engine braking is when you close the throttle and the bike slows down naturally because there's no more power at the rear wheel. Shift braking is you downshifting, getting the revs high and -hopefully- closing the throttle. You MUST use engine braking and MUSTN'T use shift braking under any circumstances. 3) Each bike has a unique rev-range that provides the peak torque. Know your bike, read the manual. For my bike it's around 6400-6500 rpm. So for me, shifting sometime between 5500 and 7500 rpm would be good as a rule of thumb. Everything changes in rain/frost/dusty conditions. You should avoid revving high in those conditions to avoid slipping even if your bike has traction control. Never depend on technology to correct your poor riding choices. 4) When downshifting from high gear to the first, you can either do incremental or block downshift. For faster stops, block downshifting may work better while for when you have days to stop, incremental downshifting may be the better option. Either is okay in either case though. So, there's no cut and dried answer for "when should I shift". It depends...
Thank god you made this. I've been looking for a video for the past month. Going to my MSF class in August.
Your bike is beautiful. New rider here been watching your videos non stop. Been learning a lot. You rock man!
Awesome! Thanks for the support. Any requests I haven’t covered lmk.
@@PetroHead1 request ! Show how to make a large Chocolate Thickshake with Malt 🥤😂😜😂
I'm on my first ever bike, and the manual happened to tell me when to shift. It's an Indian Chief Bobber, and the instructions say:
1st - up to 15 mph
2nd - up to 25 mph
3rd - up to 35 mph
4th - up to 45 mph
5th - up to 50 mph
6th - >50 mph
As a beginner rider, I was relieved to have the instructions tell me when to shift. Check your manual, it may tell you best practices for shift points. Every bike is different.
What gear would you put the bike in going down a steep hill? 1st?
Two Questions from a basic rider learning:
1.) You demoed a coupled of times that we don't technically need to drop to 1st gear, could we technically do that quite a bit?
2.) What damage could be done if one was to learn to do that all the time?
Which one would you prefer as a beginner? Slowly shift down to first gear or would it be okay to go full stop, then go to first gear? Wouldnt there be a long term issue with the engine/transmission with the latter?
I need an answer to this as well
If you're coming to a stop, shift down into first gear and just before 1st gear becomes sluggish, pull the clutch to disengage the transmission and come to a gradual stop. (but never pull clutch to disengage transmission without using brakes otherwise, your bike will run away)
@@PetroHeadis this like engine breaking by downshifting ? Or can you still break while downshifting
No, use physical brakes. Never depend on engine breaking.
@PetroHead Absolutely.......
You will experience engine braking as you come down through the gears while braking and that's natural. Just don't kick down from high revs as you'll lock up the back wheel or worse......
Riding a Varadero 125 downhill doing around 60mph coming into a sharp bend and kicked down from fifth to fourth braking hard with a view to hitting third on the way out.
Loud bang and rear wheel locked up as I snapped a rocker arm.
Turned out I was actually in fourth gear which would have been redlining it and kicked into third!!!
@PetroHead hey, i have a question, how were you able to shift to low gear w/o squeezing or using the clutch? sorry, new to this kind of bikes. just wanna know.
I mentioned I have a quick shifter.
@@PetroHead bro I'm looking at these comments of people generally curious and asking questions and your responses are rude asf u need to fix your attitude bro straight up
I respond appropriately. I genuinely make videos to help people and 99% of the comments speak for themselves but hey, if you want to be specific about something, go ahead and email me and we can discuss. I do like feedback.
@@PWizzleshorts If you think a normal answer is rude you never had real problems in life.
Can you explain when to shift down when your making a turn like around a sharp corner but your not coming to a stop? Should I just downshift as I slow down for the turn and then stay in first/second until I can speed up again? I’m just afraid I’m going to stall on a turn but it seems weird to have to go all the way down to first everytime I turn (but I’m also on a 300 so I’m doing a lot more shifting, my 1st gear goes to like 15mph lol)
Shift before the turn. This stuff is explained in detail in my motorcycle mastery ebook.. link in pinned comment.
I notices you don't pull the clutch while going down or up on the gear, is that possible on all bikes..?
This is what i need. just bought my first bike. imma gonna start with the KTM Duke 200. soon after i master the basics, time to switch to higher CC. Thanks to this.
Naaahhhh........
Learn the basics, then learn to ride, then learn to fall off, then learn winter riding, then buy a bigger bike.
Since you’re just at the beginning, download the free MM book: www.motorcyclemastery.com
You are the best man. Thank you.
THIS is what I’ve been looking for. When coming to a stop, should I hold down the clutch together with my brakes as I come to a stop in 1st gear ? Or should I come to a stop completely and then pull in the clutch ? That’s been confusing me
Clutch + brakes
Thank you I'm getting a bike here soon. I really needed this.
So I did notice you never hit the clutch upon downshifting/engine braking. Is that unnecessary?
I’m a newbie and maybe thinking manual cars lol
As a new rider, when I approach a corner I downshift , and before turning the bike I keep it in the friction zone for a slow maneuver. Is it advisable?
Thanks for this brotha. Been riding for years now but still like to brush up on my skills
Eid Mubarak Brother
Thank you for this video. I’m gonna watch it a few times before I go thru my neighborhood. Are you supposed to hold the clutch wen going around curves or turns slowly I’m scared I’m going to kill it making turns in my neighborhood
Watch my clutch video
I have Rsv4 2018 model, Holding the clutch while red light is for 120 seconds makes my hand paining, shifting in N is what is do most of the time in dead traffic or Red light
Thanks man. Ive watched hundreds of these, and yours is much easier to grasp, literally all questions inside my head were answered. New subs here!
Glad to help 👍
Finally found the video tutorial I'm looking for days
man thanks, everything in one video! answers all of my questions and confusion.
I love this guy explaining very clear
great video for real world expamples
Thank you so much...
can i ask about the safest appropriate rpm for cruising 200 miles long distance , and how many miles can i nonstop trip before turning the engine off on 650cc twin cylinder Kawasaki versys 650cc.... no quick shift option for this bike only slipper clutch...
Still pretty new but I’ve seen several people say engine braking is terrible for your engine. Is that not the case?
Those people are new as well (time does not dictate knowledge)
Thanks for the video. I been looking for something like this for weeks lol
My concern is stalling my bike while making right/left turns if stayed in 2nd or 3rd gear. I do understand that i must dowshift but just incase i miss it. I have made turns in 2nd for the most part and havent had any issues but wanted some peace of mind!!
Great video man!
Does starting from 3rd gear not hurt the bike? Also can you downshift while you are stopped at the stop sign before continuing thru it? Thank you for the video man!
Who knows.. at a traffic light it’s more important to get going than to worry about hurting the engine. My guess is no it won’t hurt anything. It’s not like you’re doing this for fun.. you forgot to shift down cuz you’re still Learning. Second question.. yes but do it on your approach before the stop so you’re ready to take off once again.
When you were engine braking, why wasnt the clutch pressed in? Is it not needed?
I was already in the gear I needed to be in.
Love how excited you are about the bike. I think you mentioned it does 92 in first gear...every time you put it into first lol. Beautiful bike congrats! Ride safe. :)
Good job. I've been motobiking for many years and I am convinced that this vid will benefit new riders🏍🏍🏍
I have a question and I hope I can explain it the right way... (Scenario), you get it at 6 th gear.. you need a lil more torque... So you squeeze the clutch and step down to go faster.. ok coo from that point.. to slow down and shift gears down.. do you squeeze the clutch and step down to on the brake.. but if you step down to make it go faster... How do make it down shift..again?
Watch the how to ride for beginners video before this one. You skipped ahead.
@@PetroHead clutch in, flip the throttle and push down..pass the nutural, a solid click.
@@PetroHead thanks
Best video sir… can’t tank you enough 🙌
this is san diego isnt it?
How was he shifting without using the clutch? When he was on the. Freeway
Ok this helped more than +12 past videos
You can shift down gears without the clutch when engine braking?
No his bike has a quick shift
Super useful, thanks man
Welcome. Make sure to download Motorcycle Mastery, it will help you big time.
Hey Petro Head !! I have a Question … How would you Prepare and Pack for a 10hr ( solo ) trip on your Motorcycle … What are some of the things you would have to consider for a safe trip ??? What’s the best time to Leave Out….Early Morning or Mid Afternoon
Say From Nashville Tn to Panama Beach FL What Route would YOU take if you took that trip ??
Hi sir, i was wondering if you could make a vid on how to start quickly.
Because i recently started riding and i always start extremely slow.
Also, how did you change gears without using your clutch, gas?
1 more thing ahah, when you stop for a traficlight in 3rd gear, cant you just shift down to first gear while standing still or will that ruin your motorcycle?
Thanks in advance
Explain.. not sure exactly what you mean by ‘start quickly’
@@PetroHead when you stopped at a red light, and it went green, ur bike went fast from the get go. so im wondering on how you did that. sorry if my english is bad, i dont speak it often
I got it. You get better with time.. all about throttle and clutch release. If your comment gets enough likes, I’ll make a video.
@@PetroHead Okay, sorry for the whole paragraph
No worries! 😉
Maybe I'm that much of a noob, but how were you downshifting without your hand on the clutch when you had your hands on the tank? Or is that the point? It's forcing the engine to run lower and cause "engine braking"?
No you just suffer from low attention span. That’s what you get for skipping around.
@@PetroHead I didn't skip around. I watched the video twice. Maybe you should have quit UA-cam if this is how you "help" people
Don’t get bitter. I’ve helped millions of people become better and safer riders. If you paid attention, at 00:37 you can find the answer.. maybe 3rd time is a charm..☺️
10:03 tire is not rolling
Just new to biking - due to take my CBT here in England next week and I'm confused. At the very beginning of the video, how the hell did you change up to, and then down from third gear without engaging the clutch ??
Already not paying attention.. Maybe work on that first before the CBT.
@@PetroHead Hahaha ! So please enlighten me - what am I missing ?
Watch the video again and this time pay attention.
Do you not have to pull in clutch to shift gears up? On the freeway you weren't..
Just got a new Kawi Z500 SE, andI love it, but I feel like the gear shift indicator flashes really early. It feels like the bike wants to be in sixth gear by the time I hit 50 mph. Do you know why this might be happening? I'm a new rider so I have no idea haha
Don’t really on the technology of the bike. Learn to listen to it and when you should shift. Higher rpm’s always mean to shift. Check out the owners manual, it’ll give you an idea on when to shift at what mphs
If you're still in the break in period it flashes early
if it has the TFT display, hold the 2 buttons on the screen and there should be the option to change the RPM where it tells you to shift
As a CRF300L owner with very short gears, it's weird seeing others shift so late. I can shift into 6th gear at 80km/h (50mph) xD
I have not ridden a bike but I am thinking about it. I can drive manual in a car. I don’t understand how you can slow down and downshift without pulling the clutch. I literally saw you slow down from 4th to 1st without pulling the clutch. In a car you need to pull the clutch to downshift but in a motorcycle you can downshift without engaging the clutch??
Edit: sorry I see you said you have a special type of shifter.
if i don't make it to 1st before im completely stopped can i not just down shift right there while stopped? or are you performing high gear takeoffs to teach how to do it?
for better questioning can i just down shift from a high gear to first while completely stopped?
Yes but make it a habit to be in first when you stop.
@@HoldenEsck
Problem is sometimes you'll find the gear change really clunky trying to come down from fourth to first when stopped. Guaranteed to need first gear when still in third with lights turning green.
most of your braking in traffic and at lights is downshifting and engine braking, and lightly hold your brakes so your brake light comes on. Usually when I'm 20-30 ft from the stopped car in front of me I pull the clutch in and just use the brakes for the final bit, and I'm in 2nd here and go to 1st as I pull the clutch in and roll while braking. I do it the same way MSF teaches the emergency stop, just without squeezing the shit out of the brakes. Engine brake down to 2nd (while making sure you're triggering your brake light), then all four limbs are using their levers to the stop.
But yeah you can shift down to 1st while your stopped, but really you shouldn't be higher than 2nd by the time you stop. Engine braking does the majority of the work
How was he able to change gears without pressing down on the clutch?
Does the autoblipper work so well that if you tap your foot quick enough your gear indicator reads like you skipped a gear? At like 10:15, you go down to 4th from 6th & 5th is never seen. It looks like an h pattern shift, but bikes have sequential boxes. Basically I’m asking is the autoblipper just that good & sensitive to your inputs or have you figured telepathy with your bike & you just think of a gear & a single input from your foot puts it in the desired gear?🤣
You’re probably witnessing bits of video being cut and so that’s why it looks the way it does.
Peace. Thank You. Wondering why my bike clunks into gear. Bleeding the clutch next. Runs Great other than that.
What kind of bike do u have ??
***had*** I sold it.. it was an RSV4. New bike ZX-6R.. check out the latest vids
What's your opinion on the aprilia? I really want one but I know everyone talks maintenance cost and reliability issues. Have you had any issues with your bike and would you recommend it ?
Ya don’t buy one. Watch my latest video about 5 things I hate about
hope this video gets more views because I would of loved this when I was first starting out
Can you make a video on how and when to use front or back break? I’ve dropped my bike twice coming to a stop as not sure about breaking 😢
I already did.
@@PetroHead thank you 🙏 I’ve just seen it, my apologies didn’t realise it was further down lol
I gotta check that out
The 1st gear on a Honda CB650 R does 64 miles an hour.
Finally! This was what I was looking for. I tried to look up videos about this topic a few months ago, and a real life example of which gear to use and when, I managed to find just one, and it was a decade old video. Googling just gave the theoretical answer of 1st gear = 0 to 15, 2nd gear 15 to 30, etc. Could barely find a practical, real-world example
Can you make a video with this same format on which gear is best for going uphill or downhill? Thank you.
The google answer is true for cars that have lower torque and are more susceptible to stalling in the wrong gear.
Uphill will require more torque so lower the gear depending on how steep you have to climb (more steep climb = lower gear) and downhill you will have gravity accellerating your descent even if you are zero throttle, so again you may want to downshift to get some engine braking against gravity to keep your speed in check.
@@alessiodellagnello7011 thank you!
Hello, great video!! I just started taking my driving lessons in HK. Just wondering why you don't need to press your clutch when downshifting? Is it depends on the bike?
So you don’t need to pull the clutch in to slow down in gears? Just some foot break and kick it down? Confused me a little when you didn’t pull it in. Awesome video though👍🏼
How are you shifting up/down without clutch in?
Magic! (This is what you get for skipping around)
I did get drifted for a while watching this video 😅 I'll re-watch from the beginning😂
Is rev matching necessary when downshifting?
It’s not.
Explain on how a QS work, pls. Unless you already have a video out about it.
First gear needs the clutch to engage, all the other gears can shift without using the clutch. Some bikes have quick up/dn and others only have up. When you clutch less shift, the QS momentarily cuts power to the engine to shift smoothly into gear.
@@PetroHead Absolutely........
Or you can kill the throttle and kick up in the same millisecond for upshifts which also cuts power to the engine. (Needs must, four days with broken clutch cable on Suzuki GS850G! )
how many mph does it in 1st gear? I think I missed that
I just took my MSF course, purchased my first bike & I’ve been watching many videos on UA-cam. I watched one video where the guy said if you’re a “good” rider you’d always take off in 2nd. I was so confused 😭
Tell him he's wrong.. but now if you do take off in 2nd by mistake, you know how.. cuz you learned from Petrohead lol
@@PetroHead yep lol thanks
Aw man at 5:20 he missed his chance to hit up that shawty on a scooter to continue the video.
Im confused when your switching gears why aren't you pressing down the clutch? Arent you supposed to?
U can upshift by placing pressure on the shifter and closing the throttle. But you don't even need to do that because this bike has a quickshifter
Holy god that bikes quick shifter is next level.
Holly god someone didn’t skip the first 28s of the video!! Can you tell all the low IQ people who commented about how I shifted without using the clutch? Lol
@@PetroHead I definitely skipped it lmao. But holy smokes if I did those low rpm quick shifts on my zx4rr it would explode
this was exactly the vid i wanted Thanks for making this