DirtRider . Net MX, SX, Arena Cross, Off-Road Community

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version

Pages: 1

new rider, needs help shifting!
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

hey guys, i just bought a CR 125from my neighbour for dirt cheap. i have never ridden a bike before, , im willing to learn... i need to kno how to get out of 1st gear, ive been having troubles, and do i just let the clutch out fast or do i have to ease it like i first gear, if anybody can help me out i would really appreciate it! and i would like to kno how to shift for all the other gears thanx!

Posted by: FruDaddy---------------------

It depends on the riding style, some people will let off the gas, kick it up, and get back on the gas. Another school of though says pin it, bring in the clutch and kick it up as fast as you can, and drop the clutch again (power shifting). All within a half second and without letting off the throttle.
In your case, a smooth relaxed stroke should suffice. You don't have to baby it like you do to take off. Just bring in the lever as to let off the throttle, click it up, let the lever out while easing back into the gas. Shouldn't take more than a second. Practice (a lot) and you will get it down. Then you can experiment with the other methods of shifting. I prefer the power shift myself, as it seems to waste less time and therefore sacrifice less speed.

Posted by: RedStreak---------------------

Here's how I do it. It may look like a slow process but it happens in less than a second.

1. Get going kind of fast(not too fast)
2. Let go of the gas
3. Pull in the clutch
4. (at the same time as step 3) Use your toe to shift up, using the shifter, make sure you don't shift into neutral instead of 2nd gear.
5. eas out the clutch and slowly add some throttle as you remove the clutch.

To practice this, I would get on a straight piece of land with a few bumps(but mostly open) and practice shifting up and down all the way up to 4th. The higher the gear the smoother the ride, but the less horsepower!

Soon you'll be takin it off some sweet jumps!

Posted by: HajiWasAPunk---------------------

I don't use the clutch to shift nor do I let off the gas. Just keep the throttle open and shift.

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

isnt that bad for the transmission???....

also other question, for down shifting, is it basiclly the same? do you have to down shift if say your coming to a road and you gotta stop, do you have to shift down to 1st? and then go back up the order? or say if your in 3rd will it just stay in 3rd? thanx

Posted by: FruDaddy---------------------

Usually you will downshift while braking. It you kick it down too quickly, you will skid the rear, so keep that in mind. You do not have to use first. In fact, I seldom even put a dirt bike into first. When you put the bike in a gear, it is in that gear until you change it. When slowing, down shift as far as necessary to make the turn, if you lug the motor coming out of the turn, drop down one more gear ands make a mental note. If you find that you are revved out, upshift. Then go through the gears normally.

Posted by: HajiWasAPunk---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaco12

isnt that bad for the transmission???....

I don't know why, but it doesn't seem to be bad for the transmission and everyone at the track does this. Someone else could give a more technical answer but other than starts I don't touch the clutch on a 4 stroke, and only occasionally on a 2 stroke when coming out of a corner.

Posted by: AssistSuper---------------------

I do a bad job of keeping track of which gear I'm in, I just listen to the motor and how it's responding.

The only time I really use the clutch is to take off or adjust the power.

If I'm wide open and I need to upshift, I let off the throttle slightly and kick it up a gear at same time, then rip it back open.

Downshifting into corners I'll let off the gas slightly and kick it down until I'm in the gear I want.

Posted by: mtk---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by HajiWasAPunk

I don't know why, but it doesn't seem to be bad for the transmission and everyone at the track does this.

It may not "seem" to be bad for the transmission, but it is.

Momentarily backing off of the throttle will unload the gearbox enough to shift. Keeping the throttle pinned is putting excessive strain on the gearbox and will wear it out prematurely.

As for the original question, Redstreak summed it up quite well for you. My only comment is that you don't need to ease it out like starting in first gear from a stop. Just let it out and roll on the gas. The clutch pull is in-and-out, pretty much as fast as you can do it. At the same time you roll off the gas and pull up on the shifter. You ultimately want to time it such that the clutch is in, the thottle is off, and the shifter pull happen at the same time.

Once you master that, you can move on to shifting without the clutch and all that fun stuff.

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by FruDaddy

Usually you will downshift while braking. It you kick it down too quickly, you will skid the rear, so keep that in mind. You do not have to use first. In fact, I seldom even put a dirt bike into first. When you put the bike in a gear, it is in that gear until you change it. When slowing, down shift as far as necessary to make the turn, if you lug the motor coming out of the turn, drop down one more gear ands make a mental note. If you find that you are revved out, upshift. Then go through the gears normally.

am i holding the clutch at all while im downshifting or just clicking down?

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

but im riding a CR 125... sorry i got the bike mixed up... i was riding it around, but when i let the clutch out fast, it seemed REALLY jumpy in the front end... made kinda weird sounds...

Posted by: FruDaddy---------------------

I usually bring in the clutch while braking, and do my downshifting at the same time. You don't really have to bring in the clutch, but I find it easier to control rear wheel lockup, and prevent stalling with it in.

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

im gonna give it another shot, the bike just went in for some repairs, new piston and rings... i hope i can get this shifting down with out killing my self.... very powerfull bike lol

Posted by: mtk---------------------

Then let the clutch out before you wind on a bunch of throttle. That should help keep the front end from getting light.

But beyond that, it's a two-stroke motocrosser so lifting the front wheel all the time is just part of the fun.

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

thanx guys you are all awsome!... now im just gonna get the bike and see which way im the best at shifting... i will keep you updated lol

Posted by: rickyd---------------------

This doesnt really help w/shifting, but it is a good idea too keep a finger on the clutch at all times,.. If the front end decides too come up, you can pull it in a bit and the front end should go down some.. Have fun, be safe..
Rick

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

what about shifting like into 2nd, because

1. first gear is down RIGHT?
2. and netural is in the middle
so do i have to click it up twice? or what... still need some help guys!

Posted by: rickyd---------------------

Yes, 1st should be down (neutral is between first and second) when shifting from 1st too 2nd, click up once..
Rick

Posted by: RedStreak---------------------

shifting from first to neutral is kinda a half click...(kinda hard to find sometimes) while shifting from first to second kick it up kinda hard

JB

Posted by: mtk---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaco12

what about shifting like into 2nd, because

1. first gear is down RIGHT?
2. and netural is in the middle
so do i have to click it up twice? or what... still need some help guys!

Honestly... step away from the computer and go get on the bike.

As the Nike commercial says, Just Do it.

You won't learn it sitting here.

Posted by: FruDaddy---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtk

Honestly... step away from the computer and go get on the bike.

Can you ride in Canada this time of year? I didn't think that it got warm enough to ride up there until June. Oh, that's right, it's a dirt bike.
Dress warm. Go practice.

Posted by: cr125freak---------------------

just remember everytime you push the shifter the clutch needs no be ALL the way to the handlebar

Posted by: Homewrecker---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by FruDaddy

Can you ride in Canada this time of year? I didn't think that it got warm enough to ride up there until June. Oh, that's right, it's a dirt bike.
Dress warm. Go practice.

We start to warm up to 'rideable' temps at around the end of March - beginning of April.

It's not as cold as everyone thinks - well sometimes it is. May can get pretty warm too.

All I know is that it's too damn cold and windy to ride right now.

Posted by: mtk---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by cr125freak

just remember everytime you push the shifter the clutch needs no be ALL the way to the handlebar

Why?

The clutch disengages well before the lever gets to the bar. Any futher engagement is unnecessary.

Posted by: rickyd---------------------

No need too confuse him mre than needed.. Pull the clutch in all the way.. Before you know it, you will be shifting w/out the clutch

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

thanx guys you rule! you saved my A$$ lol... i was really stuck on this hole shifting concept... i will be back on the bike in about 2-3 weeks .... stupid parts!

Posted by: jaco12---------------------

if anybody else has some shifting and downshiftinf TIPS please keep them coming!

Posted by: FruDaddy---------------------

Homewrecker, Twas only a joke.

Text Version Home

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net Click Here for the Full Version

new rider, needs help shifting!

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version