As a new rider with a C50, shifting is always on my mind. I was told by my salesman, a sport rider, that when coming to a stop, shifting into neutral then 1st was hard on the clutch. He suggested I shift into 2nd and, when slow enough, complete the stop with the clutch in and then shift into 1st when stopped. As 1st is sometimes hard to get into after stopping I find that a little out on the clutch brings it right into gear. I'd like to hear some feedback on this stopping technique.
Downshifting
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How is it hard on the clutch if its not engaged as you come up to the stop? I mean you've got the clutch pulled and you're clunking down through the gears as you come to a stop. Obviously you don't want to whack it into first if you're still going 15-20mph, you might need to let go and accelate again so that would be bad. But mainly its about the speed at which the transmission is spinning after you pull the clutch.
I much prefer to get it down into first just before I come to a complete stop, minimizes the clunking but ensures I won't have trouble getting all the way down into first. That said if you end up at a light in neutral you and it won't go down into first you can just rock the bike a little and it will shift down.
Hey you're in Bellevue too
cool. Where did you buy the new C50?
I much prefer to get it down into first just before I come to a complete stop, minimizes the clunking but ensures I won't have trouble getting all the way down into first. That said if you end up at a light in neutral you and it won't go down into first you can just rock the bike a little and it will shift down.
Hey you're in Bellevue too
cool. Where did you buy the new C50?
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sorry edited my post when I realized how incoherent it was. I've never bought anything except chain lube at Eastside Motorsports. They seem like a nice enough bunch though. Lately I've gotten hooked on going to Renton Motorcycles down near Ikea which is so huge its like going to a motorocycle show any day of the week
There is no reason to shift into neutral, then to first when coming to a stop. Most folks will shift from second to first still rolling at maybe 10 mph. Most bikes like for you to downshift through the gears at speed rather than downshifting all at once when you are stopped.
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So let me get this right,, It does not hurt the bike to downshift through the gears as you slow down and it does not hurt the bike to downshift and let the clutch out to help slow the bike down as long as you don't overrev the engine. I always roll off the throttle,, use my brakes,, and as my speed matches the gear I am selecting,, sometimes I also let the clutch back out and use the engine to help slow the bike.
UNLESS it is a quick stop where I am pulling in the clutch and rapid braking,, then I shift down once I get stopped or almost stopped,, but that is in quick emergency type stops.
Just want to make sure I have been doing it right this whole time???
UNLESS it is a quick stop where I am pulling in the clutch and rapid braking,, then I shift down once I get stopped or almost stopped,, but that is in quick emergency type stops.
Just want to make sure I have been doing it right this whole time???
Say Im going 50mph in 5th gear, and Im coming to a stop,
I downshift to 4th, using engine braking, plus regular brakes to help me slow down.
Repeat process in 3rd.
By then, I should be around 20mph or less, so I hold the clutch in,
and skip gears to first, and let the regular brakes bring me to a stop.
Thats how Ive been doing it these past 3 days...
I downshift to 4th, using engine braking, plus regular brakes to help me slow down.
Repeat process in 3rd.
By then, I should be around 20mph or less, so I hold the clutch in,
and skip gears to first, and let the regular brakes bring me to a stop.
Thats how Ive been doing it these past 3 days...
Downshifting through the gears is the best way and does no damage other than a little wear on the clutch, which is normal. But, remember to tap your brake lightly when you begin to slow so your brake light will illuminate and those behind you will recognise that you are slowing down. That is unless they are on their cell phone, doing their nails, jacking with the CD player, eatin' a cheeseburger or otherwise have their head in their behinds.
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