New to bikes, looking to learn from everyone..

[08R6YW]

I am curious on how exactly the motions work when down shifting and slightly reving up the engine just before? I read somewhere that just before or just as you down shift you should give a little throttle? Would someone mind explaining the steps in doing this - what you should do first and how to follow through properly?

I just got my first bike and want to know the proper steps when I start riding and practicing.

Thanks all...

[natedogg624]

take the msf course first off

be prepared to drop your $9k beauty...at least once

as far as shifting goes dont think about it just do it. there shouldn't be "do this before that..." technically its all one motion not really one before the other. i believe the 08 have slipper clutch (i have 99) so im not sure you actually need to blip but someone can correct me if im wrong.

assuming you dont have a slipper then it goes as follows (for me at least everyone has a slightly different style):
clutch in
blip throttle - you will know how much to blip as you learn the bike, it will take some time
shift
clutch out

if you do have a slipper then you just clutch in, shift down, clutch out - thats not fun
edit: i have no experience with slippers so this is just from what i understand to be true

but again it really should be all one fluid motion
practice practice practice

o and did i mention take the MSF course... if you haven't already done so

[08R6YW]

Yea, I am signing up for the course already. I will have to read up about this slipper clutch deal. And let sjust pray I do not drive the bike. Even though its my first, I will make it a point to not drop it.

Anymore input would be great. Thanks

[08R6YW]

So I took the bike out for the first time ever yesterday and I am learning the ropes... almost dropped the bike once but did not happen

I got a question on downshifting... Do you guys do it all the time? Or do you just clutch in and brake to stop or slow down? Right now I am breaking the bike in (only 13 miles). Should I be downshifting through all the gears for break in? I went through the ownders manual but I would like some feedback from people with experience - what are your break-in methods?

[natedogg624]

i would think if your still breaking it in you should just clutch it in to stop.

if you start downshifting while coming to a stop you run the risk of going over that rpm barrier for breaking in.

but im not sure if going over will really cause that much damage.

[brathwka]

It's always good to downshift as you stop, it's a seqential tranny after all, doesn't like to go from 6th straight to 1st. That doesn't mean that you'll damage anything if you stop in 6th and drop to first while not moving but the tranny just isn't designed to that.
It can be really complicated at first as you try to time your down shifts with stopping in time, but I'd say best to practice it now during your break in when you're not revving up a lot and won't risk any downshifts-braking-then accidentially accelarating into the back or a car or a pedestrian I've seen that happen all to often! Just go slow, and like natedogg said, get to know your bike - speeds-to-revvs so that you don't go over your rpm barrier during break-in.

[08R6YW]

Thanks for the tips. I am now only up to ~150 miles on the bike and have not dropped it or even close to dropping it. When I come to a stop I usually slowly let off gas while staying in whichever gear I am in and when im off the gas I brake and change gears while still moving, I never change while stopped as the manual says not to. Sometimes I will down shift through a gear or two but I usually just end up skipping msot gears and go down to one by the time I come to a full stop.

Seems to work good for me. If this sounds like I am hurting the bike let me know!

[brathwka]

Don't think you're hurting anything - like I said, it's not meant to work that way so you might have difficulties sometimes - mostly clunking/crunching but whatever works for you and keeps you safe is best.
I still suggest trying to downshift and blip while ride. definitely learn it while riding before trying it while stopping. I was riding with a mate once who blipped his downshift and powered over the front break into the back of a car.
Do what you have to do to stop safely, if you end up hurting your bike, you'll figure it out before you do major damage and you can adjust, or fix it - but stay safe so that you have the chance to ride again and learn more!!!