repetition is the mother of all learning . ive been watching your videos every friday for the past 4 years. following your advice has helped me become a better rider indeed (was a comeback rider ) no matter how many times you discuss the same topics over and over , it never gets old and always is interesting keep up the good work kevin . a felow rider from Greece.

I've been riding for 4 days now and just want to say thanks because your videos have really helped me as a beginner. Wish I started riding years ago!

@shawnmclean7932

Жыл бұрын

One week for me. I appreciate your great tips and knowledge.

Preloading the shifter has completely transformed my shifting. I kept getting stuck in Neutral between 1st and 2nd gear but once I started preloading the shifter I haven't had any problems. Plus, my shifting is much smoother in general!

Kevin teaches thousands of riders. road strategy probably safes many lifes already. thank you, Kevin

Kevin I'd like to thank you for being my mentor for for the last 4 years and counting. After I gained my motorcycle endorsement license, I watched your videos everyday for the 1st year. Everything you taught, I saw it on my next ride, wow.... your safety teachings are unmatched, those teachings along with practicing EMERGENCY BREAKING in parking lots have developed me into a safer rider. Thanks Kevin ..as you instructed many times before...never stop learning ✌🏿

My '83 Oldwing does not like neutral. If I'm stopped it refuses to go into neutral so no problem at lights. After 40 years of running it wants to stay in gear and Go. Thanks for all the lessons, your videos have saved my life countless times on the road. My wife and daughter give you a Big Thanks.

There are several excellent videos that demonstrate the internal workings of a motorcycle transmission… Viewing those will be an excellent aid in understanding what you’re doing while riding… greater video as always…

I love Friday’s and MCRider is a small part of the reasons why! Keep up the interesting work Kevin and may God continue blessing your channel. 👍🏼

@MCrider

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Will do!

Your videos and Dan Dan the fireman have helped me alot as a new rider I can't thank you guys enough. Also speaking of neutral I never put it in neutral at a light just cuz I don't want to have to think about shifting when the light turns green and also since I'm in first it's let's me practice with the friction zone on clutch so I can become more proficient

I too have found that preloading the shift lever, only taking the slack out of the various pivots prior to shift, makes a noticeable improvement in the smoothness of the shift. Thank you again for a great vid!!

“Neutral is not a gear” 🤣 is so true

My Yamaha Eluder has a traditional motorcycle transmission with clutch and shift lever, and Red Lines at 4750 RPM, so the sweet spot is about 3250-3500. I have a tendency to jam through the gears rather quickly. But what's comfortable for me, isn't exactly comfortable for a passenger. If I ride two-up, which isn't very often, I quickly realize that I'm not very smooth. A lot of head-bob! So I have to adjust my habit and tend to rev a little higher/longer than I normally would and add a split second more time to the sequence of rolling off, engaging the clutch, shifting to the next gear, releasing the clutch, and rolling back on. Happy Fri-Yay! Peace and love.

As a new rider,I love your vids.Great advise that make me more relaxed and confident that I can do this💯👍🏿👊🏾

Always great advice and always a gentleman

Hi Kevin I have a suggestion about gear selection that works on every bike. Choose the gear that puts the rpm in the middle third of its range. If the red line is at 9000 then select a gear that puts the revs between 3000 and 6000. If the red line is at 12000 then select a gear that's between 4k and 8k. This will be the sweet spot for torque on any engine. Of course if you are cruising at constant speed you can let the revs drop by selecting a higher gear for economy. If you are on the track you may want a lower gear for performance but for flexibility on the road aim for the middle third every time.

Superb food for thought for amateur as well as experienced motorcycle riders. Wishes from India.

About a year ago, I bought a lightly used 2018 DCT Gold Wing. After decades of riding , on and off road, most every kind of condition, there was still a big learning curve for me. But I made it !! I don't have multiple bikes but I am impressed by your ability to change back and forth.

Great video

Interesting comments on Triumph, I rode triumph for 15 years, including 10 on a 2010 thunderbird, had trouble finding neutral a number of times on that bike.

I recently got a new 2022 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS with up/down shift assist (quickshufter). I had been riding my 2007 Speed Triple without a quickshifter. I used to upshift without clutching in 2nd gear and almost always preloaded the shift lever. Any preload on the new bike will activate the shift mechanism and change gears. It took me a while to break that habit. Thanks for great videos.

I love your videos! I was excited to hear some more about pre-loading! I almost always do that. (2010 Rocket Touring). I've heard pros and cons about that though and do not know what to think. Like good, bad or no difference on the transmission. That would probably be a whole discussion in itself. I sure get jealous of your Rocket, sure would love to have one, but at 22K+ and 68 years old, don't know if that would be a wise purchase. Keep up the good work!!!

My 1932 Sunbeam bike has 4 on the tank. Hand shifting is something that you do nice and slow. My 1971 BSA A65 has the foot shift on the right. That takes some adjusting to. Preloading on my Honda made a huge difference thanks to you !

@kybourbonboy

2 жыл бұрын

I started out on a 69 Lightning. Moving to the left shift was the change for me, although I did not find it difficult. My buddies all had Japanese bikes which I rode on ocassion. The Lightning was a fun bike to ride.

Greetings from the PPRC GOOD video as usual. Thanks for doing them.

Cool video. Taking the basic course next month

Totally agree. Love my new Speedmaster and will someday get a Rocket. Triumph does have the smoothest transmissions.

That was pretty kuul Kevin. Less so today but back in recent decades past you could almost always find neutral especially when looking for 2nd gear at high rpms

I am really good at finding neutral precisely when I don't want to...

@gnarthdarkanen7464

2 жыл бұрын

That's somehow ALWAYS the easiest time and place to find it. ;o)

Thanks Kevin. It certainly does take some coordination and practice.

Well said Kevin. I have the Goldwing Tour like yours and I barely use 1st gear. Another tip is do not go completely off the throttle during shift transitions. Keep the RPMs close to speed and just roll through the shift. Play the clutch in shifting. It takes a while to master this.

Good stuff Kevin. I think on of the things that helped me the most in learning how to ride a bike was having a standard shift car as my first and second cars. It gets you used to dealing with a clutch. Alas most new riders today won't have that opportunity because the standard shift car has become a relic of history. Keep the good stuff coming.

@dougrobinson8602

2 жыл бұрын

Same here. It also helped that a couple of my childhood friends had Honda Trail 70 bikes. They have no manual clutch, but they have a foot shifter. Not having to coordinate left hand clutch with left foot during shifting simplifies the process while teaching your foot what to do.

My 1982 Honda CB 400N has a green indicator light when in neutral. So no problem to find neutral. Bought the bike new in Johannesburg, South Africa and I brought it with when we came to the USA.

Good advice. I find that blipping the throttle helps me find neutral on my Yamaha.

I bought a 20 year old bike with just 2k miles. Man that thing clunked on the 1-2 shift. This simple preload made a big difference. It does take some concentration to do it every time, but eventually it will become habit. Thank you !!

Great video. Love the info we get every week and you help make riding safer and even more fun than it already is. So - I've been riding since 1972, so my question is based in both ignorance and dated information. A clutch through the years has always been described to me as a 'finicky' instrument, so I was never taught to stay in first at stop lights. Soon as I got to a light, I would immediately shift to neutral, to avoid undue pressure and excessive wear on the clutch and the cable. I am NOT a gear head, as you can probably tell by my stupid question, but what I want to know is - DOES siting with the clutch engaged wear it excessively over time? Currently riding a 2015 Honda CTX700N . Thanks.

I wish I could say the same about shifting my Triumph, I’m now wondering if there isn’t a problem with my particular bike. Love the videos always tons of great content.

I honestly did not know that I can downshift with my quick shifter on my Triumph. Thanks for the videos.

Good video as usual. The best motorcycle tranny I have had is the 6 speed manual transmission on my 2021 Gold Wing which is super smooth.

A friend of mine compared riding a mot to flying an airplane. We use all our faculties.

@larryritchey8557

2 жыл бұрын

Being a Pilot as well I agree. There are many similarities between the two.

@richardmourdock2719

2 жыл бұрын

I'll agree, but add using all our faculties, means senses. While pilots during instrument training are taught to never believe their senses of leaning descending, accelerating, etc., in non instrument flying those sense are essential and they all come into to m/cing, too. Also,pilots are taught to "stay ahead of the airplane". In other words,know NOW what you need to be doing fifteen or twenty seconds or a minute into the future. It can be adjusting radio frequencies, changing the power setttings, starting to bank, leveling, etc. This "staying ahead" is ESSENTIAL in m/cing, IMHO.

@hcderksen

2 жыл бұрын

@@richardmourdock2719 you are spot on. Thanks for the addition.

I blip the throttle going up the gears as well as going down makes shifting very smooth on Vulcan vn2000

thank you

Big V-Twin engines are full of torque and 1700-2000 is a great sweet spot .

Right on the money as always. You content is so timely, I’ve been practicing trying to get stuck in 1st gear with my newly bought old Vulcan in the shop and found the 2nd gear down method works much better for a guy with size 13s. Cheers

@gnarthdarkanen7464

2 жыл бұрын

Most reliably on most motorcycles, a little bit of "tug" (gently trying to back up) while "hunting for neutral" has seemed to help me with contending with "how to fit a 13 into THAT space" issues... Of course, you should do as YOU know... It's just a possible alternative... as you get opportunities with other bikes and different behaviors. ;o)

@boundarysentinel4181

2 жыл бұрын

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 My man! Thanks for the tidbit, made a difference right away Cheers

@gnarthdarkanen7464

2 жыл бұрын

@@boundarysentinel4181 Thanks... and good to note. It's not JUST my '95 Suzuki Savage 650 (lolz... teasing) Anyways, you're ALWAYS welcome. Glad I could offer something useful. ;o)

1000% agreeing with not sitting in neutral (except at long waits) and pre-loading the shifter. well said.

I have to say I like shifting. I have a 2021 Kawasaki Ninja 650 R with ABS. I don't know if I'm just old school but I'm not sure I even like having ABS. I think I've read or saw on youtube that your able to turn it off or on with some bikes. However, I haven't been able to find anything about turning off my ABS. The other thing is I think I would hate an automatic. I believe you said that you have that option on your GoldWing. That would probably be nice for cross country rides, but I'm more of a just ripp around the area kind of guy. Finally, I have to say I love your Triumphs. Drive safe.

I find that lightly burping the throttle on my Electra Glide helps it click into neutral.

Your videos along with a few other tubers, are very appreciated. I'm going to be a new rider this year. My msf course is in May, and I already have a bike, a used 2013 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT, with about 13k on it. I have 2 questions, what do you think of a Vulcan as a first bike? I'm not a huge guy but I have long legs so the Vulcan is super comfortable height wise, and weight wise she's not very heavy. My second question is, what is your opinion on the first bike not having abs? The Vulcan 900s do not have abs. Thanks ahead of time, and love these videos

When you get this right, it is very smooth and quick. Like the other skills, you have to practice it thoughtfully, then it will become...how you shift.

The best way I have found to shift smoother is to be smooth with your foot and change gears on the lower end of the RPM range into the next gear, while you never want to lug the engine, big Cruisers like my Yamaha VStar 1100 and my HD Fatboy Lo both shift nicely using this technique. However if you wait on your next shift and let the RPM’s climb both will make that annoying click sound many of us hate. While both my bikes are very different in many ways, they are both cruisers and both seem much smoother with this technique, but I’m sure other types of bikes are different. My duel sport I rode all thru high school liked to be wound up probably because it lacked the torque and could easily be lugged if you shifted on the low end of its range.

All about motorcycle yes… ty for helping people learn to be SAFE!!! Kinda ridiculous how unsafe some super bikes have the potential to be

If you learned to drive a car with a standard tranny and did that for your first four cars, clutch and shifting on a bike comes very easily. The thing I had to get used to was the idea that a wet clutch wasn't going to get cooked like it did on several cars in my misspent youth.

What are your thoughts on heel-toe shifters, Kevin?

People have asked me what I do too help with better motorcycle control? Year around I keep clay an bees wax palm sized balls too work an strengthen my hands for hard traffic clutch use!

I guess I've been out of the loop. When did you get the Rocket?

I think Kawasaki is the only bike that has a neutral finder. When you are in first gear at a stop and you lift up on the gear shift peddle it only goes in neutral.

@jhask64

2 жыл бұрын

My Vulcan Voyager is like that. Very easy to find neutral.

This may be a stupid question, but why exactly is neutral in between 1st and 2nd gear? I have missed second too many times to count because I did not kick up hard enough. I understand why it is not all the way down as well as you do not want to accidentally go into neutral while going slow in a parking lot or something - but why not place neutral all the way up? For example 1-2-3-4-5-N. It is also a pain on my Harley to get into neutral from 1st so I normally “creep” into neutral from second at a long protected left turn signal by GENTLE gearshift pressure down. Don’t know why . . . GREAT CHANNEL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !

@t.s.racing

2 жыл бұрын

Ryan, 1 word to answer your question. LAWYERS. I'm not being sarcastic or disrespectful, lawsuits would abound if neutral was at the bottom of the gear selection. Actually some of the Kawasaki 2 stroke triples back in the 70z, had neutral at the bottom of the shift pattern. If you were using engine braking to slow into a turn and you didn't realize that you were already in 1st gear, and dropped down another gear, well now you're freewheeling in neutral. Crash, and then attorneys are called. If you know 2 strokes, they don't have a lot of engine breaking to begin with and in a panic situation, knowing what gear you're in is probably not the most important thing going through your mind. I hope this helps. T.S. RACING

@t.s.racing

2 жыл бұрын

Ryan also depending on what model Harley you have, there's a adjustment for the shift pawl, and it's very important. Most bikes in my shop have simply needed the primary chain adjustment and a proper clutch adjustment, as well as the CORRECT primary lubricant, and transmission lubricant for that matter as well. You should NOT have difficulty finding neutral on your Harley. This I guarantee. T.S. RACING P.S., I'm not soliciting work Sir, my shop is NOT open to the public and I only build Race Bikes, thank you 🙏 If my advice helps you or someone else ride more safely, I got paid in full !!!!

MCRider, what is your experience with traction control settings affecting shift smoothness? I own a '21 ZX6R. I have had issues with it shifting hard, jerking the bike. Only in 2nd and 3rd gears. I have tried multiple different things to smooth the shifting, including preloading my gear shift as you stated for a tip in your video. Still would jerk after getting back in the throttle. Been riding for 6 years, which isn't terribly long in the grand scheme of things, but I've learned quite a bit in that time. Anyways, long story short the bike came with KTCS. Kawasaki's Traction Control System. When I was breaking the rear tire in new I left the traction control on 1 out of 4 ranges from off to 3. 1 being the weakest input of the TCS. I previously had a ninja 650 that shifted smooth as butter. I've got 11,000 miles on it and the factory clutch that came with the bike out of the crate they built it from is still smooth as butter. So, this kick when getting back on the throttle on the zx6r was puzzling to me. Barely turning the throttle, just using 2 fingers to pinch the throttle and rotate it between my fingers would cause the kick. Very sensitive for whatever reason. Anyways, after I turned off the TCS completely the bike shifted smooth as butter just like my 650. Have you experienced similar things with other TCS systems causing it to kick/jerk the bike?

Mine is different, it comes with neutral in the lowest and the rest is up, and it's toe and heel shifting.

Went over to the dark side. DCT. Don’t have to worry about that left foot any more.

👍

Hello sir, very important? I got an 07 Harley night train. I have noticed I can down shift with out clutch use. I love it but I’m wondering if that can damage anything? Hope you respond. I enjoy your videos 👍

@scottc8876

2 жыл бұрын

I barely use a clutch whether driving or riding, except for starting or stopping.

@gnarthdarkanen7464

2 жыл бұрын

Most modern motorcycles won't prematurely wear out for lack of clutch use, EXCEPT for starting off and sitting at lights... Some will seem smoother for lack of clutching, and some will be smoother with a little "feathering" into the friction zone, depending on your riding style and their "temperament"... It IS (technically) possible to damage things by avoiding systems and controls. They DID engineer the bike WITH a clutch, after all... BUT generally, that kind of abuse comes from more than just up or down shifting without using the clutch, itself... It's more akin to shifting WAY outside of the optimal "power curve" (rpm range) of the bike and "jamming" the transmission, instead of using rhythm and timing to change to an appropriate gear and working the throttle in tandem to avoid smashing gear splines or teeth together and crushing synchronizers and all that... If you're not being abusive, the motorcycle transmission is operating well within its range of tolerance for the forces, speeds, and temperatures at hand... You may wear a little more here and there, but it's nothing ridiculous. AND let's not park the bike in the living room to avoid unnecessary wear on the tires... or strain the oil between rides to avoid stirring too much particulate matter through the engine and oil-pump... or any of the dozens of other silly things we could technically do to get just a few more miles out of a bike before it's "worn out"... They WERE designed and built TO RIDE. ...and yes... for the record. Motorcycles CAN "sit to death" literally. ;o)

Put a little force not pressure. Pressure is what is inside your tires. Pressure is force over area.

Let's not forget rev matching in down shifts to smooth out the ride.

What happened to Super Tenere?

I hate to contradict you Kevin but, you CAN go from 1st gear to 5th if you so choose by holding the clutch. BUT, that don't mean you can ride that way from 1st gear😁

I've given up on being smooth on my 250. When you have to pound through 4 gears just to get up to 35 mph, you stop caring lol.

Sometimes at stop light I can’t get to first gear as I downshift. After I downshift from second, i pass neutral but I can’t engage 1st gear, only at stoplights. Is it because I’m coasting & downshifting when I’m already stopped?

@gnarthdarkanen7464

2 жыл бұрын

Yup... It really helps "getting to first" if you go ahead and make sure it's in first before you've stopped coasting... I clutch in fully and give an extra toe tap or two just to double check... The shift lever should be rigid or "only slop" in first, and you can be ready from the very instant you put your feet down, just in case something comes up and you gotta move... It usually won't... BUT it also beats the hell out of rocking back and forth and feeling silly trying to wrangle into first gear... Just a casual estimate... and you can refine for your riding experience... BUT I usually get into first around 5-ish mph as I'm slowing to a stop... whether a sign or light. If the light suddenly turns green, before I've quite reached a stop, I can "blip" the throttle and feather the clutch through the friction zone to pick RIGHT back up to speed and just keep going. There doesn't need to be a "jerk" for down-shifting into first while the wheels are rolling. ;o)

I get a positive clunk from my honda shadow, think they trying to copy HD.

Allow me to disagree on the neutral/stop thing. But, I’m open to be converted. So A. Where are you supposed to escape to if a vehicle appears in imminent concern of hitting from behind, and B what is the basis for the practice? How many studies have been performed for the condition and what is the percentage? Thanks!

@vincenstuff

2 жыл бұрын

"Always have an escape route" is common training and doesn't change when you're approaching a stop. Makes you keep track of what's going on around you and helps develop that sixth sense for what other drivers are going to do. Coming up to a stop, I'll position myself pointing between stopped cars, or towards the bike lane, and in first so I can gas and go if needed. Actually did save me once as a car came up too quick and skidded to a stop 4 feet from the truck I was sitting behind not a second before. Staying in gear saves you a second and forces you to build up the hand strength you really should have to ride

Did you get rid of the Tenere?

@aldolajak1267

2 жыл бұрын

Kevin has more motorcycles that Carter has pills. He better hope and pray that he doesn't kick the bucket and his wife sells them all for what he told her he paid for them. This joke is used for antique/classic cars and guns too.

Back in the day you would switch gears by hearing, the engine.

With regards to what engine rpm a bike should be pulling at any particular road speed I was hoping you were going to go.into that in some depth. I see many riders work their way up to 4th and higher at relatively low road speeds and thus are running at rather low rpm. To me this is not how a motorcycle engine/transmission should be operated. Engines like to stretch their legs and from a safety point of view if you need power quickly to avoid something you are best to have the engine sitting near peak torque. I think one should also be able to shift gears such that your pillion rider feels like the bike has an automatic transmission. I find the smoothest up shifting occurs between peak torque rpm and redline.

So to be clear, you're suppose to be in first gear ready to launch the entire time you're at a red light? Then when a truck barrels up behind you and you think there's a good chance you're going to get rearended you're suppose to take off through the red light, dodging the cagers on their phones passing through the intersection while hoping the truck behind you stops in time? Always interesting and informative, thanks.

If you like good gear boxes; get a Suzuki 🥰

You got rid of your Harley? I own a GoldWing so I don’t blame you.

What? No more road king?

3 bikes? Must be nice to be loaded.

Total newb I can only ride for like 15 minutes before my clutch hand is exhausted!

Hell I’m an old rider and neutral is my ex wife.