Help getting started on a geared bike.

[125cc rider]

Sorry for this noobie qestion but...........

Ok, I have brought myself a bike for when I'm 17 in a few months.
The problem is I have no geared experience etc but have been on the road for a year on a ped.

I'm wondering if you guys have any tips and advice on how to do gears and clutch conrol etc, also changing down gear at the right point.

Also is they any videos on the subject which I could watch to get teh drift off?

Thanks for all of your help.
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Learner legal

[Kal]

Practise, practise, practise.

It isn't a big deal, first though find somewhere quiet off road.

At low speed all of the work is done by the clutch lever, no matter how many revs are on.

With the bike in gear and both feet on the floor, slowly release the clutch as the bike moves forward pull the clutch in. It will stop moving. This is your bite point

When you brake, pull the clutch in - this will stop you from stalling.

As you get more confident just keep pulling away and stopping.

Take a tennis ball cut in half and ride figure eights around it. As you get more confident move the balls towards each other.

Don't be afraid to rev the engine - all of the power going to the back wheel is controlled by the clutch


Speaking of revs. My first bike a CG had no rev counter so it is jst a matter of changing up when the engine is screaming and changing down when it chuggs. You'll soon know what I mean.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Jaloopa]

A good rule of thumb when you're first starting on a geared 125 is about 10mph per gear. So first up to 10, second up to 20 etc. You'll adjust this as you get to know the bike and what it likes (on mine I end up shifting just before hitting the power band if I do it like this)

another thing to remember is that neutral is between first and second. A firm kick will take it all the way, but don't worry if you occasionally hit neutral rather than second. I stil do it occasionally after about 18 months with gears.

If you find yourself stalling whie pulling away try giving it loads of revs and letting the clutch out really slowly. Once you know where the biting point is it's simple.
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mattsprattuk wrote: but at least the lifan could do like 104mph in 3rd gear

[125cc rider]

Thanks for all the replies up to now
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Learner legal

[neil.]

https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MuMwZthECzg

and

https://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=i9zUgQV-VN8


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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[issey9090]

thanks for the links + info , i'm also going to start gears soon (DAS) it's good to have an idea before going

[multijoy]

My hint to the other half when she was having a special moment trying to get her head around it was that (at the beginning until you get the hang of it, anyway) you need far more revs than you think you do.

That, at least, should stop you continuously stalling. Also, progressive with that clutch all the way till it's out!
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[steppen22]

I really really struggled with gears with my first effort. I spent literally 2-3 hours stalling over and over again. I flattened the battery - although it was an old, weak one. That was Saturday. It got to the point that I thought I'd never be able to ride a bike I was so bad.

By Monday, I was occassionally stalling - on the road this time, not at a car park - but it was no big deal.

By the following Monday, it was harder for me to stall the bike than to ride smoothly.

Point is, gears aren't easy, but it's not that difficult. At first it will be an arse for you (although some ppl pick it up in five minutes - you may too) but inb no time at all you'll laugh at yourself for struggling so much.

Follow this:
1) get use to the gear themselves. Sit on the bike, and just flick down (into first), up into neutral, down into first, etc. Don't gop up to second.
2) Start the bike up. Put in neutral. Pull in clutch. Hold clutch. Put into first. Slowly release the clutch - I mean really slowly - and you'll feel the "biting point". Release the clutch further and you'll feel the biting point fading and the bike about to stall.
3) You can actually get the bike to move on the biting point alone.
4) Pull in clutch, hold, turn engine on, push the bike into first, rev the bike up to say 5,000 rpm and slowly release the clutch the bike will start moving.
- bear in mind that you'll feel uncertain about high revs. I was too. I was frightened to go above 2,000 - hence all my stalling - becuase I thought the bike would fly! 125's won't be doing that, sadly. This is why you should get used to the clutch a bit before you try to move, becuase you'll be confident that you can just pull in the clutch if the bike gets crazy!
5) practise just moving off in first, stopping, into neutral, moving off in first, etc. Note: you'll need to get your braking right here too, if you brake too early with the clutch "released" you'll stall, need to pull the clutch in moments before you coe to a stop.
6) once you've mastered moving off in first, master switching from 1-2. Do it slowly, make sure you get pass neutral, and then coming back to a stop. Don't forget to get going down right as well as up!
7) with that learned, you just need to get used to shifting upwards further. But don't do this until you've learned the basics! You don't want to get straight up into 6th (60-70mph) and then relase you don't know how to get back to first!!

- as such, get used to the feel of your brakes too.

It helps, very first, time, if you have someone with you. Just to perhaps.... er... balance you if you lose iot a little.

The key point though is to DO THIS OFF ROAD or on a QUIET STRAIGHT at a QUIET time of day. If you jump straight on the bike and try to pick this up in traffic, you'll going to fuck up and cuase no end of irritation to others.
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no regrets, no retreat, no apology.
I've made mistakes in the past, and I apologise for FUCK ALL.

[issey9090]

Great tips, thanks

Pretty much got the hang of it this morning. Still had a few jolting moments on the road, especially when downshfiting, but hope to iron these out on 2nd day

I found i forgot sometimes exactly what gear I was in - do you keep it in your head or does your bike have a display for that?

I found it would have been really hand to know at some points, like at a roundabout, and want to select 2nd to carry on smoothly if it's clear.

thanks for the help guys, and sorry if i'm hijacking this thread

[arry]

[issey9090]

cool, yep makes sense. I might try and say the gears out loud in the helmet until i get used to it for the purposes of the test. I'll feel like a pillock but who's listening...

[Louise]

I rode a scootay for around 4 months then decided to get a geared 125.
I learnt to drive years ago but never riden a geared bike.
Came on here for great advice.
The bike I brought was 45 miles away, folks drove me to the place to pick up.
First moment I thought 'shyte' 125 enduro was huge....
Took it up and down the road, stalled many of times but from them few stalls you know where the clutch bites.
So off I went. got 5 miles down the road, bike locks up and comes to a stop. Frantic ringing I relised it had no fuel
After that moment I knew how to kinda ride that bike.
Changing down a gear I left till late, so I knew I wouldnt lock the rear up.
I got lost and did a big detour to get home. Was fun

[Villers]

And also remember that stamping it into 1st whilst moving may result in a locked rear wheel. Practice and experience is the only way forward. You could do what some old women do and get yourself a gear indicator to start with which may help also.

I hate being a spelling/grammar nazi but you BOUGHT a bike, if you turned up somewhere with your bike in tow then you BROUGHT it. Just something that winds me up and I dont mean it in an angry or condescending tone at all.

Good luck with the gears, in a few months you'll wonder what all the fuss was about
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[priestessuk20...]

[Villers]

Don't be so daft, it was one word that keeps cropping up and it does my head in. You dont go into town and 'Bry' a few things do you? No one ever 'brought' a new bike either!

Chill
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[priestessuk20...]

ok thanks was getting paranoid about checking all the time
and I am not native to the uk
back to bike talk now
found this thread a great help
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priestessuk
yes passed cbt 27/10/08
currant - honda CB125 T

[Jaloopa]

I rarely know what gear I'm in, but I know when I need to change up or down. The only problem with my approach is that I'll quite often try to put it into a non-existant sixth gear when I feel I should be going faster.
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mattsprattuk wrote: but at least the lifan could do like 104mph in 3rd gear

[125cc rider]

Bit of a down side, weather was shit so I couldn't take my bike out onto the carpark but I was able to have a wee lil go in the warehouse.
I was able to get the bike going in first without stalling or jeaking but because of lack of space I didn't have a chance to get into second

But thanks for the tips guys
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Learner legal

[neil.]

Finding the biting point and setting off without stalling is the trickiest part, changing up/down gears is much easier.

You could also practice some 'slow control' by balancing the throttle, clutch and using some back brake. Basically ride along in 1st gear, then pull the clutch in slightly, so it's at bite, use the back brake to slow you down too and then add some throttle, say 3-4k revs. Balance the three things out so that you ride along at a steady 5mph or so, walking pace really. Keep it really smooth and gentle on all the controls. and try and relax your riding position so you're not tense or rigid. It's tricky at first but with a bit of practice it becomes quite easy.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)