Tips on how to get the smoothest gear changes

[rideslikean00...]

So I have my XJ-6. Love it. Very manageable bike with enough power to be fun.

But I still have trouble getting smooth gear changes every time, especially with a pillion. I can do it well with gentler acceleration but it seems when I'm really opening the throttle and changing I've not got enough finesse to provide an easy transition up and down the box. I can preload the gear and let it slide in but it seems like I'm off the throttle too long this way.

It's obviously a learning curve and I'm all for ever improving my riding technique, so what tips can you throw my way?
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Throttle off very slightly after pulling in the clutch - works better for me two up. Worth a try anyway.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[c_dug]

I've found with a few months practice I am far smoother without using the clutch on the way up (Above second). I still use it most of the time out of sheer habit, but occasionally I'll throw in a completely seamless clutchless shift like a boss.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[TheArchitect]

Could be a combination of staying off the throttle too long and dumping the clutch too hard in too lower rev.

I guess every bike has it's sweet spot in the rev range for smooth shifts. I recently found mine after a track day.

sorry not much in the way of tips!
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GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
MT09 - Almost stolen

[wr6133]

Try to match the revs to the speed you are going and shift a bit earlier than if you were alone. The pillion themselves can help too an experienced/decent one will know when you are going to shift/accelerate/slow down and will react accordingly, a crap or inexperienced one will just cling on for dear life and no matter how smooth you are helmets will bump.

[grr666]

[faster_than_the_bus]

This guy makes good videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIhycth8msU&list=UU7cTUIwR1FuvMplHdHNDGug

Link will take you to his gear change vid.

[pig hog]

I'm with c_dug. From other threads, it seems to be frowned upon telling this to new riders (though I've been riding less than a year, myself) but I very rarely use the clutch to upshift above 2nd, now.

I used to have the same sort of problem—my shifts were't jerky but I'd sometimes mistime the clutch and rolling off the throttle, so it'd over rev a bit, especially under harder acceleration.

Since I started clutchless shifting (properly), I didn't have that problem and my shifts became much smoother. Plus, adding the clutch back in became much easier because clutchless shifting needs precise timing to work anyway, so I found that it actually improved my gear shifting as a whole—with or without clutch.

I won't recommend that you necessarily go out and do this (but don't let anyone stop you if you do want to) but I tried it and found it worked for me, so there you go.

Obviously, I always use the clutch to shift down, by the way.
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A2 Licence: 18/10/2013
A Licence: 01/12/2015
'13 Yamaha XJ6N '15 Daytona 675R / '16 MT-07 dead / '17 MT-07 / '18 MT-10

[rideslikean00...]

Tried clutchless upshifting with a pillion, I'm a little loose on the timing (I get a little jerkiness) but overall with practice I can tell this is a better way to go for all but first to second. Could potentially be much smoother and requires less time off the throttle to make the changes close to seamless.
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[Frog]

I've not tried with a pillion, and it may (I'd guess will) be different for different bikes, but I don't roll off as such, I blip the throttle off.

Not agressively fast, but the same sort of speed you'd lazily blip the throttle if you were at traffic lights.

Not sure if that makes sense, but HTH!
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CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012

[Orennayar]

For me I found that shifting slightly later at higher rpm helps doing a smooth transition.
Also the gear lever was way to high for me, after adjusting it it was a lot easier to shift gear smoothly and more comfortable too
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DAS passed: 21/07/14
2011 YBR125(sold)
2009 XJ6N

[John933]

I've had that kind of problem with all my bike's. A clunky up and down change. Found out that if you put your foot nearer in to the casing and then roll the rev's off a bit. Get as much of the gear leaver in the fat part of your foot. Then click it up a little slower. Kind's of work's for me. I know it's no racing change, but if your looking for smooth changes. It slow and easy.

Start off clunk. Start the bike up. Let it run for a few second's. Hit the kill switch. Drop it in a gear. Pull in clutch and brake then hit the start button. Work's for me.
John933
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My trip

[Baffler186]

I always thought my Fazer had a clunky gearbox, as others had reported this as standard. I was advised to change at higher RPM and, whilst that is smoother, it's not always practical, especially when I'm in a bobbing-along-slowly mood. In time I found that I was being too heavy footed with the gear shifter. All mine needs is a gentle click (the same as when you are selecting neutral) and it changes up as smooth as a nut.

This is specific to my bike of course, but it might work for you
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Clutchy]

If I'm full throttle blasting through the gears then it needs to be clutchless IMO


If I'm riding at a normal pace, then I just change gear quickly and quickly return on the throttle, really hard to explain tbh, check your clutch is properly adjusted as well.
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Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[rideslikean00...]

[Teflon-Mike]

[wr6133]

[blurredman]

[rideslikean00...]