What gear..

[johnte]

Is it just me, or do others forget sometimes what gear you're in ?
Sometimes when changing up, I go for an extra one that isn't there
And sometimes when pulling up to a junction, I can't remember how far down I've gone.
Are you supposed to count as you change ?
Do bigger / better bikes have a display that tell you ?

[James83]

The trick, basically, is to stop thinking about what gear you are actually in, and focus on changing to keep power available. I don't mean revs high as such, but rather that you are in a low enough gear that if you did twist it, its going to pull. After a while you will be able to tell if the bike is in too high of a gear to pull effectively if you tried to wind it on, that's your cue to change down. Once you get the knack for that, you'll never know which gear you are in unless you are very good at counting, or stationary.

Obviously that's only a rule of thumb. If you're at cruising speed, then change up to top gear and then change back down if you need the power to overtake.

At junctions, you want to be dropping into neutral or first just as you are rolling to a stop. Once you really have a feel for the bike, you'll be able to know when neutral is 'next'. but until you're sure, just go down until you hit the bottom for the box.
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Jonathan A wrote: tart.

[NJD]

How long have you been riding?

Engine size of your bike?

..

Running out of gears on up-shift:

Initial impression is that you just need to learn to use all of your rev range and upshift at the correct times, even on my chinky 125 I can do 30mph in 3rd but often up-shift to 4th just for comfort, after learning how to use my rev range and gears a little better (continues over time) I no longer end up in 5th with a "slow bike".

Approaching junctions:

Use the front and rear brake (or just front) and combine it with engine braking, will improve your riding quite a bit also you'll know when you've gone down to many gears because the bike will jolt.. easier to get away with on a 125 than a bike with more power (although I'm sure each bikes engine breaking ability varies not based on engine size, just an example).

As for gears:

You never need to count IMO as such although can do to start out, all that's (IMO) really needed is to forward plan therefore you'll know if you need to downshift or up-shift or stay in the gear your in.

You'll make mistakes as you go along, you get the hang of it, you don't want to be in the wrong gear and have the bike jolt you'll soon learn to correct it.

Gear indicators:

Some bikes have a gear indicator built in, others can have one fitted.

[johnte]

[johnte]

[Rogerborg]

[FuzzyBallz]

Yes all the time. The bike I'm riding on my lessons tells you what gear you are in but only when the clutch is all the way out, and sometimes takes a second or two to actually display it.

[Taught2BCauti...]

I ride a Vara 125 too, and after the first week of riding around central London, I stopped noticing. Eventually, you just get a feel for the engine speed being apropriate for the road speed, in an 'unconscious-competent' kind of way.

As for the Merc, I can never really tell when it changes gear - in fact, I'm not even sure how many gears it has and I can't be bothered to look it up.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[NJD]

Just to add to my above..

I'm not sure how much of this applies to the vardero since it has a reputation for being one of the few 125cc's to see 60/70mph (60 maybe more so than 70?) but you can change the sprocket set up (both front and rear) to alter the gearing on your bike.

I'd keep the above in mind but wouldn't bother with it until you're comfortable with riding and have more experience on 2 wheels as you mention it's different from a car.


Although i'm sure if you go up teeth on the front you'd also benefit from a bigger jet size (probably where I went wrong) just to prevent the bike from not being able to pull away as quickly despite a theoretical higher top speed.

But that's a conversation for another time if needed..

[Robbeh]

It's just something that will come naturally to you.

I've been riding for nearly a year now and don't worry about the gear I'm in, it's all about the revs really.

Still when on motorways I think I have an extra gear to go up but no big deal really. Like Rogerborg said its part of the fun

[J4mes]

Every day I go for 7th when it's not there

[Pete.]

If you're not sure whether you're in 1st gear and waiting to pull away, just let out the clutch a little and feel how the bike responds. You'll soon enough get a feel with how the bike reacts to biting in 1st and this trick will instantly let you know because the gap in ratios is highest from 1st to 2nd.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[johnte]

[Casper]

I just with i had a sixth. I keep feeling the bike needs another gear. Must count the teeth on my sprockets one day as they may have been changed by some previous owner.

[RhynoCZ]

[J4mes]

100mph = 7Krpm in 6th, doesnt stop me trying though!

[talkToTheHat]

I sometimes forget if i'm in 4th or 5th (only 5 on mine) coming out into a 30 or 40 limit, and it's hard to tell the difference between 4th and 5th at 30, they're both wrong, but if I drop 2 gears having been in 4th, I'll have my balls in the tank.

Mostly I count. IN the above situation if I am really unsure I shift up then down twice under braking and end up in the right place, or shift down one and see how a gentle roll on feels.

Completely lost track of gears bimbling through town when I borrowed the R1 and kept trying to pull away in gears other than first.
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Bandit. does. everything.