[clutch137]

About basic riding technique

Gear Selection - When I'm cruising, I tend to upshift alot and cruise around 3-4k. Should I be in a higher range / lower gear to avoid lugging then engine and to give myself better engine braking in an emergency? What rev range do you cruise in and why?
Edit: Highway vs Streets on this question too, should I ride in 6th if I'm doing 60 on the highway? or use 4-5th?

Stopping \ Downshifting vs Neutral - When coming up to a stop, I tend to put the bike in neutral and use the brakes to stop. The exception is getting off the highway where I downshift to about 35 then go into neutral and brake. Should I keep the bike in gear when stopping or use the brakes? What is your normal stopping procedure from the highway? Stopping procedure on the street?

Thanks SBN :bitchslap

 

[shadows090]

About basic riding technique

Gear Selection - When I'm cruising, I tend to upshift alot and cruise around 3-4k. Should I be in a higher range / lower gear to avoid lugging then engine and to give myself better engine braking in an emergency? What rev range do you cruise in and why?
Edit: Highway vs Streets on this question too, should I ride in 6th if I'm doing 60 on the highway? or use 4-5th?

I tend to stay a little bit higher than that. I remember reading on the california superbike school forum that one of the instructors stays in that range. It's fine, it won't damage anything (even though reading 3k made me cringe a tad). I prefer to stay a little closer to the powerband though. Perhaps 5-8 on streets.

I'd probably be in fifth or sixth gear on the highway, unless I was planning on passing or something.

Stopping \ Downshifting vs Neutral - When coming up to a stop, I tend to put the bike in neutral and use the brakes to stop. The exception is getting off the highway where I downshift to about 35 then go into neutral and brake. Should I keep the bike in gear when stopping or use the brakes? What is your normal stopping procedure from the highway? Stopping procedure on the street?

Thanks SBN :bitchslap

What do you mean by put the bike in neutral? You pretty much have to downshift for that...unless you mean pulilng in the clutch?

Either way, you should be downshifting to make sure you're in the correct gear.

I downshift, engine brake, and use the brakes (clutch out) to slow down. If I'm stopping at a redlight or something, then I keep the clutch pulled in starting at about 10-20 mph until I stop. Once I'm stopped I switch it into neutral.

 

[Moon]

About basic riding technique

Gear Selection - When I'm cruising, I tend to upshift alot and cruise around 3-4k. Should I be in a higher range / lower gear to avoid lugging then engine and to give myself better engine braking in an emergency? What rev range do you cruise in and why?
Edit: Highway vs Streets on this question too, should I ride in 6th if I'm doing 60 on the highway? or use 4-5th?

Stopping \ Downshifting vs Neutral - When coming up to a stop, I tend to put the bike in neutral and use the brakes to stop. The exception is getting off the highway where I downshift to about 35 then go into neutral and brake. Should I keep the bike in gear when stopping or use the brakes? What is your normal stopping procedure from the highway? Stopping procedure on the street?

Thanks SBN :bitchslap

Depending on engine configuration/type and gearing:
In traffic you probably want to keep the engine speed where it will respond quickly to an emergency without having to downshift for more power and acceleration. On the highway wherever you are comfortable without lugging the engine for better fuel mileage if nothing else.

When slowing keep your bike in gear, use your brakes for stopping w/ engine braking as needed keeping rpms in a range where your bike can respond readily to the throttle (NOT Neutral). At a stop keep it in first, just in case you have to move out quickly, for example than soccer mom behind you on the cell phone and yelling at the kids while changing the DVD who is not stopping. If there is adequate room and the other vehicles behind you are completely stopped and you have to wait a while you might shift to neutral for a hand rest but be observant.

 

[qubert]

+1 on no neutral....I almost never put it in neutral.

6th at highway speeds, otherwise depends on weather I am behaving or not. I use this RPM to gauge what a cruising RPM should be for the bike, and set all other speeds accordingly.... give or take.

Gradually gear down to 1, pull in clutch, stop. I actually hit all gears, dunno why, some skip 1 hit 1.

 

[teedubyaw]

+1 to what's been said.

Anything over 60, on the highway, I'm in 6th. Anything around town, I stay in the 5-7k range (that power band will vary per bike, of course)

 

[clutch137]

Thanks for the responses, I'll stop using neutral so much

What do you mean by put the bike in neutral?

Generally on the streets, when I saw a stop ahead I would prepare for it by pulling the clutch in and coasting for a while before using the brakes. I would downshift without letting out the clutch in preparation, ie be in the correct gear via foot, ready via hand. Either way, that practice is gone.

 

[Stick N Move]

Definately wouldnt stay in the 3-4k range while cruising, perhaps 5-6k would be better.

And as said before... dont shift into neutral and then do all your braking. What happens if your going 35 mph and the light turns greeen and your in neutral? You shift into first and your RPMS will skyrocket and put a huge strain on your engine, especially if you were going faster. And What happens if you need to swerve or even move out of the way? You wont be able to avoid an emminent crach or wreck while in neutral. Shift through ALL the gears and stay out of neutral.

 

[teedubyaw]

What happens if your going 35 mph and the light turns greeen and your in neutral? You shift into first and your RPMS will skyrocket and put a huge strain on your engine,

You can pop the bike into second...

 

[binx_19]

sometimes you need some throttle to get yourself out of trouble, so cruising in the 3-4k range would not give you that advantage, 6k+ is where you want to be.

 

[Mike00]

Simple truth is you do not want to have to do an emergency maneuver when your in neutral. you have no control over the bike or a car for that matter (peopel do that all the time as well).

As to the cruising thing it's a preference. I don't really believe it's an issue curising at 3-5k rpm. You still have the potential to jump in speed even at that rpm.

The neutral thing is a big no-no though. Defintiely need to stop that pronto.

 

[Stick N Move]

You can pop the bike into second...

Yes, you can. But that takes even more time and less time to react to your own situation. Bottom line dont do it, even if you "can" do it.

 

[teedubyaw]

Yes, you can. But that takes even more time and less time to react to your own situation. Bottom line dont do it, even if you "can" do it.

I didn't say it was correct, but if you happen to catch yourself in neutral and rolling up to a red light - turned green light, there's nothing wrong with upshifting to second gear.

You made it sound as if you and your engine are doomed if you're in neutral and rolling.

 

[arcticamt6]

+1 on the above posts.

If I'm just cruising through town I'll ride at the upper 4k to lower 5k range, 7-8k if I'm around other cars and might need to get away quick, and 7-8k again when I'm riding twisties. Highways I shift at like 6-7k rpm if I'm going for fuel economy which will put me in the 5k range. Then again, I ride a triple which is better down low than an I4. And of course I can't say no to riding 1st up to 13k every now and then.

 

[jimphunpants]

2nd gear, 6-10K RPM - cruising around town.

5th or 6th gear, ??RPM - highway speeds.

3rd gear, 6K-??RPM - sweepers and shitty twisties around here.