I'm changing gears pretty badly, any pointers?

JonJ678

JonJ678

JonJ678

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This is on a CG125, L plates and all. It seems to be a remarkably tolerant little machine so far.

The main issue is changing up from first to second. Either I pull in the clutch, move my foot, and let the clutch out slowly - in which case the engine sounds worryingly close to stall and accelerates away slowly. Or I let the clutch out quickly, the bike goes into gear with a lurch and picks up the front wheel.

Neither is ideal. Fear of stalling while trying to pull away is pushing me towards the lurch-and-mini-wheelie option. I'm sure it's meant to be smoother than that though.

Suggestions?
 
You need to match the throttle (RPM) to the speed you're traveling.

Put the throttle back on before you release the clutch slowly.

I can't believe you got through your CBT without learning how to change gear properly tbh?
 
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I was the same the first month on my ybr125, heck few times stalled it lol.
What i did was at the weeknights/weekends id head to a local industrial estate, which i knew had decent stretches of straightish roads so i could practice without to much traffic about, most importantly no one about to make myself look foolish infront of lol.

What your after is to release the clutch a little faster then when it sounds like its gonna stall, but not as fast as when it lurches, takes practice if your not used to it. But as arctine said you will always have to make sure you have enough rpm's. When you hear the engine close to stall like you say, thats a clear indicator that u need more revs.

Iv noticed my gear changes are much smoother these days after i practiced by myself on quite roads. I still class myself a noob even after a year of riding.
 
Ah. That pretty much covers it, thanks. The issue seems to be opening the clutch quickly while opening the throttle to ward off stall. Faster engine speed then slowly let the clutch out seems reasonable.

Cheers

(I thought I'd failed my CBT - pass bar can't be very high)
 
The main issue is changing up from first to second. Either I pull in the clutch, move my foot, and let the clutch out slowly - in which case the engine sounds worryingly close to stall and accelerates away slowly.
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It sounds to me like you're trying to change gear too soon / going too slowly.
You'll pick it up with practice, once you've been riding a bit you won't bother reading RPM or thinking about the position of the clutch it all becomes very natural.

Or I let the clutch out quickly, the bike goes into gear with a lurch and picks up the front wheel.
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This is called dumping the clutch which can cause the bike to jump forward especially bad at junctions where you could end up under a car :o

Can you feel the biting point on your bike?
 
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having a slack chain wont help,it causes the bike to lurch when changing gear,oil your chain and gear change linkage too

and just be smooth with your clutch and time your throttle and gears/clutch better,it all comes with practise,
 
Use your accellerator/clutch almost exactly as though you were setting off on the straight. As you let out the clutch, twist the accellerator to keep the engine sound constant.
 
Pretty much what squarebutt said, try and keep the engine noise and feel constant so you're not slowing down too much before/while changing gear and speeding up too much afterwards.

It's pretty much practise and working out the biting point then you can play with revs around that.

I only know this as I was pretty much the same over a year ago on my YBR125, then learned to adapt the skill onto the 600 Bandit. It'll get easier :)
 
sounds like your changing up to quickly and when it lifts the front you still have the throttle open.

you should be closing the throttle completely, then pulling clutch, then kicking the gear lever, then letting cluch out [can be just let go if you have no throttle] then applying the throttle again.

that can all be done in a split second, not really sure how you are managing to **** it up tho, did you do you cbt on a auto scoot then buy a bike?
 
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