i forget what gear i'm in before i take a tight turn

[dre]

I know this is a very stupid question, but i freak every time i start slowing down for a tight turn and forget what gear i'm in. for example i'm on a 50-55 mph road and there's an intersection with a tight right turn; i don't know what gear i'm in and i need to get to a lower gear for the turn. my biggest fear is that i'll be in either a to high of a gear and the bike will stall or i over compensate and i take the turn in to low a gear. p.s. my gear indicator is broken and am in the process of repairing it. thanks guys

[Hondo]

Downshift into the turn so you will know where you are in the gearbox.

Try to make turns in gear, not with the clutch in -

[fishball]

While I really like my gear indicator it is a bit of a crutch.  You should get to know your bike by the sound of the motor, the response of the throttle and the rpm's as you approach corners or make gear changes.  It will become almost automatic in time.

[cmyers]

You should get to know your bike by the sound of the motor, the response of the throttle and the rpm's as you approach corners or make gear changes.  It will become almost automatic in time.

+1 Based on RPM/engine sound and speed I know what gear I am in, from there I count as I downshift into the correct gear to get through the corner. Have I made mistakes, yes, but I think one key to staying off the 4grit grinder is to do everything smoothly and gently. Hondo is right that you should have your engine rpms and speed matched before you enter the corner so you can add power all the way through.

[windrider]

What's a gear indicator?  Do they put those on motorcycles?  Never had one.

[fishball]

What's a gear indicator?  Do they put those on motorcycles?  Never had one.

The Nighthawk 650sc and 700s have gear indicator as part of the instrument cluster.  It's a nice feature but can become a distraction.

[coffee_brake]

Per "proper" technique, you'll be on the throttle through turns, not coasting, just like Hondo said. There are myriads of theories but it is definately to the motorcyclist's advantage to have already slowed down, selected the lower gear, and already be on the throttle by the beginning of the tight curve.

[ariwhiteboy]

+1 to all of the above...don't worry you will get it down in time.  It just takes practice.    After almost 20K it becomes like second nature, even if I do find myself occasionally reaching for a 6th that isn't there....yet.

[ailkel]

Even though I have been riding for 25 years it still takes a while to learn a MC that is new to me.  I recommend taking a Motorcycle Safety Course if you haven't already done so.   When approaching any turn I down shift through the gears until I get to the desired speed.   When on a new bike this may mean riding rather slowly through the turns but I find it is easier to speed up rather than slow down in these situations.  Take your time and enjoy the ride. 

[dre]

thank you all for your help, and for not treating me like the total noob that i am. i guess i'm just over thinking gear shifting and like hondo said to learn to shift before the turn and not have the clutch pulled in. I loled cause that's exactly how i do it. anyway, i took the msf course not to long ago and the only practice we got was to start the bike and when you got to third gear shift to second then slow, look, press roll. I just thought this was just a little to staged and it wasn't made for tight turns under after heavy braking.

[ariwhiteboy]

No problem dre, just find yourself a relatively quite section of road to "practice" on.  Take it easy and learn the bikes powerband and practice taking good lines through the turns.  Whatever you do don't come in too "hot" for a turn...that can be pretty ugly.  Many riders like to downshift and give a little rear brake, it makes the bike "fall" into the turn.

[Hondo]

Buy & read this -

http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536

[cmyers]

Dre when I started riding I was determined to learn how to get through the corners as fast as possible. I read everything I could, hung out with local racers talking bikes and riding with them, practiced at local "playgrounds" (think empty undeveloped suburbs with paved roads), and on more than one occasion was lucky to stay up, I also spent extensive amounts of time imagining and "walking" through corners. No matter what I did the chicken strips stayed, well after a year or so of riding daily and 12K miles my knowledge of my machine let me corner and ride even better. I have been riding over two years now and the biggest thing I have learned is that every day you ride is going to be a learning experience. The chicken strips will be gone one day and you will ask yourself "where did I get that far over?"

While I am waxing nostalgic let me also say never take any spot on the road for granted public highways are notorious for having gravel, dirt, or leaves in a spot they weren't last week; practice placing your tires exactly where you want them every ride; never fall victim to the thought that "I'm good enough" or that any ride is "Routine"; and lastly if you are going to ride a motorcycle treat that machine to tedious painstaking attention to detail maintenance like your life depends on it --- IT DOES.

Thanks for listening, well reading.

[Soupskin]

+1 to all of the above...don't worry you will get it down in time.  It just takes practice.    After almost 20K it becomes like second nature, even if I do find myself occasionally reaching for a 6th that isn't there....yet.

I forget about mine most of the time.

[coffee_brake]

Buy & read this -

http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536

+ a billion. If you don't have (yet) a group of good riders to hang out with and watch, then this book will save your skin and your paint job over and over. I re-read it every winter and always find something new.

[hppants]

Although semi-related, other suggestions would be to:

1.  Lane position.  Although hard to describe here, you can use the entire width of the lane to straighten the curve tremendously.  This technique also gives you a better chance to be seen by oncoming and even cross-traveling traffic.

2.  Look through the curves.  Physically turn your head into the curve and focus your eyes on where you want to go.  The bike will follow.

I practice these techniques every time I ride.  I live to ride twisties.  Wish we had more of them where I live.  

BTW - when I went from the 700 (6-speed) to the 750 (5 sp), for the 1st couple of rides, I jammed the shifter looking for the gear that wasn't there.   

[dre]

thanks for the tip cmyer. i don't have any biker friends around here but, i do practice at a local high schools parking lot, which they are huge here in texas. i often get looks from passers by and and get questioned by the police for why i'm there with a motorcycle (they think i'm stunting) lol. i do enjoy learning about a subject that im interested in, and try to get better at it. funny thing about the maintenance part, I knew nothing about working on a motorcycle when i bought mine and as soon as i got it i changed all the liquids and filters on it, and man they all looked horrible. i can't believe someone would care so little about their bike or their life (if something malfunctioned). the only problems i have left to solve are the gear position switch, find a solution to leaky view window gaskets on both reservoirs and changing a nearly bald front tire. (the last one i would my self if i had the proper tools, oh well). as for the books i'm going to have to check those out. thanks guys.

[Cherry Bomber]

Hi Dre glad to see another Houstonion on the boards, As the others have said it sounds like you are the brakes instead of engine compression braking to set up for the turn. Practice downshifting a gear or two before entering the turn to slow down and set up for powering thru and out of it. One weekend we will have to get together and go for a ride, I am in the Montgomery/Magnolia area of Montgomery county NW of Houston and the roads are great out here in the sticks.
Peace
Spike

[dre]

hey man, nice to meet you. i'm located on the west/n. eldridge exit on 290, right by honda of houston and traders village. i am suppose to get a part in by no later than Friday to hopefully get my bike up and running again. but once that's done we should meet up. i'm fairly new to the area, so i'm down to checking new areas around here.

[Cherry Bomber]

Hi Dre just saw where you need to change your front tire, I have the tools and know how to do the job, just put a set on cherry bomb last year myself and would be glad to show you how to do it. You can get a set of tire irons at harbor freight on jones rd at 290 for about $10.
Peace
Spike

[dre]

what!?!? that's insanely awesome. i would love to learn how because i like working on my own stuff, and also because i'm sort of a broke college student haha. i already have a new tire, the guy was cool enough to give it to me when i bought the bike. the tire irons that you are talking about are the 24" general purpose tire iron for 4.99 correct? should i pick up three? thanks for your help man.

[Cherry Bomber]

Those are the ones, 2 will do the job but 3 makes it easier, PM me with your address or phone number and saturday morning I will load the tool kit in the cage and help you with the tire.
Peace
Spike

[ChrisCB750]

Great info, guy!  I'm new to riding also, and reading through this section has been really eye-opening.  Trying to avoid as many rookie mistakes as possible...

And thanks for not heckling the noobie questions.... we all had our first ride, where we were trying to figure out what to do... 

[Count de Monet]

When on a new bike this may mean riding rather slowly through the turns but I find it is easier to speed up rather than slow down in these situations.  Take your time and enjoy the ride. 

+1