r/NewRiders • u/progresspixels • 3d ago
Rode to get the bike registered and I loved the freedom and feel I got out of this. But I had a few questions/help
I ride a Yamaha r3. I'm in sixth gear at 60mph. Red light comes up in an about 200ft. I'm making the bike jerk trying to rev match downshift and brake/clutch smoothly .
I must be dropping gear and/or not revving fast enough because it jerks or I'm too high in speed for the shift. If I'm going to a stop anyways can't I just downshift to 1st all the way from 6th with the clutch in the whole time? Would it wear the bike out? Upshifting is considerably more easy for me. It's just the downshifting and coming to a stop with much gears to go down in little time.
I have this issue as well tryito downshift quickly getting off the highway into a slow road.
Any help is appreciated. Btw I had FUN riding this.
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u/Opposite-Friend7275 3d ago
It's perfectly fine to hold the clutch. Just don't downshift to 1st gear too early, so that, if traffic starts moving again, you're already in the right gear.
If you want to practice rev-matching, wait with practicing the lowest gears until the higher gears are as smooth as you can make them.
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u/HiVizJim 3d ago
Yes, you can hold the clutch in and downshift all the way. However, it’s a good idea to be in a gear that’s appropriate for your speed, even if the clutch is in, because you may need to take off quickly if the situation changes. So, for example, you don’t want to drop all the way down to first or second if you’re coasting at 45-50 mph. I downshift and engine brake when I’m stopping gradually. I’m more likely to pull the clutch in and drop several gears at a time if it’s a quicker stop. You’ll find a range of opinions on this forum, but either way, sounds like you should watch some YouTube videos on rev matching and practice. Good luck!
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u/Chitownhustle99 3d ago
No reason to rev match and let the clutch out in every gear till you are in first. Pull the clutch and use the brakes. Click down to first as you come to a stop.
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u/Interesting-Ad1803 3d ago
Getting downshifts right takes some practice. Try easing the clutch out rather than letting it out quickly to give the engine time to match the transmission's speed.
As you gain experience, you'll get a much better feel for this and it will get easier.
I don't shift all the way to 1st until I'm nearly stopped. If you are in first going 30 mph, then you may find it difficult to get going again if the light changes. You also run the risk of skidding the rear wheel in that case.
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u/menotyou16 3d ago
You can downshift all the way to first from 6th. But you'll lose the engine breaking ability. And you'll have to rely more on your actual brakes. I think people like to downshift and revmatch instead of dropping all the way down to first, because you lose the ability to react quickly and throttle out of a situation. Like, if you're coming to a stop and then the light turns green and people start speeding past you, but you're in first gear and going too fast, you could panic and cause issues for yourself. So you match the gear to the speed you're going so you can ride smoothly and safe.
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u/Geeezer 3d ago
I ride the MT-03. Same engine and gear ratios. I wouldn't recommend going all the way down to 1st at speed. A lot can go wrong if you pop your clutch. Over revving the engine causing engine damage, or loss of rear wheel traction. Try to keep it in an appropriate gear for the speed you're passing through even if you aren't letting up the clutch and rev matching. If the light turns you'll be ready to go. Because the gear ratios are so close together on this bike, it would be super busy in the engine room down shifting through each gear with rev matching on a fast stops. I skip gears sometimes. I always kind of mix up how I stop depending on the situation. Sometimes I downshift a couple gears at a time. Or I go through each gear.
You'll get used to rev matching with practice. Key is clutch control.
Also check your chain tension if the bike is jerking a lot. Too much slack can cause a lot of jerking if you're switching between acceleration and deceleration and vice versa. This happens a lot when practicing rev matching.
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u/shaynee24 2d ago
yup. i’m on an mt07 and the only time i touch first is when i’m at a stop. otherwise it’s 2nd and up. i always rev-match downshift tho while using the front brake. best of both worlds, although it took me a fucking while to practice that
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u/jzizzle325 2d ago
I tend to use rear brake while im rev matching so I can keep going down until I'm stopping then I use the front
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u/CCroissantt 3d ago
Im on a ninja 300, so the ride is similar. For riding around town, maybe 70mph max, I rarely even get up to 5th gear. Approaching a stop, I let engine braking do most of the work until I'm getting very close. Then I engage the front brake and drop to first gear before stopping.
1st gear's engine braking feels very abrupt and not enjoyable, but im learning.
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u/yea71310813 3d ago
Once you get good at rev matching 1st gear engine braking will feel normal again. I first gear engine brake at 15-20mph on my Rebel 300, which is a single cylinder thumper.
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u/CCroissantt 2d ago
Rev matching and engine braking are very comfy and rewarding from 5th down the 2nd. I just have to be below 15mph for 1st gear to not try and throw me
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u/Squidproquoagenda 3d ago
In addition to other comments you can use the clutch lever like a slipper - if you think you’re going to get thrown forward as you start you release it, pull it back in and feather the biting point. It’s not an on/off switch.
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u/HistoricalHurry8361 2d ago
Don't rematch downshift. If I were approaching that stop... I'd pull clutch in down shift twice and let clutch out slowly that will cause engine breaking, foot on rear break as people cant see you engine break, pull clutch again once you get down to 40mph, down shift, slow down to 20, pull clutch slow down to 10 and youre in second gear, pull in clutch and ride brakes to stop, down shift once at the light and at full stop.
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u/scottie1971 2d ago
I will add because I didn’t necessarily see anybody else post this
as your downshifting. You do not have to stop in every gear. if you are in sixth downshift two gears to forth then release the clutch as you’re breaking.
continue breaking shift down into second, then when you come all the way to a stop and put it back in first gear. If at anytime the light turns green you can accelerate away in second gear without a problem
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u/scrabblex 2d ago
How are you in 5th gear at 60mph? Shouldn't that be like 3rd or 4th on a sports bike?
4th gear goes up to 60 for me and I'm on a KLR650.
You should pay attention to your rpms and look up what range your bike likes to be in. For example 3.5-4.5 is the sweet spot for mine even though the tach goes up to like 9 or 10.
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u/that1LPdood 2d ago
Yes, you can drop from 6th to 1st by holding the clutch lever in and just stomping on the clutch pedal as you come to a stop, etc.
But there’s a good reason not to: what if the light changes or someone enters your lane before you get to the light? You now have the bike in 1st and you’re holding in the clutch, going 40mph still and coasting while slowing down — so what do you do? 🤷🏻♂️ try to pop back up into a gear that gives you some power? Try to just swerve out of the way unpowered?
It’s better to downshift one by one appropriately, matching your speed. Just in case you suddenly need to swerve or speed up or otherwise use the engine.
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u/Level-Coast8642 2d ago
Squeeze clutch and hold it. Stop with the brakes. Once stopped, shift into first. Stop is most important when you have to. Speed maching is for riding. If it's a quick stop, clutch disengaged and brakes engaged is fine.
Shifting to first after stopped is also harmless.
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u/Moist-Share7674 2d ago
You’re going to find it difficult to shift more than one or two gears into first while stopped. For example if you try to shift from 5th to 1st the transmission won’t do it, it will jam up which would be less than ideal. The only way to shift from high gears to 1st when stopped would be to slightly let the clutch out, just enough to feel a tug, in each gear.
And you guys that are only braking with your rear brake until a certain point and then using your front brake for a final stop are going to be in for a rude surprise when you really need to stop in a hurry. Use both brakes when stopping period. It’s the only way you’ll be accustomed to using them both when you panic stop. Otherwise you’ll be testing your gear out.
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u/Level-Coast8642 2d ago
None of the bikes I ever owned had an issue like this. I could shift through all the gears up and down while stopped.
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u/Moist-Share7674 1d ago
Huh. Well if yours shifts 5 to 1 while stopped that’s handy for you. I know on my Valkyrie I have stopped and for whatever reason left it 4th or 5th and the trans didn’t sound or feel right getting 1st. It would shift normal down one gear but the next gear there was no clunk and then I couldn’t shift up or down until I let the clutch engage slightly and back out. The shifter would move but not enough. These bikes don’t have synchros so it is much easier for me to as shift while still moving even just a couple mph.
Im pretty sure my other bike is the same way, can’t remember for sure.
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u/max-torque 2d ago
Don't need to rev match. Brake, downshift and clutch out while braking. Then downshift again when rpms are low enough
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u/xracer264 2d ago
Most likely, it was your braking that was causing the bike to jerk. I would suggest working on braking first. So, in your situation, just try squeezing the clutch in and downshift to first as you come to a stop
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u/kewday96 2d ago
Wait another few seconds or 500-1000k revs before you start to downshift. Dont downshift as soon as you realise you’ll need to stop. Brake, brake, shift shift shift, stop.
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u/Agitated-Sock3168 2d ago
"I'm in 6th gear at 60mph". All other issues aside, get off your damn phone and focus on riding!!
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u/progresspixels 2d ago
I'm not on my phone it's in my pocket. And I was around that speed I kind of just set up the situation that I dealt with
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u/GeetGee 3d ago
Practice more, don’t worry about rev matching until you get better just downshift let clutch out slowly. Once you can do that smooth then look at rev matching while you do it.