How to change gears on a motorbike | BikeSocial

[@robbikebob]

Couple of points, don't change down too many gears at once or engine braking could lock the rear wheel and secondly if it all gets too much, pull the clutch in and hold it in. A lot of newby accidents are caused when the clutch is let out and the throttle wound too far open. Get used to pulling the clutch in then it doesn't matter what the throttles doing. I've been riding for 30 years and it gets very easy. Until you get grey and have kids and then it gets difficult again.....

[@MrSpherical]

thanks Rob!

[@geoffgauci7590]

I can get the motorbike into first gear, but every time when the bike is just moving, I seem to stall the bike by letting the clutch out too quickly once I’m moving I’m okay but it’s just that first bit of movement

[@TheTwinPost]

Been riding for thirteen years now.... Still fun to watch such videos

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks. Safe riding, Michael

[@NordicSoulMoments]

42 years old, just bought my first bike a Kymco Zing 2 125cc, this is such an informative video thank you

[@wolfurine]

Been riding for 10 years but watched this out of boredom. A good way of explaining the clutch/throttle combo to beginners when changing UP gears is to imagine wringing out a towel one way then back again (albeit quickly). You might want to follow up this vid with one on downshifts & rev-matching - a lot trickier for the novice 😬

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks for the comment, and that's an interesting way of describing it.

[@sambagogo777]

The video would have benefitted from demonstrating more clearly what to do when needing to stop, i.e. how to approach going from riding when in a higher gear back down to neutral. Some viewers will be wondering if they should be changing down gears in rapid succession, for example.

[@TheeSamz04]

Great video. I have no experience on a bike but plan to do my CBT in the next month. The shifting gears part always confused me especially because I always thought that you have to let off on the clutch slowly when changing into higher gears too. But seeing how quick you let off on the clutch when going into 3/4/5th gears without stalling helped the confusion

[@BLACKHAWK4949]

Hello. Did you do your cbt?

[@seanf31]

I found this trouble too, they always stated letting off the clutch SLOOOOOWLY, so therefore I thought the clutch has to be let off slowly when changing any gears up or down, 3,4,5,6, but they never specify this

[@cheyenneobregon184]

I drive a manual here in the US but sold the car and bought a brand new rs 660. I’ve been looking at videos and this was very helpful! Bike is due in the states end of February!

[@NudaMan]

Still waiting on them at my job/dealership in San Francisco 🥲 we got a few 2021 Ktm 890 Adventures tho

[@cheyenneobregon184]

@@NudaMan I wanted the akrapovic but man it doesn’t sound the 1300$ option I wanted. And the EPA made them not able to import them catless since I’m Florida no state emissions

[@bennettsbikesocial]

It's had some very positive reviews, especially by us! Hope you get on well with it and do let us know. Cheers, Michael

[@bevwinstanley]

I have to make his comment I'm buzin with this video feel confident now for getting my first bike 2moro was bit unsure but now after your vid n watched another b4 u but you and yours is brilliant feel good about it n so excited just wanted to say that and thank you u have really helped me good 👍 👌🌟

[@stevewilson8752]

Hi from Bundaberg Australia 🇦🇺🍹☺️ Im 58 & about to go do my Learner Course 🏍 Always wanted to learn & ive decided now is my time before i get any older ! I figure ive got 15 good years of riding in front of me 😝👍 maybe 20 years if i look after myself ! Been watching dozens of videos from Instructors & Experienced Guys on how to ride & watched learners course videos & thank God there is men like you doing these helpful videos to give us learners some confidence & take away the anxiety of learning to ride 👍😃 i know im going to love riding a motorcycle 🏍 its on my mind more than anything in recent months , Ive learnt so much from video's like Your videos & i need to say a big Than You ☺️ Cheers From steve in Australia 🇦🇺🕺🍹

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Hi Steve, thanks for the message. Big fan of your rum by the way. We've recently published episode 1 (as well as an intro video) to a new series called Better Riding which might be right up your street. Episode 2 should drop this week too. Have a look on our channel and let me know what you think. All the best, Michael

[@stevewilson8752]

@bennettsbikesocial Will do Michael ☺️ looking forward to the video 👍😃 I like the Bundaberg Rum to matey , its a beautiful sweet drop 😝🕺

[@capybara931]

Another fantastic, informative and very much appreciated upload from Bennetts. The camera angles, etc are wonderful. Thank you all involved and keep up the great work. Wishing you all the very best for 2021

[@1smackay]

This is a great video. Just booked my 1st lesson helped me alot 👌

[@cameronmale83]

Always change the clutch lever to suite your hand size and preference, getting the friction point easily is so important especially for low speed manoeuvres.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Yes, a good tip for those bikes with span adjustable clutch levers, thanks.

[@geoffgauci7590]

Yeah I had a bit of a bad experience on Alexs Moto in my neck of the woods in Basildon Essex now I’m saving the money up to go down to Royston to BMW learn there then hopefully do my theory, then hopefully do my a license I want to do adventure riding I’ve just turned 52

[@15lastone]

Outstanding tutorial 👌 👏 thanks for sharing 👍

[@web525]

Only need to pull clutch to past the bite point (fiction point) to change gears, not all the way to handle bars. Makes the gear change quicker and smoother, just takes a little feel for the bike and bit of practice to get used to doing this way.

[@stevewilson8752]

Yes ☺️👍🕺

[@Husnain880]

Should I give acceleration to because my bike jerks when I change gear

[@nickxvega]

@@Husnain880 I imagine that is either you letting off the clutch too quickly, or if you're downshifting, give the throttle a quick blip

[@ademolaonibiyo8844]

Thank you for this tutorial, im used t riding scooters now im getting a Transalp and its explained a lot for me

[@aunoates6617]

This is so much easier than it used to be! First of all you had to work out where the gear change was...on the right, on the left, on the handlebar, next to the tank or sometimes you had to use the kick starter to shift gear. Then you had to work out where neutral was either at the top or the bottom of the pattern or in the usual place. Then you had to decide whether the gears went up or down and could be any number of speeds up to at least seven! 🙂

[@princetawaih5283]

That's really great for teaching me this, I was really happy learning it ❤

[@covid19-oo4xn]

really nice explanation video i understand everything you say everything you do because i make next week motorcycle driving license i can drive but my only problem is stitching gears but now i know thank you so much ❤

[@vijaydkini]

simple and very nicely explained....great sir✌👌👌

[@NickBotha]

Doing my cbt tomorrow, thank you

[@barrycarruthers]

Brilliant tutorial Thanks 👍

[@StephanieJaneAllen]

Excellent instruction - thank you!

[@lpete531]

Awesome video, great for new riders 👍🏽

[@aaronwolstenholme8640]

Got my CBT tommorow morning I needed this refresher. Thanks great vid. Quick hand shandy and off sleep now

[@lomate1963]

That changed my outlook 👍🏻😳

[@rabbitofficial736]

Im planning to buy a motorcycle soon but have no idea how to drive one so ill have to practice somewhere close to the dealership before ill feel ready to drive it home but this video helped me so much this video is amazing so thank you sir

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Is there no licence requirement where you live?

[@markbradbury6076]

Whenever I've had to explain the gears on a bike, I say that neutral is 'halfway' between 1st and 2nd. Full down (or up) goes to 1st (or 2nd), Half down (or up) goes to neutral

[@SimakaBear]

I'm looking to start riding, just for commuting to work, these videos are very informative, due to take CBT soon and then move onto Mod 2 test. :)

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Best of luck! We have a series coming soon called 'Better Riding' which I'm hoping will help you further.

[@synthrogue6856]

I'm due to start soon too but how exactly are you bypassing Mod 1 and going straight to Mod 2 if you've not completed your CBT yet? Mod 1 is compulsory as that's the off road hazard avoidance course and then that moves you up to Mod 2.

[@ronaldbear1]

What a great informative video

[@Havisis]

Thank you! Whole day I've tryed to find out how to change gear in my native language, but every tip was about "just grab the clutch and change gear" tier answers. I didn't understand that first gear is down and rest from there are up.

[@theonlyredspecial]

Happy new year Michael. I hope you are well mate ! Wishing you a healthy and happy 2021. Helpful video for newbies! I remember teaching myself 35 years ago now in a car park!

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks, and the same to you. Cheers, Michael

[@deanahlack4086]

A great video. Thanks very much.

[@nguyenpho7976]

Thanks man, this was really helpful :D

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Glad it helped!

[@RicsGames]

thanks, very very helpful! total noob here starting up.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks for watching and I hope you have a great time with biking! Cheers, John

[@richardchappell1918]

Brilliant video thank you

[@codjebaccc7419]

when to know to change the gear when is up hill do go in a higher gear or lower

[@murdocampbell4858]

Holy Moly! Thank the Lord for muscle memory. I’ve been doing that for 45 years without thinking about it. I need to lie down 😳.

[@richardpearson4248]

Great video stay safe looking forward to next one 🇬🇧👍

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks Richard

[@IndigoJo]

How does the quick shifter work? On a lot of gearboxes on big trucks (with the constant mesh or 'crash' gearboxes) you can do gear shifts without the clutch as long as you get the revs right.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

You don't have to get the revs right on upshifts or down, the quickshifter allows you to manually change gear without using the clutch lever, nor adjusting your throttle position. Some more modern systems even allow you to change up with the throttle unengaged. hope that makes sense. Thanks, Michael

[@DadBodCast25]

Best video out there for this 👏🏻 good job

[@stickvortex]

Thank god I found this video, don’t know how I rode all those years without this knowledge. Only taking the piss of course 😂

[@notused.]

No need to take the piss. It's for people who haven't yet redden. We're very nervous

[@synthrogue6856]

You came out of the womb knowing everything about everything i take it?

[@stickvortex]

@@synthrogue6856 I guess you missed the part where I said I was only joking…

[@rebekahgraham6048]

Thank you very informative

[@Najiya_Nilambur]

Thank you Brother. ❤️

[@philipsheard624]

Thank you very much for this!

[@r.r8314]

Thanks ☺️ such a good video

[@benwui4321]

Best explanation thanks

[@laika25]

So clear. Thanks.

[@OfficialJGorman]

Love riding and driving a car; but as a personal choice, I much prefer an automatic. It just makes things less stressful, and the ride is smoother. I e just bought a beautiful cruiser bobber, and it’s back to gears, but if there had been an auto option I’d have jumped at it.

[@Eideric]

Great video - really helpful.

[@osbornaddom7998]

Please when do you have to change gears?

[@edvardasmiskinis5741]

Hello, it's great video, and it helps me a lot to understand. I'm complete amateur, and looking to by a bike. One think I needed to know, First gear goes down, neutral goes up and then follows 2,3,4,5,6.. when you go down the gears, and let's say you are in 2nd, and you want to go in 1st.. do you go from 2nd to 1st via neutral (meaning you shift down twice? Please advise

[@NordicAxe]

Neutral sits very narrowly between 1st and 2nd. You don't need to shift down twice. Just make sure that you do a full press of the shift peddle and you'll move between 1st and 2nd without ever noticing neutral. Neutral requires a tiny half-press and is easily missed even when you are trying to select it, (hence why those green neutral indicators have become popular because it is so easy to engage a gear rather than neutral, then loose your bike when dropping the clutch 😁). Tip - sometimes you will find that neutral just won't select. In this case hold your clutch in and roll the bike forwards-backwards a few inches whilst trying again.

[@RatManAl]

​@thenordiceye thanks for explaining, never been on a bike and always wondered how you shifted between 1st and 2nd and vice versa, I knew it was down for 1st then up from the rest, but always thought it odd (in my mind as I didn't know any better) that you had to double click up to reach 2nd, but now I know you don't, so thanks. Plan to get my bike license this next year, something I always should have done, but never did.

[@steevieweevie]

I rarely use the clutch changing up, other than into first. I put 'prime' pressure on the gear selector and then drop the revs and it slots in really smoothly. Is this ok to do? Makes gear changes really quick and easy. I've not had any gearbox or clutch issues.

[@benridingbikes]

I don’t really understand how you skip neutral when shifting from 1st to 2nd? If it’s one click up for neutral, but also one click up for 2nd, how do you know which of those you’ve selected if you haven’t got it on a dashboard?

[@wereoursouls3472]

Give it a firm click up, it will skip neutral and go into second.

[@anneong8064]

Does that mean everytime i want to change gear i need to clutch in? Example if from gear 1 to gear 3 i need to clutch in 3 times? Or i can just clutch in 1 time and change e gear from 1 to 3 simultaneously? Can someone pls help answer my question? Thank you.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Yes, but on a bike you don't go straight from 1 to 3 you ride for a few seconds in first, then change to second, ride a few seconds more and then change up to third etc. The engine makes it's most torque (what we feel as 'drive' in a certain part of the rev range and your bike will be easiest to ride if you keep it in that range. Bike engines can make a lot of power from small capacities but they aren't as flexible as something like a diesel car and so you have to change gear frequently to keep it in the sweet spot. To new riders this sounds a bit daunting, but you soon get used to it and changing gear to control the way the bike feels is one of the most exciting parts of riding. let us know how you get on. Steve

[@PRADEEPSINGH-jx1ce]

Nice way to explain the gearing system ♥️♥️

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks, glad you think so!

[@PRADEEPSINGH-jx1ce]

@@bennettsbikesocial i even learned from the video thanks one more time Keep doing the work like it 👍

[@kps.77]

Just wondering if te gears are 1N23... to go from 1 to 2 did you double shift up past N?

[@NudaMan]

I like to Rev Match to decelerate, but in traffic clutching as always🤷🏾‍♂️

[@hakankillberg6043]

Great video. I have never tried the DCT on the Hondas. Have you showed that in more details in earlier videos? Seems like a nice option. Even interested in a video about the hill stop system. Seems like a lot of riders complaining about it. Have you covered this before? Thanks for a great chanel 😃

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Hi Håkan, thanks for your comment. The DCT gearbox has been around for 10 years now and the latter versions are much smoother and intuitive than the originals. We ran a feature a few years ago explaining what it is: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/features/bikes/how-does-dual-clutch-transmission-work and we then highlighted it in some work with Honda where you can see it demonstrated: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJ2Up5iEppd0ntk For hill starts, there's mention of it in this video we made at KTM's testing facility: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqmql3d5ra9nkJY All the best, Michael

[@richard21-e]

Is neutral only obtainable between 1st and second or can you shift into neutral on any shift, ie. Between 3rd and 4th if you half click it?

[@chrisweeks6973]

@Craig Wilson Or, just to be confusing, on a rotary gearbox (frequently found on small-capacity Chinese bikes) the sequence is N-1-2-3-4-5, then repeats N-1-2-3-4--5 endlessly. The idea is that the rider comes to a stop still in 5th, presses down again for neutral and again for first. The downside is that as most of these bikes are low geared, the rider (in 5th) presses down for the non-existent (6th) extra gear, hits neutral, thinks it's a false neutral, presses down again and finds himself in 1st. Not recommended, as it will lock the back wheel and try to spit the rider off.

[@raymondfitzgerald521]

My Suzuki gear changes are often clunky , any advice?

[@waiwong7996]

So you can select gears without starting the bike?

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Yes you can, although the engine won't start unless you have the clutch pulled in.

[@grzegorzczekan5394]

What would be your recommendation for someone who has a left side disabled and has not have as much strong left side grip on fingers? electric motorbike?

[@903lew]

DCT all the way.

[@ungh]

I plan to do my CBT in a few months but don't have any experience with motorcycles, any advice? :D

[@kirk0270]

Thank you...

[@charlies_ears]

new ink Michael? looks good 👌🏼

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thank you very much, I've not had anything added for about three years and it's about time for another visit to the almighty Dan Gold! Cheers, MM

[@TonMachielsen]

Ah, so that't why my bike doesn't go faster than 65km/hw while still making all that noise!! Thanks!!

[@jbird330]

Er old classic bikes such as BSA, the gear change foot control is on the right side and the opposite to modern bikes, as in one up, four down but I guess not many new riders will be on 40-60 yr old bikes lol

[@zohaibali1004]

how to downshifting

[@TheBigLebowskix]

Miss riding already

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Speedy recovery, 'Jeff'!

[@KrisVic91]

My mates gear change level is on the right of his bike, is that common? It's a new bike.

[@wanderer54796]

When will The BMW M 1000 RR launch Sir?

[@bennettsbikesocial]

All we know at the moment is sometime in the spring

[@wanderer54796]

@@bennettsbikesocial ohhh ok Sir Thanks for replying.

[@trendingtelecast2509]

Can you make video on "how to brake properly"?? :-D

[@theonlyredspecial]

Break what ? I think you mean ‘brake’. 😜

[@trendingtelecast2509]

@@theonlyredspecial :,-)

[@MariMamu]

Top

[@sgabriel]

Good tutorial. Nice work. But, to quote Jackie Stewart: "Gearboxes aren't for braking-brakes are for braking.."

[@nickthequick]

I guess Stewart never went downhill in the Alps ...

[@sgabriel]

No, never. Only around in circles.

[@edhuber3557]

Aw, so it's like rubbing your belly and patting your head while you whistle Dixie. Got it.

[@AnIdiotOnline]

"I dont wanna hrubdurb the clutch because it will stall" what is hrubndurb

[@tyland777]

Imagine you are at the 6th gear and you have to stop in emergency, what would you do ?

[@James-xk7zx]

Use engine breaking

[@klaasbloem]

You forgot the Aprilia Mana 850 GT

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Ah yes, a very good point.

[@cameronmale83]

The only way you get a Ducati into Neutral first go, with 200 miles on it... is when it's off.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

You can see quite early in the video when I try to get it from 1st to neutral and actually find 2nd!

[@DanielKahora-w7c]

That's was alsome😂🎉

[@svaeon]

You stole the tutanota mail icon 😂

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Probably not, considering Bennetts was founded in 1930!

[@turtaxer5894]

I don't care what people say we both know i couldn't change you, i guess you could say the same- can't rearrange truth

[@WatermarquePaul]

Struggling for content?

[@bennettsbikesocial]

No Paul, just trying to help where we can.

[@notused.]

It'd very very helpful for nervous new riders like me who have been driving a car for 30 years

[@bitzannbobz]

stop teaching yobs how to nick big bikes