when stopping a bike do i have to down shift the 1st before i make a complete stop? or can i stop in 4th and just shift down to 1st before pulling off. keep in mind i have only one hand so front breaking and clutch is really hard for me?. and also dose down shifting slow the bike? engine breaking? or will any of this cause transmission stress (problems)?
You can't ride a motorcycle with only one hand: You have no way of simultaneously controlling the clutch and throttle to move off from a stop. EDIT BRENNAN: That's fine for someone who know how to ride conventionally, and had to adapt to new controls following an injury. But it's not something that I'd recommend to a non-rider looking at getting into motorcycling.
It's better to downshift while slowing. Sounds to me like you need to stick to the cars. You can't do the brake and the clutch at the same time.
there are 1 armed motorcycle riders out their, one of my friends is one, he has the clutch and brake on the right side, edit: my friends set up is that he has a thumb throttle, air clutch, and front brake lever 1.) when stopping the bike downshift while slowing and while rpms are closer to 2.0 or 1.5 is how i do it so i don't grind first. 2.) yes engine braking slows the bike and no it doesn't cause stress to the transmission, 2a.) engine braking depends on bike make / model, my bandit 1200 has 7.5 to 1 compression ratio which is very small so it doesnt do much engine braking as is, while my harley 1600 has a higher ratio so it causes more engine braking. edit james: i agree, its very hard to learn how to ride after an injury like that my friend was riding for a while before his accident, new riders is a ton harder but if you dont mind a a lot of parking lot training. like a LOT. like a couple of weeks / months, then u should be alright
