Let's say I'm going 60 km/h and I want to stop. Do I have to hold the clutch, apply the brakes, and downshift as I slow down until I'm in first gear so that I can stop? Or do I just hold the clutch and apply the brakes until I'm stopped and then downshift to first before I get going again? What's the best way to come to a stop in a normal situation? What about in an emergency situation? (Again, assuming I am in a higher gear) I just had my first lesson (sooo much fun) but we only went up to second gear so it's easy to get back into first and stop. Detailed answer, please!!Thanks!!!
Simple explanation, Back off throttle to no throttle, apply front brakes and rear breaks. When revs get low pull in clutch, down shift one gear, let out the clutch. for every single gear, don't skip gears. Once in first gear keep braking with the clutch OUT, only pull the clutch in when you are completely ready to stop. then brake to completely stop the bike. When you free wheel (clutch in or neutral) your bike will feel unstable and wobble. Try practicing in a closed car park.
Well first of all you let off the throttle and start to slow down, then apply the brake, then pull in the clutch and downshift through the gears while applying gentle pressure the brake. You DON'T pull the clutch in until you have released the throttle and starting braking--you don't want to be just flying along in no gear. Also, you can skip a gear in the sense that you don't have to let the clutch out after each downshift.. Your tachometer is your friend. It tells you what you should be doing.
You apply the clutch every time you wish to change gears or come to a complete stop. You use both brakes to stop a motorcycle. On a sport bike type motorcycle, the front brake will do most of your braking as weight transfers to the front wheel as you stop harder. Let up gradually on the rear brake to avoid a rear wheel skid. On a long wheel base bike like a cruiser, you can use the rear brake longer as the weight transfer to the front wheel takes a lot longer and more weight stays on the rear wheel of the bike during hard stops. Regardless, modulate both brakes to keep each wheel from locking up. Each bike is different and each stop is different as the road surface changes from place to place. Knowing how hard you can brake on a particular bike and in a particular situation just takes practice. This is why they make vacant parking lots - practice. If you are stopping from a higher gear, you can start to slow with the brakes with or without the clutch disengaged. At some point, the engine will start to lug - you want to have pulled in the clutch by then. The idea is to be in the ideal gear as you slow for taking off again if you wish. Pull in the clutch and downshift as you slow. No - you don't need to release the clutch each time unless you wish to use the engine to help slow you down. Be sure you are in first gear just before you come to a complete stop. It is difficult to shift a motorcycle into first gear from higher gears once the bike is stopped. It is possible to upshift and downshift without using the clutch. It is much easier to upshift to higher gear without the clutch - you just preload the shift lever with your left foot and roll off the throttle - it magically shifts. Shifting down without a clutch is much harder you have to match engine speed with gear speed exactly. I do not recommend you do either as you can do serious damage to the transmission if you get it wrong. They gave you a clutch lever - use it.
The internet is a really BAD place to learn such a critical skill as braking on a motorcycle. Other skills I would leave to live, in-person training, would be brain surgery, aircraft maintenance, scuba-diving, etc. In other words, TAKE A RIDING COURSE. You are much less likely to get injured or killed.
I dont know what the other guy was saying when he said that you don't wanna be flying arou d with no gear! There's nothing wrong with pulling in the clutch! Anyway! It depends on the situation if you want to stop fast I shift down to 1 and let out the clutch all the way than apply both breaks! Don't lock them up though! If you just wanna slow down, I just down shift and maybe the back break
