im going to get a motorcycle in like 6-7 months but i want to learn all about them first, it will be a yamaha r6about the shifting i know that like down is first half up is N and up is 2nd and so on...what abiout braking though? clutch then brake but do i downshift at all while doing this or just downshift when stopped or what?also when do you downshift?
Its best to avoid just pulling in the clutch and coasting to a stop then kicking down a million times til you reach first. Its recomended that your downshift accordingly as you brake and slow down. That way youll remain in gear and engaged while you slow so that in the event that the light turns green before you stroll to a complete stop, you would then be able to just roll on the throttle and continue on your way. If you were to just pull the clutch in and coast then you would have to scramble to find the correct gear so that you can continue driving. Now that thats out of the way, based off the fact that you need to ask these questions its probably best to find a more beginner friendly bike to start on. I say that in the most non offensive way. Just something you should consider. Ride Safe!
Press in and hold the clutch... this will allow you to coast. At the same time you should be applying the proper amount of brake force, being sure not to lock either. When you come to a complete stop you can either shift your gears down to neutral or down to first (Of course holding down the clutch doing while doing this.) I always stay in first when at a stop in case the person behind me does not stop and I have to take off quickly...For a really quick stop where you don't have time, you don't even need to shift down. Just hold in the clutch and brake to stop...an R6 IS NOT A GOOD BIKE FOR A BEGINNER BUDDY YOU SHOULD TRY TO GET a ninja ex500,suzuki gs500 those 2 are the want i could think of rite now...good luck..bikelife...
Firstly... If you have very little idea on how to ride a bike.. You shouldn't even be riding a 600cc Motorcycle.. Its one sure way to crash it and waste all that money you spent to buy it... Let alone cause injury to yourself Motorcycles for beginners should be 250cc or less! But to answer your question.. Whilst braking yes you may downshift while slowing down.. that way you can be in the correct gear when your ready to go again.. You may also downshift whilst stopped its no problem.. But Id say shifting while moving is better.. That way your the gears inside your gearbox are rotating as this makes it easier for the gears to 'engage' With regard to the clutch.. Depends how much you need to slow down... If you only need to slow down a little bit then no need to pull in the clutch... If you need to slow down a great deal and you can feel the engine 'struggling' then its time to definitely pull the clutch in and drop it down a gear if available.. Or if you need to stop for traffic or a red light.. you may as well pull it in because your going to stop anyway.. If you drive a manual car... riding a motorcycle is not much different... You will be able to understand the concept of braking, throttle clutch and gears much eaiser..
I've owned quads and dirtbikes. I gotta say i first learned how to ride when i got my first quad..i then moved onto a dirtbike,sold it and bought a suzuki gsx-r 600. It can be very dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. But if you take it easy and don't go crazy on it you will be fine. It all depends on how you ride/drive it. Usually when i brake if im coming to a stop light, i will downshift ahead of time and then hold the cluth and brake lightly until i come to a full stop. you can also just hold the clutch and brake gently, but while the bike is rolling just downshift all the way down to 1st while holding the cluth. When i am stopped at a stoplight most of the times i will stay in first and just hold the clutch in. At stop signs i stay in first as well.if the stoplight takes forever i will put it in neutral take a little rest than pop it back into 1st.
The R6 is NOT a bike to be learning on, get yourself a smaller 125/250 bike (dirt bikes are fun in these engine capacity's) . Find someone who can Show you one on one (it's a great help). Buy a cheap bike and if you can do your learning on a bit of waste ground/off road less chance of being hurt by another toad user. Ride the smaller bike regularly and get you test out of the way......then go out and buy you R6. Riding experience 40+ years, present bikes Hyabusa, Gpz1100 (being restored) and a (LITTLE) Cagiva Planet 125cc that has been de restricted ,100mph and great for scooting about town.
