i was wondering, on bikes, is there is a indicator to tell you what gear youre in? or do you just keep that in mind or something? i ask because unlike cars, bikes dont have different positions for different gears, so how would you know what gear youre in.

say i was cruising in 3rd gear and there is a red light ahead, how would you know how many times to down shift back into neutral? or do you jus down shift like 10 times while holding the clutch lever..

thanks

 

Bikes dont have gear indicators, however, you can get them. I usually can tell wut gear i'm in by looking at the rpms. When i come to a stop, i just clutch then just keep going down until neutral. Or i rev/downshift to slow down.

 

Just keep track of it in your head, it becomes instinct. Also there is a neutral light so once you see the green light flash you know you just went from 2nd to 1st.

 

I just click down til i hit 2nd in case the light turns green. Then wehn I come to a complete stop I put it into 1st.

 

street riding is the only time i find myself using engine braking. I don't use it on the track or in a car. It's a good idea to always be somewhere near some useful power because any rider can remember more than a handful of times that they need to squirt away from some kind of dumb car. So no there aren't gear indicators on the majority of bikes but there are aftermarket setups that do add this feature. Many upscale track timers and such will have led rpm and gear indicators. I've seen a digital gear indicator readout as well. Try a search online. My advice would be to keep the bike in the meat at all times. If you're comfortable with it and want to save a cent in gas just be ready to drop to and slip it.

 

you guys say u put it to first gear at the light. why would you not put it in nuetral, unless there is no neutral for bikes. because my thought is that if u leave it in first gear at a light, you would have to hold on the to clutch lever the whole time while waiting huh?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stripes777 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you guys say u put it to first gear at the light. why would you not put it in nuetral, unless there is no neutral for bikes. because my thought is that if u leave it in first gear at a light, you would have to hold on the to clutch lever the whole time while waiting huh?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Depends on the situation. You'd want to leave it in gear while holding in the clutch just in case you need to move quickly (car from behind that can't brake in time, for example). The only time I don't have the bike in gear is when I'm waiting at a long stoplight and I have cars all around me going in the same direction. Even then, I have the clutch covered and foot ready to shift into first.

 

Leave yourself an escape route...although I dont many times even though I should. When I first started riding at the track I was taught to just count the gears aloud. I pretty much just know by now. Practice makes perfect.

 

they really teach you to do that? I never keep track while racing, its always one up, one down or two down...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Depends on the situation. You'd want to leave it in gear while holding in the clutch just in case you need to move quickly (car from behind that can't brake in time, for example). The only time I don't have the bike in gear is when I'm waiting at a long stoplight and I have cars all around me going in the same direction. Even then, I have the clutch covered and foot ready to shift into first.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is 100% the correct answer, and an important point of msf. I got lazy and didn't leave it in first once at a light and an old lady who didn't see me almost took my leg off, I had to jump over teh bike and put my weight under it on a main road. Had I had it in first, I could have moved forward and left avoiding her. Keep it in first, unless you're 100% sure nothing will re-end or sideswipe you.
As for your question pertaining to what gear you're in, it becomes instinct. If you forget, you can keep downshifting until you hit 1st or neutral then go back up and refigure it out.

 

all very helpful info. guys.

ive decided to pick up a used ninja 250. i wanted an r6, but ive come to my senses after reading a couple of threads online. thanks guys!

btw, anyone know which bikes use h4 bulbs? thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stripes777 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ive decided to pick up a used ninja 250. i wanted an r6, but ive come to my senses after reading a couple of threads online. thanks guys!
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good stuff.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stripes777 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
btw, anyone know which bikes use h4 bulbs? thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

Mine does (F3). Why?

 

i believe 99% of single headlamp bikes do. Mostly the older ones. All the new ones seem to use 2 seperate reflectors in either a single or two seperate assemblies.