Down-Shifting the 8

[pohl99]

So, I've had the '08 for about 750 miles with absolutely no problems (besides spongy brakes)... until today, the day I finally found the time and willingness to part with my new toy for service 1.

Today, on the way to the shop, I discovered when I needed to down-shift... it wouldn't.

No matter what gear I was in, it would not shift to any other gear beneath it.  The display just showed that horizontal line like:  -----  Then, if I slowly let out on the clutch (gear engaged obviously), it would downshift to the next lowest gear, updating the display.  I could do this over and over 'til I hit 1st, then head on my way.  Kinda scary with angry zealot drivers raging behind you.  

So, I sorta felt like I was in the bonus round of the typical can't shift into first from neutral problem, except the regular trick of letting out on the clutch and bringing it back in wouldn't work of course because, the clutch was engaged.

Luckily my shop was just around the corner.  They said that I need to make sure I down-shift through every gear to prevent this problem?  What?  I down-shift as much as possible, but not always every gear and not all the time... don't always have the time, ya know?  One guy said it was bc they put thinner oil in at first to help break the engine in?  

  What does that have to do with anything?

Hopefully they get it sorted.

- Pohl99

 

[BIKE DUDE]

MY K8 does this sometimes too,(usually between 3rd and 2nd) if I wait too long to down shift and I'm going too slow to still be in 3rd gear even though the clutch is pulled in(like 7-8 mph)The gear indicator will show a line and as I'm gliding to a stop it won't down shift the rest of the way into 2nd and 1st until I let the clutch out a little and then it will click into 2nd. So I just always down shift through all the gears at the appropriate speeds as I'm slowing down. My friend says thats the right way to do it anyways so you're in the corect gear for the speed you're at and if the light turns green as you're coming up you can get right back on the gas. Same thing applies for slowing down or down shifting going into a corner. I can't get lazy and just pull in the clutch and glide to almost a complete stop and then try to down shift a bunch of gears at the last second or this may occur. It kinda gets lost in between 3rd and 2nd but like I said if I just slowly release the clutch a little it drops right into second. I don't think it's so much a problem with the bike as it is just me learning the correct way of down shifting(at least for this bike)Different bike makes and models will have different issues that aren't necessarily defects or problems, they're just characteristics of that bike. We all need to learn what our bikes like and don't like and adjust our riding techniques accordingly.

 

[BIKE DUDE]

ttt

 

[critterdoc]

MY K8 does this sometimes too,(usually between 3rd and 2nd) if I wait too long to down shift and I'm going too slow to still be in 3rd gear even though the clutch is pulled in(like 7-8 mph)The gear indicator will show a line and as I'm gliding to a stop it won't down shift the rest of the way into 2nd and 1st until I let the clutch out a little and then it will click into 2nd. So I just always down shift through all the gears at the appropriate speeds as I'm slowing down. My friend says thats the right way to do it anyways so you're in the corect gear for the speed you're at and if the light turns green as you're coming up you can get right back on the gas. Same thing applies for slowing down or down shifting going into a corner. I can't get lazy and just pull in the clutch and glide to almost a complete stop and then try to down shift a bunch of gears at the last second or this may occur. It kinda gets lost in between 3rd and 2nd but like I said if I just slowly release the clutch a little it drops right into second. I don't think it's so much a problem with the bike as it is just me learning the correct way of down shifting(at least for this bike)Different bike makes and models will have different issues that aren't necessarily defects or problems, they're just characteristics of that bike. We all need to learn what our bikes like and don't like and adjust our riding techniques accordingly.

Hmmmm...forgive me for saying this but what the bloody hell is someone who doesn't know how to correctly downshift doing riding this bike?

You should ALWAYS be in the correct gear for both engine breaking and acceleration, you never know when you will need either in a hurry.

In addition, the throttle should be "blipped" to match engine speed with the lower gear to prevent backlash/rear wheel lock.

This is basic gentlemen and anyone who shifts any other way doesn't need close to 200 horses between their legs!

 

[greyrocket]

yep down shift as you slow down i'am in 1st gear by about 20-25mph.

 

[BIKE DUDE]

MY K8 does this sometimes too,(usually between 3rd and 2nd) if I wait too long to down shift and I'm going too slow to still be in 3rd gear even though the clutch is pulled in(like 7-8 mph)The gear indicator will show a line and as I'm gliding to a stop it won't down shift the rest of the way into 2nd and 1st until I let the clutch out a little and then it will click into 2nd. So I just always down shift through all the gears at the appropriate speeds as I'm slowing down. My friend says thats the right way to do it anyways so you're in the corect gear for the speed you're at and if the light turns green as you're coming up you can get right back on the gas. Same thing applies for slowing down or down shifting going into a corner. I can't get lazy and just pull in the clutch and glide to almost a complete stop and then try to down shift a bunch of gears at the last second or this may occur. It kinda gets lost in between 3rd and 2nd but like I said if I just slowly release the clutch a little it drops right into second. I don't think it's so much a problem with the bike as it is just me learning the correct way of down shifting(at least for this bike)Different bike makes and models will have different issues that aren't necessarily defects or problems, they're just characteristics of that bike. We all need to learn what our bikes like and don't like and adjust our riding techniques accordingly.

Hmmmm...forgive me for saying this but what the bloody hell is someone who doesn't know how to correctly downshift doing riding this bike?

You should ALWAYS be in the correct gear for both engine breaking and acceleration, you never know when you will need either in a hurry.

In addition, the throttle should be "blipped" to match engine speed with the lower gear to prevent backlash/rear wheel lock.

This is basic gentlemen and anyone who shifts any other way doesn't need close to 200 horses between their legs!

Are you talking about me or pohl99 who started this thread? I stated that he SHOULD be down sshifting through all the gears so you can get back on the throttle at a light or in a turn and that you can't just pull the clutch in and glide to a stop and then try to kick it down a bunch of gears. If I did it his way I had similar issues but thats not the correct way to shift this bike or any bike. You quoted me and I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me about what I told pohl99 or telling me I don't know how to down shift either. Did you read my post corectly or am I misunderstanding what you're saying? He's saying he wants the dealer to sort it out and I'm saying it's not the bike,it's the way he's down shifting.

 

[pohl99]

I don't think you understand Critterdoc. That's ok.

 

[pohl99]

 

[kreator]

It's funny you bring this up because i have been riding for a loooong time and I am suprised at how much I use the gear indicator, I really like it.. I did make a hard stop this afternoon and I noticed the same thing you were talking about and yes people are right, you should be downshifting, if not more than anything else you are wasting your brakes and if the light changes you are ugging the motor.. Anyway, I bet most of what you noticed was the siple fact that you have that gear indicator, had you been on a bike without one, you would have probibly fumbled around until you found first like we all have at one time or another and not had a second thought.

 

[critterdoc]

I don't think you understand Critterdoc. That's ok.

Yeah, I understand just fine.

I was talking to Biker Dude.

YOUR bike is f****d

 

[ktw88q]

Be safe out there people.........

 

[pohl99]

BTW, the service shop found an issue with my bike and fixed it with a simple adjustment.

For the record, I know how to downshift and do.

 

[homdai]

Great news duuude!

 

[TruWrecks]

BTW, the service shop found an issue with my bike and fixed it with a simple adjustment.

For the record, I know how to downshift and do.

Glad you got it fixed. You might want to share the fix. It could be helpful to someone in diagnosing any shifting issues they may encounter. Sharing that kind of info is what makes the org such a great place.

 

[BusaWizard]