Downshifting

[DeeLewis]

Hey Guys,

Hope everyone has a good holiday. I have a quick question about downshifting on my 08 FZ6. In the manual it says that I should only start downshifting around 15mph starting from 6th gear downwards. Do I really need to be following this structure? Or, if not, is there a certain RPM threshold that I shouldn't be crossing when downshifting to a lower gear? I rode a ninja 250 before this bike, and I was so used to using downshifting primarily for slowing myself down and then braking, whereas the FZ6 manual almost makes it seem like I shouldn't be relying on that but instead my breaks.

Let me know what you guys think, thanks!

 

[madmanmaigret]

The only gear I shift down into under 15 mph is 1st. What you have learned on your 250 is still the way to do it here. Give her a little throttle and drop it down when slowing and you will feel the smoothness that you should. Also if you try to drop all six gears at a light sometimes it won't shift unless you roll the bike and that can be dangerous at intersections! So just keep it in the gear you want to be in so you and avoid any bad stuff going on around you.




oh yeah :welcome:

 

[madmanmaigret]

as far as RPM threshold........ don't go over the red line and you will be okay! this bike loves revs!

 

[fz6joker]

I also rode a Ninja 250 before coming to my 08 FZ. The only rules that I follow on downshifting are very simple. I use the brakes to slow down then shift down as I slow (this situaltion would be used when coming to a complete stop) If I'm out riding on some twisties then you just have to learn which gear you should be in and when you should shift. In the twisties I always stay in a low gear with the RPMs around 7K-10K at all times just in case I need to have power on hand for last minute manuevers. What I'm referring to is that if I come around a curve too fast and there is a car stopped in the middle of the road I would rather be in second or third gear with the extra throttle response available for manuevering. Hope this helps.

 

[dako81]

What it really means, is don't downshift into 1st until below 15mph, which actually is a good tip.

Just ride normally. But, don't go like 70 and stomp it down a bunch of gears and let the clutch out, you'll either crash or overrev your engine. Or both.

Just use your common sense. If you're revving the bike out, don't downshift with the rev's really high, there is a limiter that disallows you from accelerating the engine past redline, but there is no limiter that stops the engine from spinning too quickly from engaging a gear too low for that speed.

So keep it under 14k rpms and you'll be fine.

 

[steveindenmark]

I have just realised it is very difficult to put into words what we do automatically.

Rule number 1 is that you cannot learn to ride a bike out of a book.

You have ridden your 250 and you knew when things felt right, just go and practice the same things on the FZ6 and you will know how to make it feel right quite quickly.

Before long you will be changing up and down without using the clutch..........................................S%%T why did I say that...why did I say it??

Steve

 

[ReblTeen84]

Like others, I only wait until 15mph or so to shift down into 1st. I usually start shifting down from 6th as i'm slowing down, so i'm shifting into 1st as i roll into a stop. I've also noticed that the once or twice i've forgotten to shift down into first, its hard to shift once you've stopped, so i try to be done with that when i stop (MSF instructors drill the same thing into you). I've shifted down going faster sometimes, makes a nice clunk going into 1st from second, but not as bad since i changed the oil.

 

[FZ1inNH]

Use whatever gear you can to keep it in the 7k range in the twisties and use the fz6joker method for slowing down... you'll do just fine!

After the break-in, ride it like you WANT to, just be safe about it, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmkay?

 

[Oscar54]

If you knew how to downshift properly on your Ninja then you'll be fine downshifting the FZ. It will just take a little adjusting of your timing to fit the bike.

 

[Stumbles06]

Before long you will be changing up and down without using the clutch..........................................S%%T why did I say that...why did I say it??

Steve

hehehe, Yup, you've done it now. And, it's so true. Been on a few rides, and after 300 Kms, I would be getting severe "arm-pump". I read on here about clutch-less shifting, and failed miserably at doing it the first time, but once you get the hang of it, you never stop.

dako81 got it right. The book says that, to warn you not to go into 1st above 15 Mph, to prevent compression lock-up... that can be nasty... why can't we have "slipper clutch's"???

 

[Smittyboy]

Yay for clutchless after 1st to 2nd! Don't wanna re-iterate. 15 just for 1st. Don't try to shift too late cuz it won't let you when you stop.

 

[dako81]

... .... Don't try to shift too late cuz it won't let you when you stop.

Yea, the gear assebly needs to be in motion to function.