SuzukiSavage.com - downshifting 06 s-40

Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: downshifting 06 s-40 Reply #15 - 08/14/06 at 13:59:45 or one of these babbies
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starmom

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Re: downshifting 06 s-40
Reply #16 - 08/14/06 at 16:42:49

You all are so awesome! Thanks for sharing your though processes with me. I think that I had kinda already realized that if it wont go down from "N" that pulling in the clutch makes it seem to work. I only get out once a week or so on the bike, I need some more alone time in quiet areas where I can practice getting a rhythum to getting into first without stopping , and without hearing noises that i dont like.

Its the noise that I hear when I do get there from letting out the clutch too much/ too fast, maybe I need to let it out halfway, because the bike is going slower than the engine thinks it should or would like .

I really do well, this is just technique stuff that sometimes gets in the way and messes with my ride, its embaressing to stall at a light. I can start up immediately and get going, but I want to get my chops down so its inate behavior and no longer something I have to think about.

you all rock! Thanks again!

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Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: downshifting 06 s-40 Reply #17 - 08/14/06 at 16:52:52 Couple hundred hours in that seat and a couple thousand miles you won't even think about whats where or how to do it
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Ed L.

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Re: downshifting 06 s-40
Reply #18 - 08/14/06 at 18:53:10

The bike is still new and a bit tight, after a thousand miles or so the downshifting will get smoother. Have the same problem downshifting from neutral into first but doing it while rolling really helps. Get some more saddle time, it becomes second nature after a while. When downshifting just let the clutch out slowly till you feel the engine rev, don't just dump it and chirp the rear tire. Riding gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter, gotta love it. Grin

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Silver '02, clubman handle bars, Cobra headlight, Sportster muffler, K+N stock air filter, 152.5 main, Superbrace, oil cooler, 1/2 inch aluminium plate forward controls, spark advance, goes like stink

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starmom Ex Member	Re: downshifting 06 s-40 Reply #19 - 08/14/06 at 18:58:21 thats what happens exactly sometimes only.... i guess "i dump it and chirp the back tire" and so this is a result of lettng out the clutch too quickly.......... its getting clearer and clearer what im doing wrong..... gosh i feel kinda dumb.......... Thanks again!
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Roadie

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Lansing MI
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Re: downshifting 06 s-40
Reply #20 - 08/15/06 at 06:22:23

starmom wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

Hey all and thanks for responding........

So at this point if im on a hill and my suzi rolls back alittle on a stop it hurts my shoulder, couldnt imagine how that would feel with another 300+ lbs of bike to hold.

I did on my own realize (never had a car with a clutch in my life, this is my first) that one mistake i was making was not having the clutch totally disengaged (pulled in) when i was stopped and trying to get her into first so i was "getting alittle tire" from the stop. Im working it.

The heat here in NY was totally blowing me away a few weeks ago, I dont know how you all in the southern or south western states handle the heat, not only was it like l00 but the humidity was around 80%! Im a girl that would pass out practically with all my gear in in that environment. (im in my 40's and have my Own personal heatwaves occasionallyl) I simply refused to ride during some of that period of around 2 weeks.

I commute with my Savage, and everyday I have to stop on a decent grade hill. This is what I do. (I'm sure it's bad form or something.)

Sit at light in first. I hold down the front brake. Light turns I roll out with a light (VERY LIGHT) amount a brakes to keep from rolling back (and only for a sec). Basically use the friction zone to your advantage and pull your self up.

(BTW: I'm sure this is bad form, but this works for me.)

Always use your clutch for shifting. Clutch plates are ment to be used up. Transmissions are not. You'll get better at shifting with more saddle time.

Heat's an issue with an air cooled engine in my opinion. I don't ride when it gets blazin' hot out. (Ed's oil cooler would help!) If its a matter of personal comfort, buy a Joe Rocket Pheonix Down jacket. Worth every penny.

Can be found at newenough.com....

- Roadie

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Trippah

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Re: downshifting 06 s-40
Reply #21 - 08/15/06 at 16:00:41

Downshifting is all about practice -sounds like your well on your way. When you pull in the clutch lever and push down on the toe lever, blip the throttle faster then let out clutch slowly, the engine has to speed up to mesh comfortably with the lower transmition gear.

As far as intersections, I gear down to nuetral, then if I can shift up to second and take off. If I have to stop, I gear down to Ist. pull in the clutch and wait. If a long wait, and a couple cars line up behind me, then I shift up into neutral and await the light change. A little roll forward by footpower does make getting into 1st easier.

On a hill stop/start- different plan Cheesy

..

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RadarORiley

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Re: downshifting 06 s-40
Reply #22 - 08/16/06 at 09:16:39

Starmom, you might check into getting a cool vest & bandana filled with the cool crystals to ride in. They give you a wet T-shirt but make it possible to ride in 100+ weather here in Texas. I keep mine in an old dishpan in water so I can grab it for a ride whenever the mood hits me. I understand the heat issues because beside being 63, female & fat, I have lupus, so the temperature is a real problem for me. The vests are not too expensive, I've even convinced my hubby to wear one while moving pastures, & he swears by them now.
And don't worry about using the clutch when you shift, if your hubby & friends tease you about it, you don't have to ride with them Grin

The time will come when you "Hear" when it is time to shift & it will come to you automatically. It will not come as easy to you as to riders who are used to a clutch. For now, shift, it's better than ruining your bike trying to ride their way.

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Radar O'Riley

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starmom

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Re: downshifting 06 s-40
Reply #23 - 08/17/06 at 17:14:18

Hey all;

I took my "suzi" out for a 40 miles ride today. Did some errands and then took a nice three lane road to visit a friend 20 miles north. I figured it would give me nice flat terraine to be at stop lights and figure this thing out.

What I discovered was that "suzi" perfers to go from N to lst at around l0 miles an hour and most of the time likes to stay at N during the down shift, I dont beleive that I have been able to get her to go thru N directly into lst much without an additional pull or more of the clutch, sometimes i have to pull in and release more than once, I kinda sorta watched to see at what speed it would work, def around 20 it will not go from N to first.

I dont want to on purpose go to "N" and stay there, its always been the quest for lst at a complete stop.

if im in 2nd and im approaching a light if there is not one behind me i just slow down and see if i can coast at a safe speed for traffic and hopefully the light will change and i can just continue, i have great balance so barely moving i can keep my feet on the pegs for a good long while. (my motorcycle teacher told me i would do well at a rally where that is a skill in a game)

it appears that if i am in second and almost stop that sometimes the engine is alittle chuggy from the start (need to work on my friction zone there?) or pull in clutch, give alittle throttle ,release slowly and given throttle.

The ride went great! I was on my own so I could think about what "IM " doing and not trying to keep with up anyone else. I experienced NO STALLING the entire ride.......Yippee!!!!! (its so embaressing!)

Thanks for reading.......and caring

sue

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Trippah Serious Thumper Offline I ride, therefore I am. Posts: 2517 central Mass Gender:	Re: downshifting 06 s-40 Reply #24 - 08/17/06 at 17:41:19 Yeah! and you are right, you'd have to ride the clutch a bit if accelerating in second from 1-4 or 5 mph, some shuddering to be expected (and not all that desireable), drop into first if you can, then back up to second.
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starmom Ex Member	Re: downshifting 06 s-40 Reply #25 - 08/17/06 at 18:00:54 "shuttering" is a great description of it, i dont like it, suzi doesnt like it much either, but with every ride im figuring it out, up to 359 miles now.
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