My buddy's been riding a lot longer than me and keeps telling me not to shift into first till the bike is stopped. I shift into first just before coming to a complete stop, or just before a slow speed turn. The tranny doesn't sound like it minds and it doesn't feel like I'm doing any harm. Anyone have opinions on this?

 

About 10 mph for me.

 

I do it all the time. I want to be inthe most efficient gearwhen I need to make a quick get away.

 

Downshift into 1st at the speed you'd want to be going if you needed to accelerate again. I downshiftinto 1st when I drop below 20.

 

That is exactly when I shift into first.

 

You should use 1st gear to help control the bike during slow speed meanuvering. You don't follow the same shifting patterns on a bike as you do in a pick-up truck.

 

Unless you have some Granny-Low first gear, you won't hurt it doing what you're doing, and it's more of a preference anyway. What ever you feel comfortable doing.

 

I shift into first while moving. If I am going more than around 10'ish, it will clunk heavier, so I make sure I am going pretty slow

 

Hmph...I've heard that about cars too. Not true.

I shift to first when I feel I am going to slow (or plan to go to slow) for second. I ride some stop and go traffic and I often shift to first when speeds get below 10 - 15 mph or the bike starts to lug.

If the bike ain't complainig your fine.

 

On a "stopped bike" shifting could be difficult and you may have tojuggle it back and forth to get into gear and that is bad news at a stop light. If I know I am coming to a stop I get into first and stop. Also if I am slowing down to a stop and light turns green and I am still moving no matter what speed, I pick up in 2 and go(solo rider 140 lbs on a heritage softail). I think full load will require first gear at below 10-15 mph