New rider/owner having clutch shift issues.
#22
02-03-2017, 10:50 AM
Tourer
Originally Posted by Chief2274 
I will say I took the riding class at HD and the instructor was insistent that I/we do not gear down to assist with slowing/stopping.
I just have to comment here as this type of statement with no context and no reasoning can get people hurt. Of course you should know how to backshift and use engine speed and compression to slow the bike, otherwise you lose critical braking distance when that car left turns you. Just go to a safe place, get to 50mph, pull in the clutch and brake to a stop, at maximum effort. Now mark off how many feet it took to stop. Now do the same using engine braking, you will quickly realize that you will stay alive a lot longer if you know how to use every tool in the box. And you save yourself a lot of brake wear.
As far as the technical issue, when there is little to no torque on the trans shafts, it makes the shifter hard to operate, that's why a little rev on your downshift helps to match engine speed to wheel speed and it drops right in. It seems like the poster is trying to make multiple backshifts while coasting and with no power applied to the shafts. Sometimes the pawl carrier just doesn't get reset in it's rest position, so it feels spongy when you try to backshift again.
I will say I took the riding class at HD and the instructor was insistent that I/we do not gear down to assist with slowing/stopping.I just have to comment here as this type of statement with no context and no reasoning can get people hurt. Of course you should know how to backshift and use engine speed and compression to slow the bike, otherwise you lose critical braking distance when that car left turns you. Just go to a safe place, get to 50mph, pull in the clutch and brake to a stop, at maximum effort. Now mark off how many feet it took to stop. Now do the same using engine braking, you will quickly realize that you will stay alive a lot longer if you know how to use every tool in the box. And you save yourself a lot of brake wear.
As far as the technical issue, when there is little to no torque on the trans shafts, it makes the shifter hard to operate, that's why a little rev on your downshift helps to match engine speed to wheel speed and it drops right in. It seems like the poster is trying to make multiple backshifts while coasting and with no power applied to the shafts. Sometimes the pawl carrier just doesn't get reset in it's rest position, so it feels spongy when you try to backshift again.
#23
02-03-2017, 05:31 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
#24
02-03-2017, 05:33 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
#25
02-03-2017, 05:56 PM
Road Warrior
Yeah when driving a truck Im guilty of skip shifting as well which is what transferred over when I started riding. Ive had my bike at HD for all of the check ups/maintenance and they say its completely fine however from time to time it will still do what you're describing if I slow down first, then shift all the way through. Now I down shift as I slow down however I dont let the clutch out for each gear (not that people who do are incorrect or Im correct its just what I do) but rather get to the gear I need to be then let the clutch out and maintain that speed or if its a light I'll pull the clutch in, downshift as I go down in speed, end up in first and stop. Sometimes old habits die hard though and I find myself stuck in 2nd or 3rd and I'll like I said I'll let the clutch out real slow with the slightest bit of gas and feel it slip back into gear, then Im able to get down to first.
Screw your instructor, downshift through all the gears one by one. You can't skip shift most bike transmissions.
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