Shifting into first at 50 grind

[screamineagle]

With the clutch in and slowing down from about 50 I hear a slight grind going into first to get ready for the green light. Is that normal. It only does it when I am at high speed and doesn't do it in any other gear.[confused]

 

[dave_xb12r]

You shouldn't be going into 1st at 50mph. That's just crazyness

 

[bajabomber87]

Usually will make a grinding of the teeth sound then makes a loud ******* CLUNK once it engages. Its not good so stop doing it. You have no reason to be putting it down into 1st at that speed.

 

[stopie20]

yeah, on our bikes down shifting into first above 20mph is a big no no... if you happened to let the clutch out after cramming it down there with the throttle closed you would most definatily end up on your arse.

 

[bttrfngrz]

your owners manual has a table for upshifting and speeds, and downshifting as well.

 

[onelogue]

Manual says.

Down shiting:

4th = 40 mph
3rd = 30 mph
2nd = 20 mph
1st = 10 mph.

Why compression stop when you have brakes.[confused] LAst time i checked brake pads were cheaper than a engine.

 

[XBear9S]

I've been compression stopping my bike for over 60,000 miles w/ no issues. It's designed for it and not a problem.

HOWEVER, putting your bike into 1st gear at 50 mph is just dumb.

Special K!
Central Texas Hill Country HellBuellies
"I'm a HellBuelly! What the hell are you?"

 

[dave_xb12r]

Maybe this was a joke. I just can't imagine anyone actually doing this. Its kind of like the dude that put the NOS drink in his gixxer cuz he thought it was octane booster. Or the guy who poured sand in his audit because he his civic friend told him he could polish the intake manifold while it was running.

 

[onelogue]

Maybe this was a joke. I just can't imagine anyone actually doing this. Its kind of like the dude that put the NOS drink in his gixxer cuz he thought it was octane booster. Or the guy who poured sand in his audit because he his civic friend told him he could polish the intake manifold while it was running.

haha I definitely still tell people about those threads. Those were fricken hilarious!!

I've been compression stopping my bike for over 60,000 miles w/ no issues. It's designed for it and not a problem.

Not bad but definitely not good for the transmission. Also depends on the rider and how well they use the clutch instead of dropping it.... But im all about brakes.

 

[dave_xb12r]

I think it's ok as long as you rev match on the downshift(or a double rev match for when you let out the clutch)

 

[dave_xb12r]

Sorry onelogue, I wasn't trying to correct you. I think I read what you wrote wrong. [sad]

 

[onelogue]

No worries bro! You hit it on the spot.

 

[screamineagle]

So what I meant was probably around 30 ish when I comming up to a light and Im getting ready to stop. I never let the clutch out until I get it in neutral. I guess it is kinda of a bad idea or riding edicut but I dont see a cercumstance where I would let it up until I get stopped.

Nos Can Hilarious.

 

[rndrkeagle]

I don't think that 1st gear is synchronized.???? (Many vehicles are built without synchro rings on first gear.. never really thought to check on my Buell.. just assumed it was the same way)

I generally downshift as I'm slowing down, one gear at a time and shift down to each gear as I reach a speed appropriate to the that gear. That way if for example I'm slowing down as I approach a red light and that light turns green, I'm in the correct gear to go... Since my XB12 has sooo much low end torque, this practice usually means I don't hit 1st gear until I get to almost a complete stop.

just my 2 cents

 

[stopie20]

Compression braking is why you would let the clutch out before you stop. This is a tricky technique used along with hard braking to help bleed of speed quickly, you can do this all the time if you like and if you can do it properly.... It will take some practice to really get the feel for it. The most critical thing to remember it to RPM match to speed (with the clutch pulled in)before you change gears...

 

[onelogue]

The most critical thing to remember it to RPM match to speed (with the clutch pulled in)before you change gears...

Exactly.

But another good rule of thumb. You really should never shift into 1st unless you are close to stop.

 

[fahren]

With the clutch in and slowing down from about 50 I hear a slight grind going into first to get ready for the green light.

Patient: "Doc, doc, it hurts when I do that!"

Doctor: "Well, don't do that."

 

[XBear9S]

Compression braking isn't just for stopping. You can compression brake into turns or just to reduce speed. I often compression brake as I pass a cop in heavy traffic. Don't want him to see the red tail light all lit up as I pass him, as that's might be evidence that I was the one speeding (and I guarantee you I was).

The transmission in your bike was engineered to handle the stresses of proper compression braking. You'll know if/when you did it wrong, as the back tire will lock up and you'll be squirming all around for a sec, at which point you'll either regain control or eat it.

Compression braking is also a great idea when the roads are slick as you won't be as apt to lock up as you would if you grab a handful of brakes. I like to use a combination of lighter braking and compression braking.

To each their own, but I know my bike. I've had her opened up on several occasions, and at over 60k, she's in GREAT condition.

Special K!
Central Texas Hill Country HellBuellies
"I'm a HellBuelly! What the hell are you?"

"Slow is smooth, Smooth is fast, Fast is Buell!"

-FIDSOL