C-50 Downshifting

F

flyajet

New member
Hey folks, I am a newby and have a question....I have a new '07 C-50 with less than 350 miles. Whenever I am approaching a stop going uphill, I have a hard time getting into 1st gear. I think I am there and start off only to have the bike cut off in 2nd gear...sometimes in the middle of the interesection. The bike goes smoothly into 1st on a flat or downgrade stop. I have tried downshifting as I am slowing to a stop, instead of waiting until I come to a complete stop, but it still doesn't go into first. I can usually get it into neutral, but I have to roll the bike forward to be able to downshift...it's kinda hard rolling uphill in the middle of an intersection, especially with traffic...thanks for an help....I have called two dealerships and each say, "wait a few months while the bike gets broken in better"...heck in the mean time I could get run slam over!

thanks in advance for any help

Hank
 
Welcome, Hank. You'll find plenty on this topic with a bit of searching. Many new riders on new bikes face your challenges.

The dealers are right. New motorcycle transmissions are often "notchy", and little wear on the engagement parts usually makes them work more smoothly. Some of us find that synthetic oil helps with shifting, too.

I also think you could work on your technique. Motorcycle transmissions are not really designed to be shifted while standing still, the exception being N to 1. If you're trying to shift multiple gears at a standstill, you'll have trouble. You should work on downshifting as you decelerate. It's good practice in motorcycling for a number of reasons, so learn it correctly asap.

Good to have you aboard!
 
That is the proper technique. Keep practicing it. Timing is everything.
Are you engaging the clutch momentarily in each gear as you go down? That should help.

Also, if you get to neutral and are still moving and it doesn't seem to want to go into first, releasing the clutch lever and pulling it in again should help.

Believe it or not, increasing your idle speed slightly might help too.
 
I ease into first just before coming to a stop. You may be doing it too early.
An empty parking lot is a great place to practice.
It will become second nature.
I have over 20,000 miles and it still objects when I try shifting out of first at a
stop.

:ooops:
 
Any new bike is going to be a bit difficult to shift. I have 3K on my 07' purchased this July and it is still clunky. Give it time and get to know the bike.
 
Mine does the same thing, as did my Vulcan. If I wait to stop completely before down-shifting through to 1st, I won't get to first. It gets stuck in 2nd or 3rd, so I ease out the clutch at a stop, to hear that small click, then you can go down to first. If I down-shift coming to a rolling stop, it's fine.

I have also found that if the idle RPMs are too low, it causes this too. If I throttle up to about 1000 RPM before shifting down, it's fine too. IT all depends on the SPEED to engine RPM ratio for a smooth down-shift. My uncle raised the idle on his Volusia a bit, and it doesn't happen to him at all now...
 
thank ya folks...hopefully the temp will hit mid 50's this weekend in East Tenn so I can ride and work on the suggestions...thnx again!!

Go Vols!
 
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