How Switch Gears on a Motorcycle
- 1). Familiarize yourself with where everything is before you attempt the ride. To ensure smooth shifting, you must work the gas, the clutch lever and the shifter all at the same time. Sit on the motorcycle and find these things. The gas is the grip on the handlebar. The clutch lever is also on the handlebars. One side is for braking, and one side is for clutching.
- 2
Find the toe shifter and familiarize yourself with the pattern of the type motorcycle you have. Different makes of motorcycles have different shift patterns, just like cars. Safely secure the motorcycle in an upright position, and place your hands and feet comfortably. - 3
Pull in the clutch lever and work through the shifting pattern by moving the shifter with the toes of your foot. Pull the clutch lever in and press down on the toe shifter. You will feel it move to another gear. Shifting back up is the same way, except you slide your toes under the shifter and raise up. - 4). Test-drive your shifting after you have mastered the shift patterns. When you shift while riding the motorcycle, it is the same as when you are driving a stick-shift car. Shift at the manufacturer's suggested rpm levels, or by the sound of the engine.
- 5). When it is time to shift, smoothly roll back on the gas throttle, pull in the clutch lever and then shift to the appropriate gear. When you have switched to the right gear, slowly let the clutch lever back out, and twist the gas grip back up to speed.
