1st Gear in the Twisties?

**jraice** · 12-10-2008, 11:39 PM

So I am a beginner to the world of powerful motorcycles, I come from a small two stroke street bike backround so I am used to always being over 7,000rpm and heavy on the gas around corners, and downshifting a lot.

There is one small section of road near my house, almost like a chicane, with speed bumps that is taken at maybe 5mph. I am usually coming up to it at 30mph so I am in second and I find that I have PLENTY of power to ease my way over it without lugging or stalling.

This Saturday I may do some light riding in twisties (first time with this bike in the twisties).

The roads are small, tight and slow.

Probably 20-30mph (maybe as low as 15) cruising/cornering speed, with a few straights to get the speedo rising a little more then that.

Is there any problem with 2nd gear in this situation?

I could see how riding in the power band in the twisties could be prefered at high speeds in 2nd or 3rd gear but 1st is so sensitive (again, I am a newb and I could get used to it but still seems like, why not use 2nd) and the bike has enough torque down low that unless I want to wheelie out of every corner, 2nd gear seems like it would pull just fine.

Does 1st have any use in cornering besides on the track or on less tight corners, with aggressive acceleration...?

Thanks guys,

**renegade** · 12-10-2008, 11:54 PM

i would stay away from 1st in the canyons/twisties unless you are butter smooth like rossi. and since you are still getting accustomed to the new bike, that type of throttle management in that situation is no go. so what im saying is...STAY IN 2ND!

**sideshow** · 12-11-2008, 12:07 AM

i used to dump it into 1st after exiting 'the turn' at azusa.. usually from 3rd. front end wobbling left and right, motor screaming bloody murder... man, that shit was fun.

**jenx1976** · 12-11-2008, 12:48 AM

Go slow and get the feel for it first.....then go from there., at the track i like to be in 2nd for most of the tight corners., canyons i stay in 3rd.

**SAEID** · 12-11-2008, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by jraice

So I am a beginner to the world of powerful motorcycles, I come from a small two stroke street bike backround so I am used to always being over 7,000rpm and heavy on the gas around corners, and downshifting a lot.

There is one small section of road near my house, almost like a chicane, with speed bumps that is taken at maybe 5mph. I am usually coming up to it at 30mph so I am in second and I find that I have PLENTY of power to ease my way over it without lugging or stalling.

This Saturday I may do some light riding in twisties (first time with this bike in the twisties).

The roads are small, tight and slow.

Probably 20-30mph (maybe as low as 15) cruising/cornering speed, with a few straights to get the speedo rising a little more then that.

Is there any problem with 2nd gear in this situation?

I could see how riding in the power band in the twisties could be prefered at high speeds in 2nd or 3rd gear but 1st is so sensitive (again, I am a newb and I could get used to it but still seems like, why not use 2nd) and the bike has enough torque down low that unless I want to wheelie out of every corner, 2nd gear seems like it would pull just fine.

Does 1st have any use in cornering besides on the track or on less tight corners, with aggressive acceleration...?

Thanks guys,

1. 1st gear is used to get you going... And for woolies. Not for cornering

Where's Los Gatos? Come to a track day with TrackDaz or TI2TT.

2. Go to the track.

Where's Los Gatos? Come to a track day with TrackDayz or TI2TT.

**dzuyd** · 12-11-2008, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by SAEID

1. 1st gear is used to get you going... And for woolies. Not for cornering

Where's Los Gatos? Come to a track day with TrackDaz or TI2TT.

2. Go to the track.

Where's Los Gatos? Come to a track day with TrackDayz or TI2TT.

wow... i just realized that he is only 1.5 hours from heaven

and 3 hours from here

so yea...

get your ass to a track.

don't forget to join us in july http://www.r6live.com/usa-california...th-2009-a.html

**Championr6-476** · 12-11-2008, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by SAEID

1. 1st gear is used to get you going... And for woolies. Not for cornering

Where's Los Gatos? Come to a track day with TrackDaz or TI2TT.

2. Go to the track.

Where's Los Gatos? Come to a track day with TrackDayz or TI2TT.

1. = HORSE SHIT!!!!
I was using 1st gear at Autobahn North in turn 2. If i was in 2nd gear, I would get no drive out of the corner.

**albinohickey** · 12-11-2008, 10:10 AM

^ Yeah but on the street? Come on. 1st gear in all Yammi's is such a clunker gear anyway. A novice does not need to slamming down into 1st, because a lot of times that's what it takes. They just don't like getting put into 1st in the first place, let alone at speed.

Aka - 2nd is more than fine.

**jraice** · 12-11-2008, 10:14 AM

Thanks guys I know for me, atleast now I am staying in 2nd I was just wondering like in the future or for advanced riding are you guys using 1st and it sounds like it really is too touchy.

And yeah I may get to the track soon but for now I am happy with the streets.

My dad does not have the free time to come with me toooooo often to the track and he told me he does not feel comfortable with me going without him.

**AtlantaR6** · 12-11-2008, 10:29 AM

I concentrate more on RPM's then what gear I am in. I keep the RPM's between 7k and 15k. If I am lower then 7, I downshift. If I am above 15, I upshift.

It's hard to say what gear you should be in without actually riding the road. I also judge the road up ahead, if there is a tight corner ahead and I'm at 15 I won't upshift as I want to use engine braking going into the corner instead of jacking on my brakes.