Boards.ie

scorphonic · 12-11-2005, 15:46

...this may shock a few

but... can someone explain to me the changing of gears on a five gear bike!

can you go from neutral to first into second and then back to neutral? How do you know what gear your in? and if your not sure of the gear, is there a way to go all the way back to neutral...last thing I want is to kill my bike!

Thanks for entertaining this!!

tk123 · 12-11-2005, 16:33

There should be a light on the bike that tells you when your in neutral...is it a new bike - if you don't know how to ride you should consider some lessons! Anyhoos you can go from neutral to first and then all the way up like you ask. You don't need to know what gear you are in - you need to listen to the bike - if it's really revving then it's telling you to go up, if it's rattling like a bag of hammers then the gear is too high and you need to go down. Make sure you are slowing down/speading up thru the gears - it's dangerous to fly down from 5th to 1st...You should take the bike to a quiet road and have a practice - it's seems complicated now but in a month from now you won't have to think about it at all!

saobh_ie · 12-11-2005, 18:09

www.irta.ie

These guys will tell you how to change the gears, when to change the gears and how not to fall/get knocked off.

Anyway, your gear box has six positions. First Gear, Neutral, Second Gear, Third Gear, Fourth Gear and Fifth gear.

Starting in neutral you push the lever down to get into first. Pushing it up will take you up past neutral into second. Up again, to third, up again to fourth, again to fifth.

Down takes you to fourth, down again, third, again to second down again to first.

Stop and then tap it up and you'll find neutral.
I tried to find a picture online but googles letting me down tonight...

murphaph · 14-11-2005, 22:20

Here's an idea of how it works on a bike. The picture is basic but understandable.

scorphonic · 15-11-2005, 21:23

Thanks for all the replies, very informative! Was definately going to get lessons since I dont trust myself at all yet..the bike is sitting comfortably under a rain proof cover in the garden!!..unscratched!

Just one other question though!

Philip provided a link to a site that gave a pictoral representation of the gears..and in the passage it said that the clutch is generally only needed when changing from neutral to first and for any gears after that it isn't needed...this is rubbish right?? I figured this actually goes against what the clutch is for!!!

seamus · 15-11-2005, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorphonic

Philip provided a link to a site that gave a pictoral representation of the gears..and in the passage it said that the clutch is generally only needed when changing from neutral to first and for any gears after that it isn't needed...this is rubbish right?? I figured this actually goes against what the clutch is for!!!

Well, not necessarily. The gears will change on a lot of bikes without pulling the clutch in. I wouldn't recommend it though from the POV of keeping control of your vehicle and reducing wear on the engine/gear parts.

murphaph · 16-11-2005, 01:18

Yeah, my bike slips into gear without the clutch but it's better to use it. It's possible to slip a car into gear without the clutch too, but owing to the light mass of a bike drivetrain it's a lot easier to get it right on a bike, but will cause more wear and tear to parts other than the clutch pack.

12-11-2005, 15:46	#1
scorphonic Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Meath, between the hay stack and the 'oul barn Posts: 141 Adverts \| Friends	Gear Changing Questions! ...this may shock a few but... can someone explain to me the changing of gears on a five gear bike! can you go from neutral to first into second and then back to neutral? How do you know what gear your in? and if your not sure of the gear, is there a way to go all the way back to neutral...last thing I want is to kill my bike! Thanks for entertaining this!! Last edited by scorphonic; 12-11-2005 at 16:17.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-11-2005, 16:33	#2
tk123 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TK-Topia Posts: 5,942 Adverts \| Friends	There should be a light on the bike that tells you when your in neutral...is it a new bike - if you don't know how to ride you should consider some lessons! Anyhoos you can go from neutral to first and then all the way up like you ask. You don't need to know what gear you are in - you need to listen to the bike - if it's really revving then it's telling you to go up, if it's rattling like a bag of hammers then the gear is too high and you need to go down. Make sure you are slowing down/speading up thru the gears - it's dangerous to fly down from 5th to 1st...You should take the bike to a quiet road and have a practice - it's seems complicated now but in a month from now you won't have to think about it at all!

12-11-2005, 18:09	#3
saobh_ie Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dublin Posts: 417 Adverts \| Friends	www.irta.ie These guys will tell you how to change the gears, when to change the gears and how not to fall/get knocked off. Anyway, your gear box has six positions. First Gear, Neutral, Second Gear, Third Gear, Fourth Gear and Fifth gear. Starting in neutral you push the lever down to get into first. Pushing it up will take you up past neutral into second. Up again, to third, up again to fourth, again to fifth. Down takes you to fourth, down again, third, again to second down again to first. Stop and then tap it up and you'll find neutral. I tried to find a picture online but googles letting me down tonight...

14-11-2005, 22:20	#4
murphaph Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Berlin Posts: 11,787 Adverts \| Friends	Here's an idea of how it works on a bike. The picture is basic but understandable.

15-11-2005, 21:23	#5
scorphonic Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Meath, between the hay stack and the 'oul barn Posts: 141 Adverts \| Friends	Thanks for all the replies, very informative! Was definately going to get lessons since I dont trust myself at all yet..the bike is sitting comfortably under a rain proof cover in the garden!!..unscratched! Just one other question though! Philip provided a link to a site that gave a pictoral representation of the gears..and in the passage it said that the clutch is generally only needed when changing from neutral to first and for any gears after that it isn't needed...this is rubbish right?? I figured this actually goes against what the clutch is for!!!

16-11-2005, 01:18	#7
murphaph Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Berlin Posts: 11,787 Adverts \| Friends	Yeah, my bike slips into gear without the clutch but it's better to use it. It's possible to slip a car into gear without the clutch too, but owing to the light mass of a bike drivetrain it's a lot easier to get it right on a bike, but will cause more wear and tear to parts other than the clutch pack.