What is the general shifting habit?  I have only been riding for 4 months and find myself struggling to choose between downshifting through all gears and letting the clutch out at each gear to help slow my speed versus holding the clutch and downshifting all the way to first (of course keeping my gear close to my speed in case I need to pop the clutch and move).

Are there mechanical benefits to doing (or not doing) one versus the other or is it pure preference?

Thanks!

Downshifting into second or first is VERY VERY HARD on your clutch dog faces, so don't you be a doing that .....  

Downshifting to 4th and to 3rd are non-damaging and are quite commonly done as engine braking is very effective on this bike.

Small point here, some don't use the clutch when downshifting lightly in the upper gears.  I do use the clutch, but that's just me.

Yep, pull the clutch in, use the brakes, tap down into second then past second into neutral just as you get close to not rolling any more.

Banging into second or first in a power braking downshift is just very hard on the tranny for no real braking effects that does anything much to stop the bike.

Serowbot wrote on 09/21/12 at 09:57:50:

Yep this... it frustrates me if I am going slow enough. I will slip past neutral and then have to adjust my foot to get back up there. With the clutch lever pulled in.. you are good down to 2nd... First gear I only go in once I am stopped. I think that is a common function across most bikes.

I have what seems to be common.. "sticky gears" so sometimes it does not want to pop out of 5 and down..just clutch it and it will release well enough. Currently, I engine brake about 20% of time... mostly just normal rear brake until at the very end.  
I have no intention of dogging out my bike, and nothing to prove to anyone.

Quote:


The MSF course I took made the same point, be in a gear where you can move quickly if you need to. Approaching a stop light from 5th, I will back off the throttle, trail the rear brake ever so slightly and tap it into third. I will pull in the clutch again as I approach the light while I use both brakes and tap it into second and keep the clutch lever pulled in. Almost at a complete stop, almost like I was on the way down to plant my left foot, I will tap it into first. I do not get any flutter or kick back from the shifter at that slow a speed.

For what it is worth

I downshift like I was driving a big rig. But, that's how I was taught. Do what feels right, just make sure you don't get hung up in neutral or false neutral...

To practice clutchless, work between 4th & 5th. Not a lot of RPM difference there.

To go from 4th to 5th, toe under shifter, contact, but not enough pressure to shift, Slap the gas shut & lift the toe & gas it.

5th down to 4th, not accelerating, not decelrating, engine not pulling, engine not being pulled, step down & give it a slight goose to match RPM, let off the gas.
When you can do that w/o trying, then you can hit 3rd & 2nd. I do not recommend ever trying to make 1st. Just too much RPM difference & the engine has the gearing against the driveline. Too easy to lurch the heck out of it,

Im pretty good at clutchless shifting, & its not something I was willing to risk messing it up over. I made it a few times, smoothly, but the occasional poorly timed one was enough to shy me away,.

& did it blow up?

Why do it? Because once ya get good at it, you can shift faster, you dont use the cable or the throw out cam or slip the clutch at all,, If Im seeing how fast I can get to 60, I dont use the clutch after  im in 2nd gear & I can fly thru the gears, smoothly.