Gear Change Tips
From BikeNomads
Based on the post in the herohondacbz yahoogroup by Nithin Nath.
- Basically it's a multiplate wet-clutch ie; the friction plates are dipped in GB oil. Life is higher compared to dry type but can transfer only limited torque.
- You have 5 friction plates and replace all in a set when even one wears out.
- Do not attempt to ride the bike in top gear at lower speeds.. The gear cog tends to break. Eg; moonie's cbz
- While removing the bell gear (the main gear) do not attempt to remove using screwdriver or bar placed btw the gear teeth and GB cover. It will break the teeth eg; my cbz.
- Do not ever run your engine/GB with oil level below MIN indication in dip stick. Remove dip stick wipe oil on it and dip again and then see the level.
- Though it isnt a must to disengage clutch while shifting up in a constant mesh GB, while shifting down you may break the teeth of one of the cogs :) . Its better always to shift gears after disengaging clutch.
- DO NOT ride with clutch lever depressed. Don't even rest ur hands on em'. Easily said than done :D
- Use engine braking only when necessary or you find your brakes are not called for.
- Always minimise use of brakes at in normal riding. Use engine braking.
- While shifting down the gears to induce engine braking be careful of the speeds u r doing. Don't even think of shifting down to 2nd unless speeds are well below 30kmph.
- Never ever shift to first gear while down shifting trying for engine braking or you will stare at the skies!
- Always shift down gears before approaching a stop. (cant understand how my cousin always parks my bike in 5th gear!! - next day when I start my bike I keep downshifting and downnshifting till eternity!)
- If u end up In higher gear in traffic or if in 4th ur engine stalls, in both cases ensure engine is off and with clucth disengaged move the bike to and fro and shift down.
- In CBZ/ZMA/P180 when u shift up from 1st to 2nd give a firm tap than in other upshifts.. Whatever u do, u will find neutral when u really don't expect it!!
- Whenever u find u cant find neutral or ur clutch lever is too hard, first use the oil can (the one with presurising lever) and add some oil into the clutch cable(don't forget to wipe off the stuff from the lever and all rubber stuff.), then oil the lever near the crank case now you find a nut (use 12-13 size spanner) which is locked by a smaller nut(10-11 I think). Rotate the nuts in opposite directions to loosen them.
- Tighten the clutch cable(move towards the cable side) if u have a hard clutch
- Loosen it if u cant find neutral
- Do this while running ur engine and bike in main stand. Shift to first and check if with clucth fully depressed, the rear wheel still rotates. Adjust cable to eliminate wheel rotation with clutch lever fully depressed.
- Do not rev you engine with half clutch.. U will keep wearing the plates out.
- Usually in the mornings when my bike doesn't start with gear in neutral( I never use choke), when I keep the clutch lever depressed (in neutral), the bike starts in one kick! This is becoz the clutch is still in contact with the flywheel even in neutral so still some load on engine.
- During rain, the gears get too clunky and hard to shift.. Almost impossible to find neutral ( I relate this to water getting into clutch cable conduit).
- Wear shoes... the toe shifter can take a toll on ur toes; with chappals on..
- If u notice ur bike's engine revs higher than normal and speed isn't pickin up fast enuff.. Say like u are redlining and ur usual 115kmph is now 100 odd... check ur clutch plates... change if worn out..
- Check for oil leak from side plugs or under the crank case. Sometimes u can get a crack in the crank case due to some impact..
- Maintain max speed limits for each gear so that you don't overheat your engine too soon.. From my experience, compared to the 2 strokes the YBX being an exception, all four strokes are revv happy. But even the Pulsars don't give you much flexibility in each gear. Both the CBZ & ZMA can be ripped to very high speeds in each gear. Ok ok.. I am only comparing p180 & p150 classics, p150 dtsi (if Kedar gives his p180dtsi I will add comments on that too ), fiero & fiero f2. donno abt the amb135.
- Be careful with the neutral lamp it can sometimes fool u. u let go the clutch and bike might jump! So better get feel of the neutral and don't bother to even look at the idiot lamp!
- Do NOT oil your chain, only grease it. Use chain cover if possible (I don't have coz my Michelins don't lemme )
In the CBZ, 1st gear can take me upto 35kmph with tacho redlining, 2nd till 73-75kmph, 3rd till 90, 4th till 108, 5th 110 + and havent redlined in 5th yet.. Max done is just under 120 during chennai rip.