Different Gear Patterns?

Evil Scotsman · 03-31-2009, 07:54 PM

Good Evening All,

OK so I have decided (limited funds) to get a Honda Rebel. I figure it is better to start riding something too small or I may grow out of quickly than sit back watching everyone esle ride while I save. Plus from what I am seeing on Craigslist and Ebay, they hold their value, so if Iwant to upgrade next year, I will basically get my money back. ?

Anyway, the question I have is do all bikes have the same gear pattern or are they all different? How would you know what they are? I remember a buddy of mine in HS saying (dirt bike) when you shift remember it is 2 down then three up or ???? it was.

I may try to get something a little bigger 450 or 600 (Cruiser) depends on what I can get in the 2000 neighborhood.

Would all Hondas have the same gear pattern, all Yamahas, etc

Thanks

Dodsfall · 03-31-2009, 08:02 PM

All modern bikes that I know of use the same shifting pattern. First gear is down, then neutral, then the rest of the gears. It's standard across all makes and models except for the total number of gears.

Goliath616 · 03-31-2009, 08:28 PM

yup. 1 down then 3, 4, or 5 up (besides neutral)

tampabayguy · 03-31-2009, 08:41 PM

Evil, the Rebel is a great bike, and they do hold their value. It pretty much depends on your size and weight. If you're comfortable on it, go for it.

Evil Scotsman · 03-31-2009, 09:06 PM

5' 11''

235Lbs

Now that I know the gear patterns are all the same I go test ride some bikes, w/o fear of looking like a COMPLETE IDIOT!

Thank You

EatingYourBrainsY0 · 03-31-2009, 09:25 PM

i had a rebel, 3 months later i didn't - best decision i made to start learning how to ride. it was the easiest bike to ride ever, if u cant learn on this bike - seriously - stop thinking about riding.

Trouthunter · 04-01-2009, 01:01 PM

I'm 6'0" and...let's just say huskier than you. Husky doesn't hurt as much as the truth - which is that I fall into the giant lardass category.

I rode a Rebel in the MSF class, and when my girlfriend bought heres, I rode it home for her because it was her first bike and there were some pretty heavy roads between where she got it and home.

I was comfortable on the bike, but it was clearly too small for me. It handles very gently, isn't going to jump out from under you if you hit the gas too hard, and will be a great first bike. You'll be a bit big for it, but not as bad as I was, so if I was comfortable, then you'll do fine.

Plus, they hold value pretty well, like you said, so if you feel like you want to move to a bigger bike when you're ready, then you'll get a decent amount of money back for it.

CB750F · 04-01-2009, 09:03 PM

Yep, 1 down and the rest up is pretty much standard. If you look at some Chinese imports and really old small stuff you may run into all up gears but it's real real rare on street stuff, mostly you run into that on ATVs and auto clutch dirt stuff.

MikieTaps · 04-02-2009, 02:53 PM

I think a couple of the highend Ducs run one up 5 down, but that is definitely the exception and not the rule.

CB750F · 04-02-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikieTaps

I think a couple of the highend Ducs run one up 5 down, but that is definitely the exception and not the rule.

That's true, plus some folks convert their sportbikes to the GP shift pattern ( one up and all down) by changing the linkage.

iamgumby · 04-02-2009, 11:20 PM

I had an old HD Sprint (71) that had the back brake pedal and shifter on opposite side from what is on today's bikes and the shifting was reverse, too. It was 1 up and 3 down (4 speed - one lunger).

03-31-2009, 07:54 PM	#1
Evil Scotsman Country Road Weekend Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Philadelphia, Pa Posts: 136	Different Gear Patterns? Good Evening All, OK so I have decided (limited funds) to get a Honda Rebel. I figure it is better to start riding something too small or I may grow out of quickly than sit back watching everyone esle ride while I save. Plus from what I am seeing on Craigslist and Ebay, they hold their value, so if Iwant to upgrade next year, I will basically get my money back. ? Anyway, the question I have is do all bikes have the same gear pattern or are they all different? How would you know what they are? I remember a buddy of mine in HS saying (dirt bike) when you shift remember it is 2 down then three up or ???? it was. I may try to get something a little bigger 450 or 600 (Cruiser) depends on what I can get in the 2000 neighborhood. Would all Hondas have the same gear pattern, all Yamahas, etc Thanks

03-31-2009, 08:02 PM	#2
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,859	All modern bikes that I know of use the same shifting pattern. First gear is down, then neutral, then the rest of the gears. It's standard across all makes and models except for the total number of gears. __________________ 2008 XL1200R To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-31-2009, 08:28 PM	#3
Goliath616 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Over here Posts: 4,199	yup. 1 down then 3, 4, or 5 up (besides neutral) __________________ '08 Yamaha Road Star To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-01-2009, 09:03 PM	#8
CB750F Shantytown Mayor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Huntingdon Co, PA Posts: 4,721	Yep, 1 down and the rest up is pretty much standard. If you look at some Chinese imports and really old small stuff you may run into all up gears but it's real real rare on street stuff, mostly you run into that on ATVs and auto clutch dirt stuff. __________________ 07 Ninja 500 98 ZX6E

04-02-2009, 11:20 PM	#11
iamgumby Fallen Riders Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Texas Posts: 3,950	I had an old HD Sprint (71) that had the back brake pedal and shifter on opposite side from what is on today's bikes and the shifting was reverse, too. It was 1 up and 3 down (4 speed - one lunger). __________________ 03 Suzuki GSF1200S Bandit, HIR headlights, GIVI shield, SWMoto guards, Hayabusa shock, lowered 2", H/S backrest & tailrack, Avon Storms, VStrom Hand Guards, IBA SS 1k

03-31-2009, 08:41 PM	#4
tampabayguy Verified Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 72	Evil, the Rebel is a great bike, and they do hold their value. It pretty much depends on your size and weight. If you're comfortable on it, go for it.

03-31-2009, 09:06 PM	#5
Evil Scotsman Country Road Weekend Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Philadelphia, Pa Posts: 136	5' 11'' 235Lbs Now that I know the gear patterns are all the same I go test ride some bikes, w/o fear of looking like a COMPLETE IDIOT! Thank You

03-31-2009, 09:25 PM	#6
EatingYourBrainsY0 Verified Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 73	i had a rebel, 3 months later i didn't - best decision i made to start learning how to ride. it was the easiest bike to ride ever, if u cant learn on this bike - seriously - stop thinking about riding.

04-01-2009, 01:01 PM	#7
Trouthunter Master At Arms Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 142	I'm 6'0" and...let's just say huskier than you. Husky doesn't hurt as much as the truth - which is that I fall into the giant lardass category. I rode a Rebel in the MSF class, and when my girlfriend bought heres, I rode it home for her because it was her first bike and there were some pretty heavy roads between where she got it and home. I was comfortable on the bike, but it was clearly too small for me. It handles very gently, isn't going to jump out from under you if you hit the gas too hard, and will be a great first bike. You'll be a bit big for it, but not as bad as I was, so if I was comfortable, then you'll do fine. Plus, they hold value pretty well, like you said, so if you feel like you want to move to a bigger bike when you're ready, then you'll get a decent amount of money back for it.

04-02-2009, 02:53 PM	#9
MikieTaps Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 217	I think a couple of the highend Ducs run one up 5 down, but that is definitely the exception and not the rule.

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