Posts: 430
Joined: 4/6/2017
Location: Columbus, OH USA
How much do you think about what gear you are in when riding at your best pace? Do you look at the bigger jumps and think that you must be a in a certain gear to hit it, or do go purely off of feel?
For me, I seem always know in the back of my head what gear I am in, even when I try not to think about it.
Thoughts?
Posts: 1070
Joined: 11/14/2016
Location: CA, USA
I usually have a decent feeling of what gear im in. A while back I learned 3rd tapped and 4th "on it" were completely different on the finish line table at cahuilla. I got a few funny looks my next lap around
Posts: 127
Joined: 10/20/2017
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Sometimes I feel faster in my Fox gear but other times I jump further in my Fly gear so I try not to think about it too
Posts: 430
Joined: 4/6/2017
Location: Columbus, OH USA
The Candyman wrote:
Sometimes I feel faster in my Fox gear but other times I jump further in my Fly gear so I try not to think about it too
You wear LBZ
Posts: 436
Joined: 1/19/2013
Location: NorCal, CA USA
Posts: 20408
Joined: 11/25/2008
Location: Thru-out, CA USA
Posts: 430
Joined: 4/6/2017
Location: Columbus, OH USA
Posts: 6693
Joined: 11/30/2013
Location: Portland/Los Angeles, CA USA
I'm pretty aware of what gear I'm in. You can feel it also, but sometimes I get lost and bang an extra gear up or down.
Posts: 7532
Joined: 7/1/2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV USA
Usually I'm TLD from head to toe... but when I Shift I wear my Shoei 
Don’t piss off the old people - the older they get the less “life in prison” is a deterrent for them!
2020.5 KTM 450 SXF FE
2006 KX250
Posts: 926
Joined: 8/26/2013
Location: AUS
The MXA “Dirty Harry” shift system.
At least on my regular tracks I keep track of what gear I’m in at any given time. Whilst learning a new track I’m typically just going by feel.
Posts: 187
Joined: 8/28/2017
Location: Ocitillo, CA USA
I've always gone of off feel, mainly because I ride an older cr125 and can only really get around on the power band. I always remember whatever gear I'm in, tucked somewhere back in my head. But whenever I come up to a jump I just get a gut feeling of whether or not im going fast enough, enough rpm, etc.
Hope for the best, Prepare for the worst.
Posts: 314
Joined: 9/1/2016
Location: SoCal, CA USA
I'm usually in 2nd or 3rd on the track, but I don't always know which.
Life's a garden, dig it.
1996 CR250R
2016 YZ450F
2001 Suzuki Bandit 600
Posts: 1438
Joined: 10/20/2012
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Posts: 3275
Joined: 10/13/2009
Location: Layton, UT USA
Oddly enough for mediocre skill level I always know exactly which gear I'm in. Lots of dead give aways if you get confused. Sound and pull will always let you know once you've spent some time on a bike.
Are you smart enough to buy a bike that costs less, weighs less, makes more horsepower per cubic centimeter, can be rebuilt for recycled aluminum can money and is giggle inducing? It is hard to believe that the American riding public flunks this test en masse. How stupid are you?
Posts: 1295
Joined: 7/16/2015
Location: SWE
I guess I know in the back of my head. It's not like I ever think about it when I ride though. But if someone asked me what gear im in when I'm in that turn or hitting that jump I'd be able to tell
Posts: 3198
Joined: 3/5/2007
Location: Adelaide, AUS
Posts: 3105
Joined: 4/15/2013
Location: Suffolk, VA USA
I have no clue. I click down once, ride to the track and its all feel and instinct from there. Now I have been in last gear and kept shifting up to my surprise nothing was left.
Posts: 7157
Joined: 10/31/2013
Location: PA, USA
Posts: 1331
Joined: 6/23/2014
Location: Victorville, CA USA
Posts: 4804
Joined: 4/19/2008
Location: Boulder, CO USA
I am also a always know which gear I am in guy.... I also make it a point to know that double takes second absolutely pinned, those big rollers are third, tripling the uphill jump takes third, etc... But then I ride 2 smokers all the time.... The couple times I have actually raced a 450 it was basically stick it in third the entire lap only going down to second on one tight corner...
www.bettercallsaul.com
Die Antwoord
Posts: 23935
Joined: 3/26/2015
Location: Ontario, CAN
Moderator
I always went by "feel" but like Prntscrn mentioned if someone was to ask me what gear I was in for a certain turn on the track or a certain jump I could tell them.
"Sorry Goose, but it's time to buzz the tower."
Posts: 5085
Joined: 4/14/2011
Location: Alberta, CAN
I ride a 06 CR250 - I know in every single corner jump straightaway etc what gear I'm in. I'm very tuned in to that and I think maybe I even over focus on it....
Posts: 904
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Houston, TX USA
Don't have a clue what gear I'm in. When I started riding however, I would literally stop and shift to first whenever I forgot what gear I was in
Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/29/2011
Location: Stockholm, SWE
Posts: 26
Joined: 3/14/2015
Location: saskatchewan, CAN
I don't get it? Start in 2nd click third halfway down the start and never touch the shifter again is my program
Posts: 425
Joined: 9/18/2016
Location: Miami, FL USA
I have a good idea of what speed a given gear will take me to, so on that note I try to be aware of what gear I'm in mainly on the approach to a big jump. Sometimes I lose track though which sometimes leads to mistakes if I'm not in the right gear for a given corner or other obstacle. But for the most part I try to just do what's needed to keep the bike in the meat of the power. Knowing what gear I'm in helps with that but most of the time I can get by without knowing also.
Posts: 2072
Joined: 11/2/2011
Location: Chapin, SC USA
I know what gear when I put it into gear on the start, after that I dont know or care. I go back and forth between bike ages and displacements from weekend to weekend, it would drive me crazy trying to keep up with what gear I'm in.
Posts: 715
Joined: 9/21/2014
Location: NZL
In the early 2000's I had a KTM 525SX with 540 kit in it, The gear lever fell off in 1 race stuck in 3rd, I rode quicker laps times than with a gear lever.
With 16 350 SXF, other than start 2nd gear, then some tracks 3rd only or 3rd and 4th.
@TONY351KTM
Posts: 1245
Joined: 4/16/2008
Location: Apple Valley, CA USA
Posts: 1718
Joined: 12/14/2010
Location: Temecula, CA USA
I usually do know just by how the power feels/motor sounds vs how fast i'm going. If i ever lose track, it just takes a few seconds to gauge the power/motor sound vs my speed to figure out what gear i'm in. I'm mostly between 2-4 on my 450 at tracks here in SoCal. 2nd gear out of tight corners is snappy and responsive. If its bogging or lazy, i know i'm in 3rd.
