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How fast do you go before you switch to 2nd gear?

2479 Views 18 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  New2kaw
Curious as to what highly experienced riders and experts think about when the right speed to switch to 2nd gear is, before and after break in?
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Depends which sprocket is on the front.
Depends which sprocket is on the front.
I have a klr2022. Dont know much aboot sprockets
are you speaking Canadian? 🤣

you'll get a feel for it, practice using the kawi recommended shift points and you'll soon be shifting by sound.
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are you speaking Canadian? 🤣

you'll get a feel for it, practice using the kawi recommended shift points and you'll soon be shifting by sound.
Thank ye :)
Curious as to what highly experienced riders and experts think about when the right speed to switch to 2nd gear is, before and after break in?
Since im past break in, I usually shift to 2nd by 20mph. 25mph if im feeling hooligan
Curious as to what highly experienced riders and experts think about when the right speed to switch to 2nd gear is, before and after break in?
Not sure why speed has anything to do with it? It all depends on road conditions and how quickly you are trying to get to a certain speed. Usually when I commute, I'm relaxed so don't rev the motor and change gears at much lower RPM. Even more so if I'm heading downhill. If I'm entering a freeway and need to match the speed of other vehicles then I will stay in each gear a little longer and therefore higher RPM...as examples.
I always shift by feel and by road conditions. I honestly don't know what speed that is from first to second. If I had to guess it would be less than 10mph in most cases. Probably 3500rpm if I'm just tooling into work, maybe 4500rpm if I'm trying to get going quick. First on a klr Is like a tractor, I feel like you get better acceleration in second if over 10mph, because second has the legs to keep pulling.

Edit. Rode to work today. I shift to 2nd right around 20mph. If I'm getting up to speed in a hurry, I may shift as I pass 25. Same comments as above, staying in 1st longer than 25mph doesn't seem to get you much. I cruise 25mph zones in 3rd.
2022....at least 25 mph indicated before shifting. If I'm taking it easy I'll shift to 2nd around 22. If I'm in a hurry I'll shift to 2nd in 28 mph

2nd gear really doesn't like anything below 18 mph, and the gap between 1st and 2nd is pretty wide.
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About 4000 rpm.
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About 4000 rpm.
2022 model does not have a tachometer
With a 16t/42t ratio, or even when I road with the stock 15t/43t ratios, I have a general shift pattern if I am not in a hurry. 1st - 2nd ~ 20 mph; 2nd - 3rd ~ 30 mph; 3rd - 4th ~ 40 mph; 4th - 5th ~ 45 - 50 mph.
I very rarely go past 25 mph in 1st gear, although I suppose you can.
When I am at different speed limits I generally use the following gears:
25 mph = 3rd
35 mph = 4th
45 mph = 5th
I may occasionally downshift if I need to accelerate quickly, but this usually keeps me in a range I can roll on throttle for easy driving.
I don't thrash my KLR, even though I know guys that do, and I don't have to add oil between changes very often, and I get better than 55 mpg averaging around 58 over the last 90,000 miles.
BUT... that's just my preference, ride the way you like and you will be happy.
I just let the rev limiter tell me! I kid I kid.
Curious as to what highly experienced riders and experts think about when the right speed to switch to 2nd gear is, before and after break in?
KLR manual says 21mph first 150 miles then 31 mph after 240 miles(pg 89 in manual) then 15 mph after break in(pg 94 in manual)
2nd gear really doesn't like anything below 18 mph, and the gap between 1st and 2nd is pretty wide.
Way too wide imo. I rode 100 miles of dirt and gravel over the past 2 days and I couldn't count the times I needed a "1.5" gear.
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Way too wide imo. I rode 100 miles of dirt and gravel over the past 2 days and I couldn't count the times I needed a "1.5" gear.
I made the same kinda' comment to one of my YMRacing road racing instructors about entering a turn on a race circuit. His reply, either go slower, or faster..but faster is your goal.
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Way too wide imo. I rode 100 miles of dirt and gravel over the past 2 days and I couldn't count the times I needed a "1.5" gear.
You got 2 options get a little faster and keep it in 2nd.
Or put a 14 tooth on it and you stay in 2nd with a little less speed.
I made the same kinda' comment to one of my YMRacing road racing instructors about entering a turn on a race circuit. His reply, either go slower, or faster..but faster is your goal.
Well... I'm trying to get better at offroad riding and was on very Curvy and very steep loose gravel roads. From 2k feet to 5500 in just a handful of miles. Ive ridden sport bikes for many years and raced some. Ridden atv and trike offroad. No doubt a better rider would have just rode faster. Lol. But i found myself going back and forth too much. Same for engine braking, first was too much and second was riding the brake. But the gap in gears is pretty wide. Wider than any atv or bike ive owned.

Some of the roads to get there were fresh scraped gravel. One I actually followed the grader. Was good experience for sure. That soft stuff was pretty rough

You got 2 options get a little faster and keep it in 2nd.
Or put a 14 tooth on it and you stay in 2nd with a little less speed.
I have a 14. I'll try it someday. I didn't have any issue i just found myself thinking that a lower 2nd would be nice. I wouldn't want a higher 1st that's for sure.
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