Ok so I could probably post this in the newbie section but I thought it would be better in here since i have a 2003 honda cbr954rr. My question is that I have been racing dirtbikes my whole life but this is my first street bike. (yes i know a 600 cc would have been a better choice and i agree with you but this one was a good deal). My main question is that the gearing seems extemely tight to the point where i shift and cant even tell the difference between the last gear. Is this normal? The manual says the recommended shift points are 12,19,25,31,37 mph......it does zero to 60 in 3 seconds just in first gear!! Any tips on easy shifting would be appreciated cause this is not at all like my KTM motocrosser.

-Duran


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shift according to the rpm. shift when it feels natural. If your just crusing around and the speed limit is 40 then taking it to 7000 in 1st gear probably wouldnt be very good. go practice in a parking lot thats not crowded and adjust speed and gear and after a little bit you will understand. Have you ever driven a manual car before? same thing... match road speed to rpm. good luck with the 954....make sure and be safe and make sure you know what your doing before hitting the roads. always wear your gear.

 

The manual says what???? Shift out of WHAT GEAR at 12 mph???? I don't even have the clutch out until like 20mph!!!!!! I usually shift at 4-4.5k and any earlier and my bike does NOT like it. 12 mph sounds totally off and I think it would be like 2000 rpms....

 

Hate to say it but don't compare a 954 to a dirt bike! If you do you will be in for a Big Big surprise!!

 

After some thought during a ride with my own 954... Your manual must be referring to the downshift points..

+1 for driber... a ***** to the wall street bike is a different game. You have the basics down... just remember that some of the rules are different and take your time on it. Good luck!

 

The manual is smoking crack. I usually shift around 5k rpm when I am just riding around town. That works pretty good for me.

 

The reason the manual list these shifting points are to give the bike its best gas mileage. These are just the RECOMMENDED shifting point that will give you the most Miles per tank of gas. My Ford F150 manual and my VolksWagon Jetta manual refers to this also. So yeah....You could do this and save on 10-20 Kms per tank, but how fun is that?

 

the manual is correct(shift points are before power band)-however,does not account
for a itching right hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just playin'-i am convinced my bike does not have to go over 4k revs to comply
with local laws!street/highway-maybe aside from epa regulations-legal street laws have something
to do with what is printed in the owners manual?

 

I've grown up riding as well, but it's like night and day from dirtbikes/quads to a street bike. The mechanics and motions are similar in certain respects yes, but you're dealing with a high-revving, high-HP, close-ratio transmission that can be driven gently, for fuel mileage, or aggresively for sport riding. That part is up to you how you want to ride your new beast! But if you've truly grown up riding; listening to the engine, shift points, clutching, blipping, etc. should be second nature to you. I agree with 8UR VET and driber... Find what's right for how you ride.

 

I've grown up riding as well, but it's like night and day from dirtbikes/quads to a street bike. The mechanics and motions are similar in certain respects yes, but you're dealing with a high-revving, high-HP, close-ratio transmission that can be driven gently, for fuel mileage, or aggresively for sport riding. That part is up to you how you want to ride your new beast! But if you've truly grown up riding; listening to the engine, shift points, clutching, blipping, etc. should be second nature to you. I agree with 8UR VET and driber... Find what's right for how you ride.