Down Shifting Issues

[rmrc51]

You'll be able to tell by this post that I don't ride very often as per my question.

This morning I took my Valk Trike out for the first time this year for its inspection. As I was approaching a stop sign, I wanted to bring her down form 4th to 1st and couldn't down shift more than one gear. I noticed that I have to let the clutch out after each down shift. I can't hit the shifter more then once to bring the trike down multiple gears. Is this normal?

[Ricky-D]

It's not normal but it is also not unusual either!

Mainly it is the speed you are going when you try to downshift through all the gears.

Going slow will make that chore more difficult and thus having to use the clutch to assist the downshifting becomes necessary.

***

[Patrick]

From your post it sounds like you were still moving and thats a good thing.. Just try this a little sooner while you're going a bit faster..

[Chrisj CMA]

You'll be able to tell by this post that I don't ride very often as per my question.

This morning I took my Valk Trike out for the first time this year for its inspection. As I was approaching a stop sign, I wanted to bring her down form 4th to 1st and couldn't down shift more than one gear. I noticed that I have to let the clutch out after each down shift. I can't hit the shifter more then once to bring the trike down multiple gears. Is this normal?

You said this was a trike.  Goodness dude you have the stopping power of a truck behind you with those two car tires......why would you want to subject your clutch to that abuse..........totally unecessary, wrong choice IMHO.  Stomp the brakes and pull the clutch in, make sure shes in 1st by the time you stop and its all good.

[rmrc51]

I was going approximately 35 to 40 mph when I tried to downshift through more than one gear. I think I was stuck in 3rd when I finally make the left turn and probably wore a bit of the clutch as I babied it around the corner with the clutch partially engaged. All was well after I stopped and some how got her back into 1st. As you might imaging, this just makes me more hesitant to take her out again. Any suggestions?

[rmrc51]

You'll be able to tell by this post that I don't ride very often as per my question.

This morning I took my Valk Trike out for the first time this year for its inspection. As I was approaching a stop sign, I wanted to bring her down form 4th to 1st and couldn't down shift more than one gear. I noticed that I have to let the clutch out after each down shift. I can't hit the shifter more then once to bring the trike down multiple gears. Is this normal?

You said this was a trike.  Goodness dude you have the stopping power of a truck behind you with those two car tires......why would you want to subject your clutch to that abuse..........totally unecesary, wrong choice IMHO.  Stomp the brakes and pull the clutch in, mke sure shes in 1st by the time you stop and its all good.

That's what I was trying to do but I couldn't get her back into 1st. She would only allow me to downshift one gear. from 4th to 3rd.

[Chrisj CMA]

You'll be able to tell by this post that I don't ride very often as per my question.

This morning I took my Valk Trike out for the first time this year for its inspection. As I was approaching a stop sign, I wanted to bring her down form 4th to 1st and couldn't down shift more than one gear. I noticed that I have to let the clutch out after each down shift. I can't hit the shifter more then once to bring the trike down multiple gears. Is this normal?

You said this was a trike.  Goodness dude you have the stopping power of a truck behind you with those two car tires......why would you want to subject your clutch to that abuse..........totally unecesary, wrong choice IMHO.  Stomp the brakes and pull the clutch in, mke sure shes in 1st by the time you stop and its all good.

That's what I was trying to do but I couldn't get her back into 1st. She would only allow me to downshift one gear. from 4th to 3rd.

you cannot have it in 1st gear going 35mph.  just wait until its slower

[rmrc51]

You'll be able to tell by this post that I don't ride very often as per my question.

This morning I took my Valk Trike out for the first time this year for its inspection. As I was approaching a stop sign, I wanted to bring her down form 4th to 1st and couldn't down shift more than one gear. I noticed that I have to let the clutch out after each down shift. I can't hit the shifter more then once to bring the trike down multiple gears. Is this normal?

You said this was a trike.  Goodness dude you have the stopping power of a truck behind you with those two car tires......why would you want to subject your clutch to that abuse..........totally unecesary, wrong choice IMHO.  Stomp the brakes and pull the clutch in, mke sure shes in 1st by the time you stop and its all good.

That's what I was trying to do but I couldn't get her back into 1st. She would only allow me to downshift one gear. from 4th to 3rd.

you cannot have it in 1st gear going 35mph.  just wait until its slower

Even once I was doing hardly 5 mph, I still couldn't downshift any further. I think the possible issue might be the forward controls I have on her from Big Bike Things. They seem to bind every so often. However upon inspection today, everything looked completely free.

It's as if after I downshift once, the shifter doesn't return to allow for another downshift. You have to lift it a bit so it resets.

[Ratdog]

Shift with authority with these straight cut gears in the Valk's tranny. 

[R J]

1st thing I would do is either get the kink out of the forward controls or toss them bees turds in the trash.

Any add on forward controls I have tried to use have given me more headahes than my 5 kids did growing up.

MY advice is go to a Kick shifter and enjoy the ride.

PS:   My son reminded me I dropped MGM into 1st gear at 40 MPH in Daytona one year.

[Chrisj CMA]

Shift with authority with these straight cut gears in the Valk's tranny. 

Theres a blast from the past.  How the heck are ya Ratdog? 

[Ratdog]

Shift with authority with these straight cut gears in the Valk's tranny. 

Theres a blast from the past.  How the heck are ya Ratdog? 

Still usin' up perfectly good oxygen, et vous?

[Patrick]

Ah well, its nice to get all the info right from the git-go..

[Chrisj CMA]

Shift with authority with these straight cut gears in the Valk's tranny. 

Theres a blast from the past.  How the heck are ya Ratdog? 

Still usin' up perfectly good oxygen, et vous?

Im still cruisin.......not doing as many long distance trips........life is sorta in the way right now, but Im busy and still wrenching on Valkyries quite a bit.  The old red and white is showing 25K right now.......

[rmrc51]

1st thing I would do is either get the kink out of the forward controls or toss them bees turds in the trash.

Any add on forward controls I have tried to use have given me more headahes than my 5 kids did growing up.

MY advice is go to a Kick shifter and enjoy the ride.

PS:   My son reminded me I dropped MGM into 1st gear at 40 MPH in Daytona one year.

That's how I'm leaning right now. This weekend I'm going to remove the forward controls. I just liked having my feet stretched out instead on straight down. But I guess I'll get use to it, especially if it means no more downshifting issues.

[rodeo1]

absolutly agree  with a trike you need to just grab a footfull of brake and stop, then downshift, i hope to never wear out any rear tires or clutches in my life, ever again -- double dark side, thats me !

[Gryphon Rider]

Why does there seem to be a consensus that downshifting is going to wear out the clutch?  A good rider almost always downshifts while slowing so he/she is in the proper gear in case acceleration is required.  The trick to prevent wear is to pull in the clutch, rev the engine to an appropriate speed for the gear you are shifting down to, then release the clutch smoothly.  As long as you do this, there will be no more wear to the clutch downshifting than upshifting.  My Valk is on its original clutch with more than 80,000 km, which shouldn't be remarkable, and my manual shift car is at more than 430,000 km with the original clutch, even though I share it with my wife even though my wife shares it with me!

rmrc51, I suspect you are right that your sticking forward controls are the reason for your trouble downshifting while the clutch is pulled in.

[Chrisj CMA]

Why does there seem to be a consensus that downshifting is going to wear out the clutch?  A good rider almost always downshifts while slowing so he/she is in the proper gear in case acceleration is required.  The trick to prevent wear is to pull in the clutch, rev the engine to an appropriate speed for the gear you are shifting down to, then release the clutch smoothly.  As long as you do this, there will be no more wear to the clutch downshifting than upshifting.  My Valk is on its original clutch with more than 80,000 km, which shouldn't be remarkable, and my manual shift car is at more than 430,000 km with the original clutch, even though I share it with my wife even though my wife shares it with me!

rmrc51, I suspect you are right that your sticking forward controls are the reason for your trouble downshifting while the clutch is pulled in.

I believe the concept in question was this.  Some riders....(me included on my previous smaller bikes) use the clutch to actually slow the bike i.e. downshift while going too fast for the new gear and then slowly let the clutch out to assist the brakes in slowing faster.  I think this is bad for the Valkyrie due to the weight and known seperations of the pressure plate rivots.  Also unessesary because of the good brakes we have. 

At higher speeds just letting off on the gas and applying brakes combines engine compression with brakes and gives a quick stop.  I pull the clutch in as soon as its near the speed of the next lower gear

With the Valkyrie I downshift as I slow but I dont always release the clutch....just step on the shifter everytime I get to the next "speed" sometimes I let the clutch out in the "new gear" if I see traffic clearing or for whatever reason I think Im going to accelerate again but I dont need to "rev the engine" I just release the clutch at the right speed (going by sound) its a no load shift and puts no wear on the clutch as you said but thats not what I thought was being said

[Gryphon Rider]

You'll be able to tell by this post that I don't ride very often as per my question.

This morning I took my Valk Trike out for the first time this year for its inspection. As I was approaching a stop sign, I wanted to bring her down form 4th to 1st and couldn't down shift more than one gear. I noticed that I have to let the clutch out after each down shift. I can't hit the shifter more then once to bring the trike down multiple gears. Is this normal?

I did some testing last night and no, what you are experiencing is not normal.  I can pull in my clutch and click click click click down through all the gears without releasing the clutch.

[rangernight]

I ride my bike with the use of downshifting, I like to be ready for any unforseen activity of the public.
I use my gears for braking, and in the twisties I use this technique alot, I have 75K on my 01 Int. and have never had a clutch issue.

[bscrive]

MY advice is go to a Kick shifter and enjoy the ride.

Does anyone know if Mr. Rattlebars will start making them again?  There is one on eBay right now, but that's it.  Possibly it is something a talented man could make for himself.

I made my own.  Cost me $8 and some welding time.  If you can get a hold of a plasma cutter, it will make the job a lot easier.  I just got a picture of the shifter and used it as a template.

[PhredValk]

I always downshift to help with braking, and to be in the proper gear if the light changes. Nothing is more embarrassing than having to start the bike and play with the gears when you forget you're in 5th at a red light.

I also have to play with the clutch to go down the gears when stopped. Always if the engine isn't running, and now and then when it is. Down one, clutch, move the bike a bit, down 2...
Fred.

[rmrc51]

You'll be able to tell by this post that I don't ride very often as per my question.

This morning I took my Valk Trike out for the first time this year for its inspection. As I was approaching a stop sign, I wanted to bring her down form 4th to 1st and couldn't down shift more than one gear. I noticed that I have to let the clutch out after each down shift. I can't hit the shifter more then once to bring the trike down multiple gears. Is this normal?

I did some testing last night and no, what you are experiencing is not normal.  I can pull in my clutch and click click click click down through all the gears without releasing the clutch.

I removed the 'Forward Controls' last night and replaced the shifter with one from an older Honda (can't remember what year & model) that someone on this site mentioned quite a while ago. This shifter, unlike the stock, angles outward and then straight back making it much easier to lift or press down.

In any event, I was able to pull the clutch in and go through all of the gears with no evident problems. I guess those forward controls just had too much play in them not allowing for the shifter to reset it self. I'll be taking her out tomorrow for a test ride. Thanks for all of the suggestions and information.