How to Shift Gears On a Dirt Bike

So you just bought a dirt bike, but realized that you have no idea how to ride one. Well, the first thing you will need to know is how to shift your bike. This can be an intimidating process for beginners, however, with a little practice; you will have it down in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Safety Gear (Padding, helmet, goggles, etc.)

Instructions

1. Put on your safety gear. This should be the very first thing you should do before you get on a bike.

2. Hold down the clutch and shift the bike into neutral. Push down on the shifting lever repeatedly until you cannot push down again. This will signify first gear. From there you will want to toe the shifting lever up one and that will put you in neutral.

3. Start your bike. This is usually a push button somewhere on the handlebar, but it can differ from bike to bike.

4. Hold in the clutch and push the shifting lever down with your foot. You will feel the bike stiffen up a bit when you do this.

5. Slowly let off of the clutch while giving the bike some gas. You do not want to give it too much, but you want to give it enough to take off. Just do not get too excited and cram on the throttle. You could end up doing a wheelie or flipping the bike over on yourself.

6. Shift as needed from here. You will need to use your best judgment when deciding when it is time to shift, because there is no RPM gauge on a dirt bike. You will know when to shift by the sound of the engine. When you first take off, the engine will sound a little low and chugging. When it is ready to be shifted, it will sound like a high pitched whine, like a chainsaw.

Tips & Warnings

• The gears on a bike go in this order: first, neutral, second, third, fourth etc.

• Tapping the shift lever up with your foot will shift up, and tapping the shift lever down will shift you down.

• When in motion, shifting from first to second will skip neutral. The only time neutral is above first is when the bike is not moving.

• The bike needs to be in motion to shift up past first. The gears on a dirt bike have to be moving to be shifted, too.

• Always wear safety gear, even if you are going for a quick spin in your back yard. Anything could happen at any time and it is always best to be prepared.