GEAR-CHANGING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6538, 21 February 1928, Page 10

GEAR-CHANGING

Gear-changing is an art, regarded in different lights by different people. A single-cylinder motor-cycle is , not designed to "slog” on top, as will a car; also our sliding dogs are far easier to engage that a car’s pinions; ■yet a large number of motor-cyclists shirk gear-changing. It is but a knack, easily acquired by practice, and, once mastered, an intelligent use of the gear-box will enhance the pleasures of driving, besides giving longer life to engine and transmission. The modern tendency to high revolutions makes it essential that the gear ratio should be changed to meet conditions. It was said of the four-speed A.B.C. that one could leave the throttle hall open and drive on the gears. Many riders imagine that changing up consists of de-clutching, moving the gear lever, and letting iu the clutch again. Such a procedure results in the engine reviving up during the change, when the gears can only be engaged with a

jerk, followed by another jerk as the clutch- bites home—the whole producing- a clumsy, lurching wobble across the road. The point to remember is that when changing up, the engine speed is to be lowered in relation td the road speed, and vice versa when changing down. The most common fault lies . in • changing down and at too low a speed. It is far Letter to keep in a low gear than in a high one. Better acceleration and deceleration are obtained ,together with immunity from skidding and less strain all round.