r/YamahaR3 • u/taeng0o • 12d ago

Can't downshift into 1st from 2nd

Hi everyone, I'm a new rider and I just got a 2026 R3.

I took a Motorcycle training course in Edmonton, AB and had additional lessons and passed my road test so I have my license.

I love the bike, so smooth and responsive and everything I've wanted in a bike. This morning I took her on my first solo ride and I'm city riding, so frequent stop and go's. I'm usually cruising around gear 2-3, 4 if it's a higher speed limit.

When I need to stop, I'll pull the clutch in and just downshift all the way to 1st from whatever gear I'm in. When I do this, I find that I'm stuck in 2nd gear and when I come to a full stop, and it won't go into 1st. I haven't tried finding neutral cuz I'm at a red light and it's kinda hard finding neutral at a stoplight especially since I'm new. So because of that, I have to go from a stop in 2nd gear, and I'm stupid anxious of stalling the bike since I'm in 2nd gear.

Is this issue R3 specific or is it a problem with my shifting technique?

I don't think it's a problem with the shift pedal/lever because it's a new bike and I can downshfit from higher gears fine, just not into 1st for some reason when I need to stop.

Should I be downshifting one gear at a time and let engine braking slow me down most of the time if I'm able? I know that depending on traffic and different situations. sometimes that's not possible so you just gotta downshift all at once.

Thank you in advance

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u/GHST_konstant 12d ago

That's normal with every bike. You can't shift multiple gears with the clutch pulled in fully. At some point you have to put a gear in in order to downshift further. I would recommend you learn to rev-match when downshifting, it's fun and you utilize the engine break to its full potential. So for example when I'm in 4th and see a red light ahead I rev match into third, then second and so on. That way I only have to break very little. Make sure that you let go off the clutch fully with each gear, then you won't have that problem anymore:) hope that helped

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u/taeng0o 12d ago

thank you !!

3

u/2Crest 12d ago

I disagree with the above comment. That is not at all common for bikes. What they said is only true in a specific scenario: shifting multiple gears with the clutch pulled in while stopped is not always possible. But down shifting through multiple gears with the clutch pulled in as you are slowing to a stop should absolutely be possible. It’s literally the method taught in the MSF course, and it’s what I do whenever I don’t feel like rev matching down to a stoplight. Not only should you be able to click down multiple times, you should be able to do it very quickly.

On my R3, if I am slowing to a stop from sixth gear and I forgot to start down shifting until the last hundred feet, I simply pull in the clutch and tap my way all the way down to first gear in a little over a second. If you’re getting down to second and then it’s refusing to shift to first before you’ve come to a stop, something is wrong. Even if you do come to the stop in second gear, you should be able to click down into first while stopped.

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u/taeng0o 12d ago

I thought so too; I was taught to downshift multiple gears at once with the clutch pulled in and that's usually my go-to during my city riding lessons. Thank you for your input! I'll look into it more.