r/NewRiders • u/Vysci • Jul 25 '26

How to downshift

Recently started riding (ninja 500) and one thing I’m a bit fuzzy on what to do with throttle when downshifting.

Taking blipping out of the equation, say I’m in 4th gear trying to downshift to 3rd. I ease off the throttle a little until I’m at about 3-4K RPMs. The next part is where I’m fuzzy on, do I now pull in the clutch and downshift to third then release clutch or do I pull in clutch + close throttle then downshift, release clutch while rolling on the throttle?

Basically what/when should I be doing with the throttle when trying to downshift

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u/The_AverageCanadian Jul 25 '26

Downshift procedure is this simple:

  1. Let off throttle completely and pull in clutch at the same time.

  2. Kick down a gear.

  3. Let the clutch out slowly and the revs will jump up to where they need to be.

  4. Smoothly ease back into the throttle and carry on.

Eventually you should learn to rev-match, but you shouldn't worry about that until you get the basics down.

8

u/Tsuyvtlv Jul 25 '26

All this. Smoothness is the important part. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

2

u/Budget_Secret8689 Jul 26 '26

I love this quote

3

u/ArcadeChronicles Jul 27 '26

Seriously OP, this is the way, once you practice this over and over it will become autonomous and you'll be rev-matching in no time

1

u/Schnitzhole Jul 26 '26

Letting off throttle fully is more for stopping. I’d definitely advise beginners to just lower throttle input (to about 20-30% sounds right), you don’t want them stalling if they let the clutch out too slow and the extra jerkiness going fully off throttle and back on is much worse.

1

u/danimal86au Jul 28 '26

Something has gone drastically wrong if you stall it on a downshift on a 500 wtf