12. Selecting 1st gear & neutral

SELECT NEUTRAL AND FIRST GEAR

This is an essential part of learning to ride a motorcycle, you need to be competent at selecting a gear ready to pull away and when you have finished riding be able to put the motorcycle back into neutral.   This vital skill requires you to understand how the clutch is operated in conjunction with the gears and the relationship between the clutch and gearbox.  Before pulling away for the first time, you should practice the process of squeezing the clutch lever in when engaging first gear. Once the gear is selected, practice sitting in the safety position and then putting the motorcycle back into neutral. You must also know what to do if you inadvertently press up too far and select second gear. It is an easy fix, place the foot back on top of the gear lever and press down.

SELECTING FIRST GEAR FROM NEUTRAL

• From the safety position
• Apply front brake and put your right foot on floor
• Pull in the clutch and left foot onto the left footpeg
• Press the left toe down onto the gear lever and select 1st gear
• Place the left foot down, lift the right foot and apply the rear brake
• Release the front brake and hold the throttle correctly
• You are now in 1st gear in the safety position

SELECTING NEUTRAL FROM FIRST GEAR

• From the safety position
• Apply front brake and put your right foot down
• Lift the left foot up and push the gear lever up into neutral
• Place the left foot down on the floor
• Lif the right foot up and apply the rear brake
• With both brakes applied release the clutch lever 
• This prevents the bike moving if you are still in gear
• When complete, release the front brake lever and hold throttle