Glad you found this video and really glad you got the Honda CT125. It is one of the most fun bikes I've ever owned. Hopefully, you'll have just as much fun on yours as I do on mine.... Thanks for watching my video.....
Like the way u explain things..very formal and understanding on your videos makes things easy and eliminates most questions ppl have.ty.tonna be getting me 2023 but unfortunately here in states extremely hard to find..
Wow, this was extremely helpful. I'm comfortable with a normal clutch lever and just could not get used to the "automatic" clutchless shifting. Didn't even realize that half engaging the shifter would activate a foot clutch.
The automatic clutch was driving me nuts! I keep [t reaching for the clutch lever when shifting. Shifting up is simple but knowing how to downshift is something I pro knows.
I am really glad it helps you, I've gotten so many good comments on this video. Makes feel like I've contributed in some way to the riders out there... Thank you for this great comment....
Thanks a lot for your description. I purchased a new Honda DAX ST 125 and after watching your video riding is just a lot of fun. I got used to it very quick. Greetings from germany. 😊
That was most helpful. A few years ago I spent a fortnight in Vietnam with my son going up and around the northern border on a couple of Honda Waves. I never did get the hang of the downshifts, even after a thousand miles of riding up hill and down dale. A little tuition would have been most helpful at the time. Anyway, you have helped solve the mystery of the workings of those semi-automatic gearboxes. Thank you.
Thank you for the helpful video. I would also like to know if you can/should go directly from 4th to Neutral, or if you have to gear down to come to a stop. I don't know anything about riding a motorcycle.
@@TeamDNFracingwould that also be true on the US model? I'm trying to figure out how to shift directly to Neutral from 4th on the US model. Would I just shift up again?
@@Brian-li5up My understanding is this is an Asian model system only. Not real sure though. Leave it in 4th gear as you come to a stop and then try to flick it into Neutral. If it works, let me know so I won't be guessing in the future if asked about it... Thanks for the comment......
Thank you so much! I had bought a Yamaha Xmax only because I was intimidated by the Semi-Auto Clutch on the Cub (my #2 choice) Turns out, the Xmax was WAY too big for me and damnit, I was going to learn this clutch thing! I sold the Xmax and bought a Cub. After watching your video like 5x, I think I've got it. I just picked up the Cub 2 days ago brand new and can't wait to try it out. Thank you! :-D
Just keep practicing the shifting, it will become second nature very soon and you'll be shifting like a pro...... Congrats on the new Honda Cub, you'll really like that bike, they are fun to ride around on.....
Yours is the US shift pattern, the one for SE Asia is toe down for 1234 and toe up or heel down for 4321...... Why it is like that, I don't know but for some reason decades ago, they had the shift pattern opposite in SE Asia compared to the Americas.....
I have a question, when you encounter an emergency where you need to come to a full stop immediately, what would be the procedure for semi-automatic motorcycles? On a regular bike you can just pull the clutch and apply breaks, but since this system does not come with a clutch, what will you do in that case?
Good question, just chop the throttle and the engine stops producing power to the rear wheel and the engine won't stall as the automatic clutch part of the setup engages. Grab the front brake and stomp on the rear. Use caution on the rear as it doesn't have ABS like the front does.....
@@TeamDNFracing Wow fantastic, thank you for the clarification! I am also planning to get this bike in Thailand as I go study there. This is def a sweet little bike that gives you the fun of motorcycles but also makes your life easier when riding it
@@Propapanda0213 It really is a fun bike to ride, however, if you plan on riding off road with it, you might inspect the areas you plan to ride to see if this bike will be able to handle the terrain......
are there any aftermarket shift levers available for the CT? The stock one on my wife's Wave is too small for my size 12s. I had thought to possibly cutting the back off but with this shifting system, I can see a benefit to the rear portion.
I don't use mine like I would on a traditional shifting bike like the bigger bikes here in Thailand have. So, I never us my toe underneath the shift lever, I use my toe to press down on the shifter and when I need to use the heel shifter, I just lift my foot off the foot peg and move it back on top of the heel shifter. Here in Thailand the shift pattern on the CT is down on the toe shifter to shift up in the gears, 1 to 4, and down on the heel shifter to shift down in the gears, 4 to 1 then Neutral....... I originally looked for a good shift lever when I first moved to Thailand for my Honda Wave and couldn't find one that worked, so eventually learned the Thai way of shifting. I like the way it works now, no need for a different shift lever now. Hope this helps....
The key to downshifting this is to blip the throttle open just as you hit the down shift. That allows the RPM's to raise enough to compensate for the speed of the bike. Practice it, you'll get to where you don't even think about it as you do it......
Excellent subject! I pick up my new CT125 this week and I have know idea how to shift it to get it home 🏡 I don’t know if you have to run the gears ⚙️ into neutral at every stop 🛑 or not! It doesn’t have a clutch so it must stall out every time you stop or something!
You're going to be okay, just relax, I'll help you through this. If you are in the US, which it looks like you are, here is your shift pattern. All four of your gears will be an upshift from neutral. You can do it by two different ways. Use your toe to upshift by putting it under the toe shifter and lifting up. Once you've gone into first gear, your bike is ready to go forward, just give it some gas, it will not stall if you come to a stop in gear. The nice thing about the auto-clutch idea. After you have taken off from a dead stop you can now shift into second gear by either placing your toe under the toe shifter and lifting up, or take your foot and place your toe on the heel shifter and push down. Both methods achieve the same outcome which is to shift the transmission into second gear. You can continue through in third and fourth as you gain speed. Once you are in fourth gear, it will not shift into a higher gear, as you only have four speeds. The nice thing is, it is not a rotating shift pattern which means once you are in fourth gear, it will not shift into neutral if you continue to try and shift up on the shift lever. It will only go to a lower gear and to do that, push your toe down on the toe shifter. Continue to do this to down shift in each gear from 4th to 3rd to 2nd to 1st and then it will go into neutral, but you don't have to go to neutral to stop, it will not stall if you come to a stop in any gear. That is about as simple as I can explain it. If you are in an Asian country, the shift pattern is the opposite of the US or Euro pattern. In other words to shift to first gear, simple push down on the toe shifter to go to first gear, then again down to go to second gear and again for third and again to fourth. Now to down shift the bike, I"ve found it is easier to use your toe to push down on the heel shifter each time to downshift from 4th to 3rd to 2nd to first and again to neutral. At no time will the bike stall if you come to a stop in any gear.... Hope this helps..... Be sure to subscribe to my channel for some awesome adventure rides on the Honda CT125......
@@TeamDNFracing Thanks 😊 a lot for the instructions I should make it home 🏡 from the dealership on Thursday! I was really worried about it I have a few tall bridges to cross on the way home but I should be ok 👌 Thanks again and enjoy 😊 your day! By the way I live in Florida so I will probably be getting the US shift pattern bike!
I went back and watched this video again tonight. As you know, the USA version of the CT125 has the overreaching US government mandated shift pattern, with neutral all the way down on the front pedal, and then up for 1 by lifting the front pedal with your toe, up for 2, up for 3, up for 4. If you shift up while in 4th, nothing happens. To get to 1st, you have to shift down three times by pushing down on the front pedal three times, whether moving or not. For the most part, most here don't use the rear pedal, and some guys with big feet even cut it off. Now that a year has gone by and with many CT125 miles under your belt, do you still use the rear pedal when shifting down with the Thai shift pattern, or do you ever lift up on the front pedal with your toe to downshift? Also, what happens when you are in 4th gear at speed, and you forget you are in fourth and you push down on the front pedal hoping to find a 5th gear? Does it stay in 4th gear or go to neutral? What happens if you are in 4th and sitting still. If you push down on the front, does it go into neutral?
Extremely good question. I never put my toe under the front shift lever to shift the lever up, I always use my toe on the heel shifter to downshift and my toe on the toe shifter to up shift. Always a downward motion with either shift lever. That is how they were designed to be used and that is how most all the Asian riders use them. If you are moving and in 4th gear, it will not shift into neutral. If you are stopped and in 4th gear, you can go straight to neutral. That is the way it is designed to work.. Hope this answers your questions about the shifter and I'd never cut the heel shifter off as I've gotten so used to shifting by moving my foot to where I need to push down. You can do the same with the US model. Use your foot by moving it back onto the heel shifter and press it down to up shift through the gears and use the front of your foot to press down on the toe shifter to downshift. Thanks for asking this one and keep making your videos, we love them here in Thailand......
I had a 1971 Honda Trail 70 in blue, should never of sold that bike. It was fun to ride around in the hills and easy to get out of bad country because it was so much lighter than my regular motorcycle.... Fun bikes.....
@TeamDNFracing my dad has a gold 1970 CT70.. was the first bike I rode. I got a 70 C70M a year back for $700 because it didn't have spark but the issue was someone messed with the points and grounded it so it couldn't get spark. I use that little Cub to get around town everyday. I wouldn't mind getting the C125 or CT125 if I had the money to replace the 1970 as a daily rider.
I have been looking at the 4 little Honda options (Grom, Monkey, Cub, Trail) and I had written off the Cub and Trail due to this auto clutch and not knowing enough about it. After watching your video on how to use it properly, the Trail is back on my list - thank you.
I've owned nearly a hundred motorcycles in my day. The Honda CT is the most fun bike I've owned. A close second to it is the Honda XR200R's I had in 81 & 82. If you buy the Grom or Monkey, you won't be dissatisfied with them either. For some reason, the small bikes are just so much fun to ride. Something about going slower brings all the outside world closer to the riding experience. Get with a dealer that will let you ride all of these bikes, make your choice that way. I'm glad I bought the CT, but doing the modifications I've been able to do would be extremely expensive in the US compared to here in Thailand...... Which ever one you choose, let us know here so we can share your experience..... Thanks for the comment, I like ones like yours......
Hi, I took delivery of my new bike on Friday. Strangely the gear changing is the reverse of yours. It is heel down for N-1-2-3-4 and Toe down 4-3-2-1-N. Then I looked and mine is a "U" type bike and yours must be a "IN" typre.
All the small bikes made for the Asian market are N-1-2-3-4 toe down. The reason is they've been like that for decades now and would not be a good thing to change. The rest of the world gets the Heel down version which follows the European motorcycles of old....... It's kind of like driving on the left side of the road or the right side of the road..... I've had to get used to driving on the left side and that toe down shifting where my Triumph is traditional one down, four up..... I've screwed that up a few times also.....
Just got one here in Canada. Shifts from neutral at the top 1-2--3-4 down. Strange to get used to. Also, from neutral, 1 up appears to be second gear, I'll have to see what happens after that!
I swapped the exhaust out and really didn't feel like it gave it any boost at all. Felt very much like the stock pipe did. Now, after putting on the BBK. I put the stock pipe back on to see if it made any difference and it sapped most all of the gains I had gotten from the BBK. Didn't expect that either. So, no added changes to the engine when adding an after market pipe and I didn't feel any advantages to adding the pipe either. With the BBK, to get the power out of it, you need a larger exhaust pipe with free'er air flow. Hope this helps you out, but a stock engine did not feel like it helped and no I didn't have to do anything to the ECU either. Maybe that is why it didn't feel like it gained any power from a better exhaust. My friend here Daniel just put a new exhaust pipe on his bike and had the Cub House install it. I'll check with him to see if they did anything to the ECU and does he notice any power gain.......
@@TeamDNFracing That really is most interesting Eddie. I was under the impression that Daniel’s new exhaust was 19mm rather than the stock 17mm and that when you rode his bike you noticed a difference? I’m still intent on fitting a 143cc BBK when the bike eventually gets it’s paperwork and is released to me so the choice of exhaust system is important.I have asked the Seven Seas importers here if their Thai agent can obtain and ship in one of the containers the shopee.co.th BBK which includes the Diabolo 19mm downpipe - have I got my thinking right here? I also intend converting my heels to tubeless and was going to do it myself but now notice that T2K in Thailand are selling the very very tasty laced Danken rims that I would be prepared to fork out for. They also have a s/s exhaust but getting details from them via FB Messenger is impossible - must keep on keeping on! Your agricultural expertise shines through on the videos - was this your daytime employment before emigrating?! Cheers, Tony
@@Kathikas1 No agricultural experience, was a mechanic for 15 years before going to work for an oil company. Just like my place to look nice and my dad always had my brother and me working in the yard so he didn't have to. As for all the BBK needs, the 19mm head pipe and a better flowing air intake, "I did it with just a better filter," and the fact the kit has the larger Honda 150 PCX injector are the keys to the kit working. Without the better flow in and out of the cylinder, I believe there wouldn't be the big increase in power. Granted, it's not such a big increase it will knock you off the bike, but you will notice it. Especially off road and going up inclines. Have fun..... As for the tubeless rims, I've got one subscriber from Japan that has installed them on his bike, they look a little weird, but having tubeless tires on my Triumph, I can tell you a flat will be much easier to handle than with a tube.......
This question kind of under this category as it involves the shifting mechanism. I just hit 600 miles and the manual says to inspect the clutch system. Have you had to adjust your clutch adjuster yet? Mine is shifting fine and I did not want adjust it if its not necessary. Thanks for any advice.
Haven't touched mine at all. Like the old saying goes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I believe that applies to a lot on this bike. Honda usually does an excellent job of building bikes, so I'm sure the stuff in the manual is just to make sure that any little thing might try to loosen up, you will be aware of it to adjust. I believe there is something in there about adjusting the valves also. Not many kilometers after riding if I remember right. Mine seemed to be just fine so I waited until I did my third oil change and had my mechanic do it then. I'd read the owners manual except mine is in Thai...... I don't read Thai, heck I don't speak it very well either..... As they say in Thailand: Nitnoi which means little bit.........
@@TeamDNFracing Thanks for this information. I thought if the centrifugal needs adjusted it acts up with slippage or becomes hard to shift. I am leary to mess with it because I tried adjusting my old CT90 and that was a mess for me. Never shifted smoothly after I fiddled with it. So I'm taking your advice and leaving it alone on my Trail125. Much thanks...
I still keep getting some rough shifts between 1 and 2. I'm using my toe to kick the lever up like a traditional motorcycle, not even using the heel shifter. I am letting off the throttle when shifting up but maybe just not enough? Should i be rolling the throttle forward before making that shift to 2nd to make the shift smoother?
Yes on rolling the throttle forward when up shifting, it releases the pressure on the tranny. As for the heel shifter, go to a large paved area like a parking lot and just practice picking your foot off the foot peg and putting your ball of your foot or your toes down on the heel shifter and a quick but firm push down on it as your roll off the throttle. You should get a nice smooth shift that way, but it does take practice to use the heel shifter.... Thanks for the comment and let me know if this helps you.....
@@TeamDNFracing thanks for your replies and for explaining everything. This may be a dumb question, but wouldn't it make sense to use the heel of your foot when depressing down on the heel shifter, instead of the ball or your toes? Does it all come down to preference?
@@Brian-li5up Exactly, I personally use the ball of my foot for both the up shift and down shift. I set my shifter flat with the foot peg and just move my foot forward or backwards to do the shifting. If I used my heel for the heel shifter, you set your shifter with the toe down a notch or two and the heel shifter then is in the air behind your foot. You still have to move your foot back to shift. I've been doing this way since I bought a Honda CT70 back in 1973, they now call that model the Dax. Same style of bike, just 50 years later. I'd say shift it with what feels comfortable, but definitely find a place to practice it.....
@@TeamDNFracing I practiced yesterday in a parking lot and was able to get the hang of the heel shifter, and also smoothed out my upshifts. Thank you! One area I'm still confused is downshifts when I am at speed. I know the manual says to downshift from 4th to 3rd at like 16mph, but what if I'm cruising at say 40mph and I see a hill coming up and I want to downshift down to 3rd for some extra power? Currently whenever I downshift at speed it's very harsh. What should I be doing differently? Thank you for any advice!
@@Brian-li5up Okay, downshifting in any gear at any speed is really kind of a cool thing once you get the hang of it. Again, go to a parking lot and practice this method. Start out by being in 2nd or 3rd gear and get your RPM's up a bit (might need to be on a country road for this) once you've got some R's built up downshift and hold your foot on the pedal a couple seconds and then crack your throttle open just to build up your RPM's and then release your foot from the shifter. That is why I use my ball of my foot on both the toe and heel shifters. Much easier to hold the shift lever down with it than your heel. For us here in Thailand, the heel shifter going down is a downshift and the toe shifter going down is the up shifter..... Again, find a nice stretch of country road and get up to some speed and gently press down on your down shifter and hold it there an extra second as you give it a little bit of throttle, should produce a nice smooth down shift for you......
Very Informative & thank you for taking the time. You might consider placing the mike closer to your mouth so the cycle engine doesn't drown out your voice instructions.
Around 1984, I had a jawa 350. That motorcycle had a pedal that was kickstarter, clutch and gear change. It was possible to drive with only the right hand on the bar...but it did not have the centrifugal clutch... Honda bought the invention from Jawa.... that's how it all started.
What is surprising is how much technology was thought up by someone other than the company that made it famous and then the big companies grabbed it and made it there own.
This has been one of the best watched videos I've done. I get a lot of thanks off this video. I may just go and redo it with a little better explanation on it..... Thanks for the comment.....
Hi From Ireland. I Had to Import the ct from Thailand ,Hope to get it March 6th, Just looking in on your site, on how to shift that thing, Thanks for that, I was not sure, Big Help.
It's going to stay on for a while. So far, the only place I've really wished it was not on there is where I go single track jungle hopping. I'm going back up there in a week to shoot a tire comparison with Daniel. If I stay off the big rocks, it probably won't hang up. I really needed it on there to shoot this video and it also makes it a lot easier to clean and adjust the chain.....
@@TeamDNFracing Yeah i get the easy part but i have a lift for other bikes.. I took mine off and i like not having it get stuck and the weight off and looks better i think. Adventure bikes have no center stands anyhow lol... thanks for the videos
What's you opinion of the heal shifter when standing? For me it's in the damn way.... I keep accidentally hitting it when standing. I'm thinking of cutting it off.
My bad knee doesn't allow for me to stand while riding. I personally like the heel shifter. I've been in Thailand for 8 years now and all the scooters have the toe/heel shifters on them. At first, I wanted to change it out for a toe only shifter. I got used to the toe/heel shifter so no problem. If it is in your way and doesn't feel comfortable, try installing a toe only shifter. That way you can always put the toe/heel shifter back on it you want to.......Hope this helps and thanks for the comment......
@@TeamDNFracing thanks. I thought i saw in one of your videos that you were standing when on the trails. Every time i try it i whack it into another gear…:)
@@mattp9029 I don't stand very often, really have trouble trying to stand, hurts to much. How fast are you going to make you want to stand up? I'd try and find a regular shifter and install it if you still have trouble hitting it when you stand.......
What a cliffhanger! Something to do with trans? Enjoyed the explanation on how the clutch works. Reminds me of the VW bug with it's stick shift. Keep'm coming.
Won't take you long to get down pat. It's kind of like riding a bicycle, once you've learned how, you'll never forget it...... When you downshift, hold it in the new gear mode for a second while you blip the throttle open and then release the shift lever. I should have said that on the video......
Amazing clips, I really want to get a CT 125 so I can venture off track now and then. Also living in Thailand and was close to you in January as we toured the North. Hopefully next time we can link up for a coffee?
Oh! Do you know someone over there that can build a side car for my 2019 honda monkey and then ship it here? The real old style type with a canopy and ability to carry a small family n a bbq? :) thx
If it can be built, there is someone over here that could do it, but getting it shipped to the US might be a problem. I'll check on the prices of the little side hacks they use all over Thailand. They are very good and reliable units. I might even do a video on them.......
@@ka509 Sounds like it would make a good video, but not something I would install on my bike. I have two pickup trucks so no need for one. However, I see them all over the place, so I'll check it out.....
I'm glad it is helping some people out. I got the idea to do the video from a forum where someone was asking how to downshift without the rear tire locking up.......
Not sure exactly when this came in, but I am pretty certain it doesn't apply to the very early engines. My old C90 was a 3 speed with neutral between 1st and 2nd. Also I am sure I have seen someone using paddock stands on one of these. That may be an alternative to putting the centre stand on and off , or my nephews had a stand for trail bikes that was a flat plate with a lever you stood on to just lift the bike up.
I have a 2023 CT 125. Took a month to figure out how to best downshift. The foot lever works exactly like a hand clutch, just slowly release the lever on a downshift, no need to blip the throttle. Harley owners, I was one, constantly blip the throttle, so annoying!
When you say slowly release, do you mean press down on the shift lever with your front foot until it engages the gear, then slowly let off the lever with your foot? I'm a few days into ownership and my downshifts have been pretty rough.
@@Brian-li5up Okay, for the smoothest down shifts, press down on the toe shifter as you blip the throttle to raise the RPM's. By blipping the throttle I mean give it a quick burst of throttle as you push down on the shifter. What this does is raise the RPM's up as the bike is actually allowing the automatic clutch to engage. This keeps you from having a jerking type of a shift as the bike quickly slows down because of the lower gear selection and the same RPM's of the higher gear. You just need to get the RPM's up slightly to allow for the lower gear. It takes practice, but once you figure out this sequence, you'll have really smooth downshifts as well as smooth up shifts. Okay, roll the throttle off when up shifting and blip the throttle when down shifting. Sounds simple, but just takes practice.....
You must live in the US then. Here in SE Asia, the shift pattern has always been all down to shift up and all up to shift down. That is why I use that in this video. I've also found it much easier to just use the toe of your foot to do any of the shifting. In your case, I would take my foot off the foot peg and place my toes on the heel shifter and press down. That will give you the upshift pattern for the US. Then to downshift just use your toes to press down on the shifter. Hope this helps you out...
@@TeamDNFracing Yes , Southern US , I’ve tried the heel to shift method , too awkward for me , I’ve been looking at replacing the shifter with one that pivots if you hit a sapling or something on the trail . Enjoy your video’s , Happy Trails 🛵
@@deltaprepper60 Look at getting a crash bar. Mine sticks out far enough that it protects the shift lever. On the rear brake side, I went ahead and installed the brake lever with the folding tip.....
I'm always throttling when downshifting. But I do not use the heel shifter. I like shifting with my toe up and down. I did straighten my shifter front and rear for more room. Its too short.
Yes it does. When I did the video on the paved road test of my Vee Rubber off road tires, there is a part in there where you can hear me downshift twice going into a tight right hand corner and hear me saying "and that is how you downshift this bike". Go check it out and see how smooth that method is on downshifting.......
@@keithtrent4446 When I first moved here from the states, I brought with me a shift lever because I didn't like the "Toe/Heel" shifters they had on all the scooters. However, since then I've come to like and use the "Toe/Heel" shifter like it's what I've always used. Like anything, it just takes a little time to get used to it.......
I had to laugh when I read this one. Maybe I should have said twist the right grip. I usually say something like "Blip" the throttle. Ok, enough with the jokes.... With this funky type of transmission and clutch, a quick twist and release on the throttle when downshifting just helps to get the revs up to match the speed of the bike. Do it the same way you would with a normal clutch and it works just fine. Thanks for the comment, I especially liked the WTF part of it...... Thanks......
@@gordonbgraham All good buddy, Riding motorcycles is like riding a bike only you don't have to pedal. Take it easy and go slow to start with, Oh yea, have fun doing it, Best parts of my life have been riding motorcycles......Thanks for the comment.....
@@TeamDNFracing Okay I'm 59 years young and want to learn how to ride a motorcycle for the first time and do i just go to my nearest Honda cycle dealer and tell them I want this bike and wanna learn for the first time and they'll get me started and make the sale and deliver the bike to me and just go get my tags just like a normal car and get insured as well !!!!
@@jeffreyelliott622 Wow Jeffrey, you loaded the question up pretty good. First off, I admire you for being 59 and wanting to get a motorcycle for the first time. I definitely would try a bike with a small engine displacement. The Honda CT 125 would be a perfect bike for that. Much easier to learn the ins and outs of motorcycle riding when the bike is not so powerful that you get yourself into trouble with that power. This is also a good bike as it does not have a conventional clutch set up. There are schools located all over the states to teach people how to ride a motorcycle. Locate one of them first and see what all it takes to participate in the class. Some even have bikes for you to learn on instead of laying out the cash for a bike first. Check it out. After going to a class and still wanting to own a motorcycle, then by all means go to a Honda dealership and place your order for one of these bikes. I'd check out as many dealers as I could and deal with the one who is willing to give you the best deal. Just like buying a new car. shop around.... Hope this helps and good luck. Thank you for the comment........
Here in Thailand it is four down on the front shift lever to go up in the gears. It is four down on the heel shifter to go from 4th to 1st and then one more to neutral.......
As long as you don't move the shifter, it will stay in 4th gear. Once you've stopped, just shift like you were going to 5th gear and it will go to neutral. I'm used to lifting my foot up and using my toe to either shift the toe pedal or the heel pedal with it and I can shift pretty fast that way. Just be sure to blip the throttle each time you down shift to get the RPM's up high enough to match the speed you are going. Practice doing it so when you have to do it in a panic situation, you know how to do it.... Hope this helps......
It is different here in Thailand than in the states. It is four down with the toe shifter to go through the gears and then four down with the heel shifter to go back towards neutral. Start in neutral, click the toe shifter down for first, again for second and so on. From fourth gear, click the heel shifter down to go to third and down again to second and down again to first and down again to neutral and as long as the bike is rolling, it won't go past neutral and back into fourth, but if you stop the bike, you can go completely through all the gears and back again in the same direction. In other words if you stop and you are in second, click the heel shifter down and go into first, click it again and go into first, click it again and go into fourth and so on. Why it is a rotational shift pattern is beyond me, but all asian model small bore bikes are like that. Watch my video with the ride I did with a subscriber named Sam and he talks about how you can go all the way around the gears just by toe tapping down.....
I use my toe to shift both the toe and heel shifters. Get used to that method and it will become second nature to you. For the US, toe down is always shifting down in gears and heel down is always up shifting through the gears.... What messes with you is if you have an Asian shift pattern on one bike and a standard shift pattern on another bike, usually a larger bike cc. My Honda is the Asian shift pattern all down on the toe to go up in gears and all up on the toe to go down in gears. Hop on my Yamaha and it's 1 down and 5 up to upshift. Opposite to down shift. Yes, sometimes I'm trying to shift up in the gears on the Yamaha and downshift. Good thing it has a clutch that I can grab quickly......
You are right! I have never ridden, I am picking up my bike this week and I was looking for a video exactly like this.
Glad you found this video and really glad you got the Honda CT125. It is one of the most fun bikes I've ever owned. Hopefully, you'll have just as much fun on yours as I do on mine.... Thanks for watching my video.....
Like the way u explain things..very formal and understanding on your videos makes things easy and eliminates most questions ppl have.ty.tonna be getting me 2023 but unfortunately here in states extremely hard to find..
Got mine call it the green hornet but the shifting is opposite? Oh well same action.
Wow, this was extremely helpful. I'm comfortable with a normal clutch lever and just could not get used to the "automatic" clutchless shifting. Didn't even realize that half engaging the shifter would activate a foot clutch.
The automatic clutch was driving me nuts! I keep [t reaching for the clutch lever when shifting. Shifting up is simple but knowing how to downshift is something I pro knows.
Thank you for making this video. I just bought a 2021 ct125 and i had no idea how to use the lever till now:)
I been driving motorcycles all my life and bought a Suzuki Crossover in Thailand and could not get the jist of shifting it. This VDOis helpful, thanks
I am really glad it helps you, I've gotten so many good comments on this video. Makes feel like I've contributed in some way to the riders out there... Thank you for this great comment....
Just bought Honda super . Never had a bike . Thank you for this video . It’s been very informative
Hope you enjoy your new bike, I've been riding for over 50 years now, it gets in your blood..... Thanks for the comment
Thank you so much, Lazy Dog. We simply cannot find better demonstration and clarity on this.
Just practice with it in an empty parking lot and in a short time, it becomes a no issue shifting. Thanks for the comment.....
Thanks a lot for your description. I purchased a new Honda DAX ST 125 and after watching your video riding is just a lot of fun. I got used to it very quick. Greetings from germany. 😊
Glad you liked it and that video seems to have helped more people out with the shifting than any video I've put up.
That was most helpful. A few years ago I spent a fortnight in Vietnam with my son going up and around the northern border on a couple of Honda Waves. I never did get the hang of the downshifts, even after a thousand miles of riding up hill and down dale. A little tuition would have been most helpful at the time. Anyway, you have helped solve the mystery of the workings of those semi-automatic gearboxes. Thank you.
Thank you for the great comment......
Another newbie to this shifting , thanks for the explanation look forward to trying it out when I’m back home ,
Once you get the hang of it, you won't even think about it and just let it come naturally....
Thank you for the tutorial, it's exactly what I needed. Just bought my honda wave last week and was having a hard time with the downshifts.
Glad you liked it and that it could help you out. This happens to be one of the most favorite videos I've done....
Thank you for the helpful video. I would also like to know if you can/should go directly from 4th to Neutral, or if you have to gear down to come to a stop. I don't know anything about riding a motorcycle.
If you come to a stop, you can go from 4th down to Neutral by shifting again. This only works if you come to a stop from 4th gear. Hope this helps....
@@TeamDNFracingwould that also be true on the US model? I'm trying to figure out how to shift directly to Neutral from 4th on the US model. Would I just shift up again?
@@Brian-li5up My understanding is this is an Asian model system only. Not real sure though. Leave it in 4th gear as you come to a stop and then try to flick it into Neutral. If it works, let me know so I won't be guessing in the future if asked about it... Thanks for the comment......
I'm getting mines next month. I'm laying off the regular bikes for now. Thank you for the lesson
Once you get the hang of the shifting, it becomes second nature...... Thanks for the comment.....
Thank you so much! I had bought a Yamaha Xmax only because I was intimidated by the Semi-Auto Clutch on the Cub (my #2 choice) Turns out, the Xmax was WAY too big for me and damnit, I was going to learn this clutch thing! I sold the Xmax and bought a Cub. After watching your video like 5x, I think I've got it. I just picked up the Cub 2 days ago brand new and can't wait to try it out. Thank you! :-D
Just keep practicing the shifting, it will become second nature very soon and you'll be shifting like a pro...... Congrats on the new Honda Cub, you'll really like that bike, they are fun to ride around on.....
Did they reverse the shift up/down?? Mine is all toe up for 1234 and toe down for 4321
Yours is the US shift pattern, the one for SE Asia is toe down for 1234 and toe up or heel down for 4321...... Why it is like that, I don't know but for some reason decades ago, they had the shift pattern opposite in SE Asia compared to the Americas.....
I have a question, when you encounter an emergency where you need to come to a full stop immediately, what would be the procedure for semi-automatic motorcycles? On a regular bike you can just pull the clutch and apply breaks, but since this system does not come with a clutch, what will you do in that case?
Good question, just chop the throttle and the engine stops producing power to the rear wheel and the engine won't stall as the automatic clutch part of the setup engages. Grab the front brake and stomp on the rear. Use caution on the rear as it doesn't have ABS like the front does.....
@@TeamDNFracing Wow fantastic, thank you for the clarification! I am also planning to get this bike in Thailand as I go study there. This is def a sweet little bike that gives you the fun of motorcycles but also makes your life easier when riding it
@@Propapanda0213 It really is a fun bike to ride, however, if you plan on riding off road with it, you might inspect the areas you plan to ride to see if this bike will be able to handle the terrain......
are there any aftermarket shift levers available for the CT? The stock one on my wife's Wave is too small for my size 12s. I had thought to possibly cutting the back off but with this shifting system, I can see a benefit to the rear portion.
I don't use mine like I would on a traditional shifting bike like the bigger bikes here in Thailand have. So, I never us my toe underneath the shift lever, I use my toe to press down on the shifter and when I need to use the heel shifter, I just lift my foot off the foot peg and move it back on top of the heel shifter. Here in Thailand the shift pattern on the CT is down on the toe shifter to shift up in the gears, 1 to 4, and down on the heel shifter to shift down in the gears, 4 to 1 then Neutral....... I originally looked for a good shift lever when I first moved to Thailand for my Honda Wave and couldn't find one that worked, so eventually learned the Thai way of shifting. I like the way it works now, no need for a different shift lever now. Hope this helps....
Very helpful I was struggling with the downshifting
The key to downshifting this is to blip the throttle open just as you hit the down shift. That allows the RPM's to raise enough to compensate for the speed of the bike. Practice it, you'll get to where you don't even think about it as you do it......
Excellent subject!
I pick up my new CT125 this week and I have know idea how to shift it to get it home 🏡 I don’t know if you have to run the gears ⚙️ into neutral at every stop 🛑 or not! It doesn’t have a clutch so it must stall out every time you stop or something!
You're going to be okay, just relax, I'll help you through this. If you are in the US, which it looks like you are, here is your shift pattern. All four of your gears will be an upshift from neutral. You can do it by two different ways. Use your toe to upshift by putting it under the toe shifter and lifting up. Once you've gone into first gear, your bike is ready to go forward, just give it some gas, it will not stall if you come to a stop in gear. The nice thing about the auto-clutch idea. After you have taken off from a dead stop you can now shift into second gear by either placing your toe under the toe shifter and lifting up, or take your foot and place your toe on the heel shifter and push down. Both methods achieve the same outcome which is to shift the transmission into second gear. You can continue through in third and fourth as you gain speed. Once you are in fourth gear, it will not shift into a higher gear, as you only have four speeds. The nice thing is, it is not a rotating shift pattern which means once you are in fourth gear, it will not shift into neutral if you continue to try and shift up on the shift lever. It will only go to a lower gear and to do that, push your toe down on the toe shifter. Continue to do this to down shift in each gear from 4th to 3rd to 2nd to 1st and then it will go into neutral, but you don't have to go to neutral to stop, it will not stall if you come to a stop in any gear. That is about as simple as I can explain it. If you are in an Asian country, the shift pattern is the opposite of the US or Euro pattern. In other words to shift to first gear, simple push down on the toe shifter to go to first gear, then again down to go to second gear and again for third and again to fourth. Now to down shift the bike, I"ve found it is easier to use your toe to push down on the heel shifter each time to downshift from 4th to 3rd to 2nd to first and again to neutral. At no time will the bike stall if you come to a stop in any gear.... Hope this helps..... Be sure to subscribe to my channel for some awesome adventure rides on the Honda CT125......
@@TeamDNFracing
Thanks 😊 a lot for the instructions I should make it home 🏡 from the dealership on Thursday! I was really worried about it I have a few tall bridges to cross on the way home but I should be ok 👌 Thanks again and enjoy 😊 your day! By the way I live in Florida so I will probably be getting the US shift pattern bike!
I went back and watched this video again tonight. As you know, the USA version of the CT125 has the overreaching US government mandated shift pattern, with neutral all the way down on the front pedal, and then up for 1 by lifting the front pedal with your toe, up for 2, up for 3, up for 4. If you shift up while in 4th, nothing happens. To get to 1st, you have to shift down three times by pushing down on the front pedal three times, whether moving or not. For the most part, most here don't use the rear pedal, and some guys with big feet even cut it off. Now that a year has gone by and with many CT125 miles under your belt, do you still use the rear pedal when shifting down with the Thai shift pattern, or do you ever lift up on the front pedal with your toe to downshift? Also, what happens when you are in 4th gear at speed, and you forget you are in fourth and you push down on the front pedal hoping to find a 5th gear? Does it stay in 4th gear or go to neutral? What happens if you are in 4th and sitting still. If you push down on the front, does it go into neutral?
Extremely good question. I never put my toe under the front shift lever to shift the lever up, I always use my toe on the heel shifter to downshift and my toe on the toe shifter to up shift. Always a downward motion with either shift lever. That is how they were designed to be used and that is how most all the Asian riders use them. If you are moving and in 4th gear, it will not shift into neutral. If you are stopped and in 4th gear, you can go straight to neutral. That is the way it is designed to work.. Hope this answers your questions about the shifter and I'd never cut the heel shifter off as I've gotten so used to shifting by moving my foot to where I need to push down. You can do the same with the US model. Use your foot by moving it back onto the heel shifter and press it down to up shift through the gears and use the front of your foot to press down on the toe shifter to downshift. Thanks for asking this one and keep making your videos, we love them here in Thailand......
@@TeamDNFracing Thanks, much appreciated.
My New Zealand CT125 is also neutral at the bottom and shift up for higher gears
Thanks for this! I’m going to try it on my 1971 Honda C70 👍🏽
I had a 1971 Honda Trail 70 in blue, should never of sold that bike. It was fun to ride around in the hills and easy to get out of bad country because it was so much lighter than my regular motorcycle.... Fun bikes.....
Same, but with my 1970 C70M. I normally brake, and as I slow, I down shift.
@TeamDNFracing my dad has a gold 1970 CT70.. was the first bike I rode. I got a 70 C70M a year back for $700 because it didn't have spark but the issue was someone messed with the points and grounded it so it couldn't get spark. I use that little Cub to get around town everyday. I wouldn't mind getting the C125 or CT125 if I had the money to replace the 1970 as a daily rider.
been refreshing the channel waiting for the next video, keep it up Eddie!
They won't be so far apart anymore, I've got some badly needed work done around the property that has kept me off the bike.....
I have been looking at the 4 little Honda options (Grom, Monkey, Cub, Trail) and I had written off the Cub and Trail due to this auto clutch and not knowing enough about it. After watching your video on how to use it properly, the Trail is back on my list - thank you.
I've owned nearly a hundred motorcycles in my day. The Honda CT is the most fun bike I've owned. A close second to it is the Honda XR200R's I had in 81 & 82. If you buy the Grom or Monkey, you won't be dissatisfied with them either. For some reason, the small bikes are just so much fun to ride. Something about going slower brings all the outside world closer to the riding experience. Get with a dealer that will let you ride all of these bikes, make your choice that way. I'm glad I bought the CT, but doing the modifications I've been able to do would be extremely expensive in the US compared to here in Thailand...... Which ever one you choose, let us know here so we can share your experience..... Thanks for the comment, I like ones like yours......
not hard to lean
Hi, I took delivery of my new bike on Friday. Strangely the gear changing is the reverse of yours. It is heel down for N-1-2-3-4 and Toe down 4-3-2-1-N. Then I looked and mine is a "U" type bike and yours must be a "IN" typre.
All the small bikes made for the Asian market are N-1-2-3-4 toe down. The reason is they've been like that for decades now and would not be a good thing to change. The rest of the world gets the Heel down version which follows the European motorcycles of old....... It's kind of like driving on the left side of the road or the right side of the road..... I've had to get used to driving on the left side and that toe down shifting where my Triumph is traditional one down, four up..... I've screwed that up a few times also.....
Just got one here in Canada. Shifts from neutral at the top 1-2--3-4 down. Strange to get used to. Also, from neutral, 1 up appears to be second gear, I'll have to see what happens after that!
Did you have to change or adjust anything else when adding the diablo exhaust or was it just a basic exchange the systems
I swapped the exhaust out and really didn't feel like it gave it any boost at all. Felt very much like the stock pipe did. Now, after putting on the BBK. I put the stock pipe back on to see if it made any difference and it sapped most all of the gains I had gotten from the BBK. Didn't expect that either. So, no added changes to the engine when adding an after market pipe and I didn't feel any advantages to adding the pipe either. With the BBK, to get the power out of it, you need a larger exhaust pipe with free'er air flow. Hope this helps you out, but a stock engine did not feel like it helped and no I didn't have to do anything to the ECU either. Maybe that is why it didn't feel like it gained any power from a better exhaust. My friend here Daniel just put a new exhaust pipe on his bike and had the Cub House install it. I'll check with him to see if they did anything to the ECU and does he notice any power gain.......
@@TeamDNFracing That really is most interesting Eddie. I was under the impression that Daniel’s new exhaust was 19mm rather than the stock 17mm and that when you rode his bike you noticed a difference? I’m still intent on fitting a 143cc BBK when the bike eventually gets it’s paperwork and is released to me so the choice of exhaust system is important.I have asked the Seven Seas importers here if their Thai agent can obtain and ship in one of the containers the shopee.co.th BBK which includes the Diabolo 19mm downpipe - have I got my thinking right here?
I also intend converting my heels to tubeless and was going to do it myself but now notice that T2K in Thailand are selling the very very tasty laced Danken rims that I would be prepared to fork out for. They also have a s/s exhaust but getting details from them via FB Messenger is impossible - must keep on keeping on!
Your agricultural expertise shines through on the videos - was this your daytime employment before emigrating?!
Cheers, Tony
@@Kathikas1 No agricultural experience, was a mechanic for 15 years before going to work for an oil company. Just like my place to look nice and my dad always had my brother and me working in the yard so he didn't have to. As for all the BBK needs, the 19mm head pipe and a better flowing air intake, "I did it with just a better filter," and the fact the kit has the larger Honda 150 PCX injector are the keys to the kit working. Without the better flow in and out of the cylinder, I believe there wouldn't be the big increase in power. Granted, it's not such a big increase it will knock you off the bike, but you will notice it. Especially off road and going up inclines. Have fun..... As for the tubeless rims, I've got one subscriber from Japan that has installed them on his bike, they look a little weird, but having tubeless tires on my Triumph, I can tell you a flat will be much easier to handle than with a tube.......
That clutch action coupled to the 1st half of the shift lever travel is so logical!
You meet the nicest engineers on a Honda! :-)
It also makes it possible to stop in a mud hole and then spray your riding buddy when he comes up behind you.........
Always road scooters so my CT 125 is new for me never had to shift to shift this helps a lot been riding forever just scooters thanks
Good to hear!
Hello. Nice information!
I wanted to know if the Honda Wave Alpha, Semiautomatic bike gear shifter works the same way?
Here in South East Asia, all the small bikes shifters work the same. Toe down to go up in gears and heel down to go down in gears.......
@@TeamDNFracing Does the foot clutch works same?
@@hasnainimtiaz1772 Yes it does. The clutch engages with a slight depression on the foot lever and stays engaged until you remove your foot........
@@TeamDNFracing Thank you so much Sir.
@@hasnainimtiaz1772 No problem, my pleasure......
Flawless video, thanks so much, I want one for winter fun and such, I was confused on the shifting, thanks for making this for everyone!!
My pleasure......
I really hope they bring the ct 125 to europe... would be a very fun summer bike here in the Nordic-circle! Very interesting video!
It would scare the reindeer and dig up the fragile moss and lichens!
Hopefully they will get them shipped world wide, we can only hope......
This question kind of under this category as it involves the shifting mechanism. I just hit 600 miles and the manual says to inspect the clutch system. Have you had to adjust your clutch adjuster yet? Mine is shifting fine and I did not want adjust it if its not necessary. Thanks for any advice.
Haven't touched mine at all. Like the old saying goes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I believe that applies to a lot on this bike. Honda usually does an excellent job of building bikes, so I'm sure the stuff in the manual is just to make sure that any little thing might try to loosen up, you will be aware of it to adjust. I believe there is something in there about adjusting the valves also. Not many kilometers after riding if I remember right. Mine seemed to be just fine so I waited until I did my third oil change and had my mechanic do it then. I'd read the owners manual except mine is in Thai...... I don't read Thai, heck I don't speak it very well either..... As they say in Thailand: Nitnoi which means little bit.........
@@TeamDNFracing Thanks for this information. I thought if the centrifugal needs adjusted it acts up with slippage or becomes hard to shift. I am leary to mess with it because I tried adjusting my old CT90 and that was a mess for me. Never shifted smoothly after I fiddled with it. So I'm taking your advice and leaving it alone on my Trail125. Much thanks...
I still keep getting some rough shifts between 1 and 2. I'm using my toe to kick the lever up like a traditional motorcycle, not even using the heel shifter. I am letting off the throttle when shifting up but maybe just not enough? Should i be rolling the throttle forward before making that shift to 2nd to make the shift smoother?
Yes on rolling the throttle forward when up shifting, it releases the pressure on the tranny. As for the heel shifter, go to a large paved area like a parking lot and just practice picking your foot off the foot peg and putting your ball of your foot or your toes down on the heel shifter and a quick but firm push down on it as your roll off the throttle. You should get a nice smooth shift that way, but it does take practice to use the heel shifter.... Thanks for the comment and let me know if this helps you.....
@@TeamDNFracing thanks for your replies and for explaining everything. This may be a dumb question, but wouldn't it make sense to use the heel of your foot when depressing down on the heel shifter, instead of the ball or your toes? Does it all come down to preference?
@@Brian-li5up Exactly, I personally use the ball of my foot for both the up shift and down shift. I set my shifter flat with the foot peg and just move my foot forward or backwards to do the shifting. If I used my heel for the heel shifter, you set your shifter with the toe down a notch or two and the heel shifter then is in the air behind your foot. You still have to move your foot back to shift. I've been doing this way since I bought a Honda CT70 back in 1973, they now call that model the Dax. Same style of bike, just 50 years later. I'd say shift it with what feels comfortable, but definitely find a place to practice it.....
@@TeamDNFracing I practiced yesterday in a parking lot and was able to get the hang of the heel shifter, and also smoothed out my upshifts. Thank you! One area I'm still confused is downshifts when I am at speed. I know the manual says to downshift from 4th to 3rd at like 16mph, but what if I'm cruising at say 40mph and I see a hill coming up and I want to downshift down to 3rd for some extra power? Currently whenever I downshift at speed it's very harsh. What should I be doing differently? Thank you for any advice!
@@Brian-li5up Okay, downshifting in any gear at any speed is really kind of a cool thing once you get the hang of it. Again, go to a parking lot and practice this method. Start out by being in 2nd or 3rd gear and get your RPM's up a bit (might need to be on a country road for this) once you've got some R's built up downshift and hold your foot on the pedal a couple seconds and then crack your throttle open just to build up your RPM's and then release your foot from the shifter. That is why I use my ball of my foot on both the toe and heel shifters. Much easier to hold the shift lever down with it than your heel. For us here in Thailand, the heel shifter going down is a downshift and the toe shifter going down is the up shifter..... Again, find a nice stretch of country road and get up to some speed and gently press down on your down shifter and hold it there an extra second as you give it a little bit of throttle, should produce a nice smooth down shift for you......
Makes sense. SO many people complain it's hard to downshift a semi automatic transmission but it's probably because they arnt rev matching
Exactly. I like the term rev matching, I think I'll start using it instead of "rolling off" and "blipping" the throttle.....
Why do you use your foot ? your heel to downshift
Very Informative & thank you for taking the time. You might consider placing the mike closer to your mouth so the cycle engine doesn't drown out your voice instructions.
Around 1984, I had a jawa 350. That motorcycle had a pedal that was kickstarter, clutch and gear change. It was possible to drive with only the right hand on the bar...but it did not have the centrifugal clutch... Honda bought the invention from Jawa.... that's how it all started.
What is surprising is how much technology was thought up by someone other than the company that made it famous and then the big companies grabbed it and made it there own.
Exactely what i was looking for...thank you buddy !
This has been one of the best watched videos I've done. I get a lot of thanks off this video. I may just go and redo it with a little better explanation on it..... Thanks for the comment.....
Hi From Ireland.
I Had to Import the ct from Thailand ,Hope to get it March 6th, Just looking in on your site, on how to shift that thing, Thanks for that, I was not sure, Big Help.
I have gotten quite a few compliments on this video, might just have to do another "How To" video......
Your bike is perfect with the upgrades! Good info!
I've got over 10,000 Kilometers on the Big Bore Kit and really do enjoy the extra power it gives me. This is such a fun bike to ride.....
Great video....Thanks....very good explanation ..... looking forward to the “BIG” surprise!!!!!!
It's on its way here, maybe show up today or tomorrow......
That ct 125 can you leave it in 3rd gear and dont shift at all ? For arround slow riding?
I have no problem riding around in 3rd gear on slow road and trail sections, then be able to shift down to 2nd is a breeze....
@@TeamDNFracing cool, i always ride scooters ,this is my first shifting motorcycle,
are you keeping the center stand on for good?
It's going to stay on for a while. So far, the only place I've really wished it was not on there is where I go single track jungle hopping. I'm going back up there in a week to shoot a tire comparison with Daniel. If I stay off the big rocks, it probably won't hang up. I really needed it on there to shoot this video and it also makes it a lot easier to clean and adjust the chain.....
@@TeamDNFracing Yeah i get the easy part but i have a lift for other bikes.. I took mine off and i like not having it get stuck and the weight off and looks better i think. Adventure bikes have no center stands anyhow lol... thanks for the videos
@@jayroth6110 I just need the stand for maintenance, so it will probably be coming off, going on, coming off,,,, etc.......
What's you opinion of the heal shifter when standing? For me it's in the damn way.... I keep accidentally hitting it when standing. I'm thinking of cutting it off.
My bad knee doesn't allow for me to stand while riding. I personally like the heel shifter. I've been in Thailand for 8 years now and all the scooters have the toe/heel shifters on them. At first, I wanted to change it out for a toe only shifter. I got used to the toe/heel shifter so no problem. If it is in your way and doesn't feel comfortable, try installing a toe only shifter. That way you can always put the toe/heel shifter back on it you want to.......Hope this helps and thanks for the comment......
@@TeamDNFracing thanks. I thought i saw in one of your videos that you were standing when on the trails. Every time i try it i whack it into another gear…:)
@@mattp9029 I don't stand very often, really have trouble trying to stand, hurts to much. How fast are you going to make you want to stand up? I'd try and find a regular shifter and install it if you still have trouble hitting it when you stand.......
Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!
You are welcome, glad I can help.....
What a cliffhanger! Something to do with trans? Enjoyed the explanation on how the clutch works. Reminds me of the VW bug with it's stick shift. Keep'm coming.
I think most of the subscribers will like the Big surprise when it gets here......
Great video, explains it well. Now just got to practice on the CT110...
Won't take you long to get down pat. It's kind of like riding a bicycle, once you've learned how, you'll never forget it...... When you downshift, hold it in the new gear mode for a second while you blip the throttle open and then release the shift lever. I should have said that on the video......
My 2023 Trail shifts 1N234 but the manual says N1234. Which is right?
Thank you for the video and explanation!
This has been one of my biggest viewed videos on the Honda CT.....
Great tutorial. Look forward to your reveal 😮
Will be coming in a couple of days. Possibly get the package today or tomorrow and then I'll make the video and post it.......
Thank you, thank you! Been looking for this!!! New subscriber for sure.
Enjoy the bike, it is a really fun bike to ride, just learn everything you can about it and you'll have a blast. Thanks for the comment.....
Amazing clips, I really want to get a CT 125 so I can venture off track now and then. Also living in Thailand and was close to you in January as we toured the North. Hopefully next time we can link up for a coffee?
Oh! Do you know someone over there that can build a side car for my 2019 honda monkey and then ship it here? The real old style type with a canopy and ability to carry a small family n a bbq? :) thx
If it can be built, there is someone over here that could do it, but getting it shipped to the US might be a problem. I'll check on the prices of the little side hacks they use all over Thailand. They are very good and reliable units. I might even do a video on them.......
@@TeamDNFracing please do. Thx
@@ka509 Sounds like it would make a good video, but not something I would install on my bike. I have two pickup trucks so no need for one. However, I see them all over the place, so I'll check it out.....
thanks for this video!
One of my most watched videos..... Glad it helped...
Thanks Eddie, vary helpful.
I'm glad it is helping some people out. I got the idea to do the video from a forum where someone was asking how to downshift without the rear tire locking up.......
Not sure exactly when this came in, but I am pretty certain it doesn't apply to the very early engines. My old C90 was a 3 speed with neutral between 1st and 2nd. Also I am sure I have seen someone using paddock stands on one of these. That may be an alternative to putting the centre stand on and off , or my nephews had a stand for trail bikes that was a flat plate with a lever you stood on to just lift the bike up.
I have a 2023 CT 125. Took a month to figure out how to best downshift. The foot lever works exactly like a hand clutch, just slowly release the lever on a downshift, no need to blip the throttle. Harley owners, I was one, constantly blip the throttle, so annoying!
That works also.....
When you say slowly release, do you mean press down on the shift lever with your front foot until it engages the gear, then slowly let off the lever with your foot? I'm a few days into ownership and my downshifts have been pretty rough.
@@Brian-li5up Okay, for the smoothest down shifts, press down on the toe shifter as you blip the throttle to raise the RPM's. By blipping the throttle I mean give it a quick burst of throttle as you push down on the shifter. What this does is raise the RPM's up as the bike is actually allowing the automatic clutch to engage. This keeps you from having a jerking type of a shift as the bike quickly slows down because of the lower gear selection and the same RPM's of the higher gear. You just need to get the RPM's up slightly to allow for the lower gear. It takes practice, but once you figure out this sequence, you'll have really smooth downshifts as well as smooth up shifts. Okay, roll the throttle off when up shifting and blip the throttle when down shifting. Sounds simple, but just takes practice.....
My bike the gears are all up , to engage 1st , you pull up on the shifter .
You must live in the US then. Here in SE Asia, the shift pattern has always been all down to shift up and all up to shift down. That is why I use that in this video. I've also found it much easier to just use the toe of your foot to do any of the shifting. In your case, I would take my foot off the foot peg and place my toes on the heel shifter and press down. That will give you the upshift pattern for the US. Then to downshift just use your toes to press down on the shifter. Hope this helps you out...
@@TeamDNFracing Yes , Southern US , I’ve tried the heel to shift method , too awkward for me , I’ve been looking at replacing the shifter with one that pivots if you hit a sapling or something on the trail .
Enjoy your video’s , Happy Trails 🛵
@@deltaprepper60 Look at getting a crash bar. Mine sticks out far enough that it protects the shift lever. On the rear brake side, I went ahead and installed the brake lever with the folding tip.....
@@TeamDNFracing Thanks , I’ll look into that , haven’t seen the break lever yet , sounds like a good idea 👍
Thanks very instructive
Never new about blipping the throttle on the down shift will prevent severe engine breaking leading to a smoother ride
I'm always throttling when downshifting. But I do not use the heel shifter. I like shifting with my toe up and down. I did straighten my shifter front and rear for more room. Its too short.
Yes it does. When I did the video on the paved road test of my Vee Rubber off road tires, there is a part in there where you can hear me downshift twice going into a tight right hand corner and hear me saying "and that is how you downshift this bike". Go check it out and see how smooth that method is on downshifting.......
@@keithtrent4446 When I first moved here from the states, I brought with me a shift lever because I didn't like the "Toe/Heel" shifters they had on all the scooters. However, since then I've come to like and use the "Toe/Heel" shifter like it's what I've always used. Like anything, it just takes a little time to get used to it.......
Thanks Keith watched it and great riding skills
@@nigelbodieNB My names not Keith, it's Eddie. Keith made a comment on your comment......... Glad you liked the video........
Thank you for that!
My pleasure, glad you could use the information....
Really like the intro music
I do too, might just keep it as the intro music along with the exit music that I've been using for over a year now........
Very helpful!
Glad it helped you......
I hope it's a 777 so you can come and pick us all up!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
No, no 777, but someone on here hit it right on the head. Should make some people happy in the US though.......
WTF does "crack" the throttle mean?
I had to laugh when I read this one. Maybe I should have said twist the right grip. I usually say something like "Blip" the throttle. Ok, enough with the jokes.... With this funky type of transmission and clutch, a quick twist and release on the throttle when downshifting just helps to get the revs up to match the speed of the bike. Do it the same way you would with a normal clutch and it works just fine. Thanks for the comment, I especially liked the WTF part of it...... Thanks......
@@TeamDNFracing I’m looking into getting a 50 cc Cub, but have never ridden a bike...I was confused by your description...thanks
@@gordonbgraham All good buddy, Riding motorcycles is like riding a bike only you don't have to pedal. Take it easy and go slow to start with, Oh yea, have fun doing it, Best parts of my life have been riding motorcycles......Thanks for the comment.....
@@TeamDNFracing Okay I'm 59 years young and want to learn how to ride a motorcycle for the first time and do i just go to my nearest Honda cycle dealer and tell them I want this bike and wanna learn for the first time and they'll get me started and make the sale and deliver the bike to me and just go get my tags just like a normal car and get insured as well !!!!
@@jeffreyelliott622 Wow Jeffrey, you loaded the question up pretty good. First off, I admire you for being 59 and wanting to get a motorcycle for the first time. I definitely would try a bike with a small engine displacement. The Honda CT 125 would be a perfect bike for that. Much easier to learn the ins and outs of motorcycle riding when the bike is not so powerful that you get yourself into trouble with that power. This is also a good bike as it does not have a conventional clutch set up. There are schools located all over the states to teach people how to ride a motorcycle. Locate one of them first and see what all it takes to participate in the class. Some even have bikes for you to learn on instead of laying out the cash for a bike first. Check it out. After going to a class and still wanting to own a motorcycle, then by all means go to a Honda dealership and place your order for one of these bikes. I'd check out as many dealers as I could and deal with the one who is willing to give you the best deal. Just like buying a new car. shop around.... Hope this helps and good luck. Thank you for the comment........
That was helpful thx
My pleasure to show it. I should have made this video a long time ago......
i thought it was one down and three up on the front gear lever
Here in Thailand it is four down on the front shift lever to go up in the gears. It is four down on the heel shifter to go from 4th to 1st and then one more to neutral.......
Thankyou bro
What happens when you are in 4th gear and you need to make a sudden stop.
As long as you don't move the shifter, it will stay in 4th gear. Once you've stopped, just shift like you were going to 5th gear and it will go to neutral. I'm used to lifting my foot up and using my toe to either shift the toe pedal or the heel pedal with it and I can shift pretty fast that way. Just be sure to blip the throttle each time you down shift to get the RPM's up high enough to match the speed you are going. Practice doing it so when you have to do it in a panic situation, you know how to do it.... Hope this helps......
new rider .. thx
I'm thinking about doing another shift video with cameras mounted to show just how I shift..... Glad this helped you.....
Next!
where is neutral
It is different here in Thailand than in the states. It is four down with the toe shifter to go through the gears and then four down with the heel shifter to go back towards neutral. Start in neutral, click the toe shifter down for first, again for second and so on. From fourth gear, click the heel shifter down to go to third and down again to second and down again to first and down again to neutral and as long as the bike is rolling, it won't go past neutral and back into fourth, but if you stop the bike, you can go completely through all the gears and back again in the same direction. In other words if you stop and you are in second, click the heel shifter down and go into first, click it again and go into first, click it again and go into fourth and so on. Why it is a rotational shift pattern is beyond me, but all asian model small bore bikes are like that. Watch my video with the ride I did with a subscriber named Sam and he talks about how you can go all the way around the gears just by toe tapping down.....
Big bore! Big bore kit! Comin' atcha! Yayyy!! :-)
You don't know how close to being correct you are....... Or maybe you do know........
Shift it just like a four wheeler!!
Let of the gad and hit da brake dummy lol
Rewatching this one. I finally got the bike now I need to learn how to shift it lol
I use my toe to shift both the toe and heel shifters. Get used to that method and it will become second nature to you. For the US, toe down is always shifting down in gears and heel down is always up shifting through the gears.... What messes with you is if you have an Asian shift pattern on one bike and a standard shift pattern on another bike, usually a larger bike cc. My Honda is the Asian shift pattern all down on the toe to go up in gears and all up on the toe to go down in gears. Hop on my Yamaha and it's 1 down and 5 up to upshift. Opposite to down shift. Yes, sometimes I'm trying to shift up in the gears on the Yamaha and downshift. Good thing it has a clutch that I can grab quickly......