DO you really dislike shifting?

[hypophthalmus]

I've been planning to write on this in a bit of detail (and other differences to motorcycles), having switched to a small cruiser.

But in brief:

I underestimated just how much of a skill operating a manual transmission is before getting into it (not that it would have discouraged me). But once you learn it, it's no big deal. I'm always paying attention to the engine in addition to everything else though.

Down shifting to slow down to turn off somewhere is still a bit tricky and a bother. Both cycling through all the gears, and being sure you're in the right one when you start the turn. But even this is becoming natural.

Living in the Ozarks, I've come to realize that engine braking is amazing. When I go down the hills, I can simply shift down and I don't need to use my brakes. Down shifting before a bend is nice too.

[Iahawk]

count me in the group that LOVES shifting! There's something just so...satisfying...about shifting smoothly through the gears. My bike is a little Ninja 300 so to get the most out of it it needs to rev. The sound of the motor revving high through the slip on muffler is music to my ears.

I probably ride my motorcycle 90% of the time to 10% on the scooter.

[leomagnus]

Living in a city, shifting sucks especially in traffic jams. That is why I got a 400 Xciting as a compromise. Also I used to buy stick shift cars, but my legs are getting tired of shifting in bumper to bumper traffic. So I drive a truck. I used to drive a Kawasaki Ninja, but my back doesn't take too well to it anymore. I loved driving scooters in Rome, because you can shoot through traffic and park them anywhere. Also gas is roughly 8-9 dollars a gallon, so it makes sense. The motorcycle was fun, but I get to enjoy the ride more on my scooter without having to think about shifting.

[randyo]

Hmmm... That's a tough question.
Personally, I like the idea of having that one less thing on which to concentrate. I try to ride defensively, paying a certain amount of attention to what's on the road around me, and not having to shift removes one more thing from the equation, no matter how habitual or subconsciously it's done. Twist and go just simplifies things, I suppose.

if shifting hasn't become muscle memory, yer doing something wrong

[Ernestt]

Last time I shifted was at the motorcycle class on a Kawasaki 125 no shifting is fine with me

[Jonnielights]

I really depends on your needs, urban NYC 9am rush hour, shifting is no fun.  Back home, 5 hours upstate, I woulden't trade it for anything, same goes for cars (especially in winter).

[Stig / Major Tom]

Red Line man. trans. fluid was a Winter Revelation in my VW busses! Buttery smooth gear stick movement even on the coldest mornings in Massachusetts and Ohio.
Auto-boxes are a recent experience for me - and not too hateful, I guess. Still enjoy shifting a CB500X Honda.
Stig

[Jonnielights]

Through high school and college I owned three diesel rabbits, all with at least 200,000mi on them.  It was an art form to shift them, but they were like tanks in the winter mountains of northern NY. 

[Stig / Major Tom]

Through high school and college I owned three diesel rabbits, all with at least 200,000mi on them.  It was an art form to shift them, but they were like tanks in the winter mountains of northern NY. 

In the blizzard of 1970-something I received a standing ovation when I arrived at the psych hosp where I worked. In my new base model Rabbit. I was a few mins early because my coffee and cigs places were closed.
For two days I taxied nurses and food back and forth in the snow.
Some staff stayed the night in patient rooms....I cont'd to commute.
Great cars.
Stig
Great cars.