Q:i have run into this situation a few times. i‘m riding a dirt bike / motorcycle, i‘m going really fast, in highest gear, but needed to stop really fastdo i just slam on the breaks while staying in highest gear? then after i am stopped, switch the gear into 1st/neutral? this is what i have been doing (is this healthy for the bike?)or do i just hold in the clutch in and downgear really fast while i am stopping? (is this what im supposed to do?)i guess i dont do that because it‘s a little hard (you need to be doing 3 things at once!)so am i messing up my bike by doing this?

Downshifting as you stop is the way to go. But if you have a panic stop and don't have time, just clutch it and brake. The only harm you can do is trying to force a downshift from a higher gear all the way to first while stopped. You can bend the shifting forks in the trans doing that. That's a costly fix. Leave it in whatever gear you wind up in and try to downshift once you start moving. A little heel-toe action to get moving will help.

Q:I have 2005 Harley sportser xl 883, Rear brake has a slight squeal noise at very low speed, when brakes are not applied. With rear wheel off the ground, there is a slight drag on the wheel, brake pads look okay, disk is not discolored

My 2007 Ultra developed the same thing while I was vacationing away from home last year. I immediately thought of a bearing, though oddly the noise went away whenever I applied the rear brake. A call to my dealer reassured me that it was nothing more than some dust or sand on the brake pads from parking at the beach. Sure enough, by the time I got home the noise had gone.

Q:Are there gear shifters for motorcycles that change the gears for you? Without having to use the throttle or clutch.

They're out there, but as far as I've seen any that were made were discontinued. Almost all motorcycles are manual and it would do you a lot of good to learn to drive a standard transmission (manual) before you do it on a bike.

Q:does anyone know what is being checked while getting a safety on a motorcycle in ontario or anywhere in generelplease be specific lights , reflectors ,frame etc. thanks alot

definitely. look at gauge and valve again

Q:Review the motorcycles from 1973 two strokes and compare from today ; then which are the better bikes?

It would take hours to explain them all! There are a few things that are key though; 1. Better brakes now - potentially with ABS too 2. Electronic ignition (perhaps one of the biggest improvements in modern times!) 3. Better suspension 4. Lower weight due to better knowledge of materials 5. More power 6. Better reliability --Mikey B--

Q:I replaced the front brake lever on my ‘05 CBR1000RR and bled the brake system several times. I even purchased and used a professional bleeder kit with a hand pump. The brakes continue to gradually build up pressure until the pistons on the calipers are fully expanded and won‘t retract. Even when I crack a bleeder valve to relieve pressure, they still build up pressure over time until I bleed some more fluid. What should I do?????

The prior post is most-likely correct, the bolt your using to hold on the new lever is too tight. What you don't want to do is loosen the bolt too much where the nut will fall off. You may want to find another bolt with a nylon nut so you can leave the bolt loose but the nut don't have the ability to fall off. If the lever isn't too tight then your master cylinder would be the problem. Usally there is a spring that will make the plunger return to its bottom location and releave the pressure in the lines making the fluid return to the reservior. so either your spring is weak or plunger oring is defective.

Q:I PUT A SET OF FRONT BRAKES ON MY MOTORCYCLE, IS IT NORMAL FOR THEM TO WHINE WHEN STOPPING?

sometimes i don't think it's bad did you get any of that stuff that makes them not do that? i forgot what it's called it's a little packet you put on the brakes before putting them on haa

Q:do trial bikes have a conventional clutch operated by a lever on the handlebars, or is it a centrifugal clutch? also how many speeds does the transmission have? and as far as the brakes go, where are they located? it just seems like it would be really hard to do the things they do on trial bikes with the same control setup as a normal motorcycle

When I had a Bultaco Sherpa T a hundred years ago, all the controls were in the normal places (although that bike did shift on the right). I'm pretty sure that that still holds true. I used to turn the shift lever up high, so as to avoid hitting it on rocks. That was pretty standard procedure. And their gearing tends to be pretty tight for 1st-3rd, with 4th and 5th used strictly for riding between sections. I miss that thing. It was back in the '70s when everyone had old VW Bugs. I used to ride right over a friend of mine's, no sweat. I can't believe the stuff they can do today. Did you know Roger DeCoster was the Belgian National Trials Champion before he ever set foot on a motocross course (assuming people even know who he was.)?

Q:I got a shadow 750 and was wanting to put a side license plate adapter with a brake light attached and do away with the rear stock turn signals and big brake light. What are the laws regarding turn signals on a bike, do I just need to give hand signals?

In texas you MUST have them. There are plenty of afermarket options for brake lights, turn signals, etc. That you may like better than what it has now. Take a look on the internet for some parts. You will probably have to have them, but at least you could get something that you like. Maybe an integrated tail light that has both the brake light and the turn signals built in. I know what you mean though, the shadow's tail light is comletely lacking of all style It's like big red lunchbox. If none of those below will work for your bike. Just do a google search for (your bike) integrated tail and you'll come up with plenty of stuff.