Suzuki DR·Z400SM Owner's Manual page 28

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Make sure that the side stand is in
the fUlly up position. Pull the
clutch lever in and pause momen­
tarily. Engage first gear by
depressing the gearshift lever
downward. Turn the throttle grip
toward you and at the same time
release the clutch lever gently and
smoothly. As the clutch engages,
the motorcycle will start moving
forward. To shift to the next higher
gear, accelerate gently, then close
the throttle and pull the clutch
lever in simultaneously. Lift the
gear shift lever upward to select
the next gear and release the
clutch lever as you open the throt ­
tle again. Select higher gears in
this manner until top gear is
reached.
NOTE: This motorcycle is
equipped with a side stand/igni­
tion interlock switch. If you shift
the transmission into gear when
the side stand is down, the engine
will stop running.
USING THE TRANSMIS S
The transmission IS pi
keep the engine
smoothly in its normal
speed range. The gE
have been carefully (
meet the characteristil
engine. The rider ShOL
select the most suitabll
the prevailing conditio
normal operational rang
The table below shows
ing point for each gear.
Shifting up schedule
Gear position km/h
1st
'-7
2nd 20
2nd -> 3rd 30
3rd -> 4th 40
4th -> 5th 50
Shifting down schedule
miles/h
12
19
25
31
Downshifting when engine
speed is too high can:
• cause the rear wheel to skid
I
and lose traction due to
increased engine braking,
resulting in an accident; or
• force the engine to overrev in
the lower gear, resulting in
engine damage.
·
Reduce speed before down­
shifting.
I
Downshifting while the motor­
cycle is leaned over in a corner
may cause rear wheel skid and
loss of control.
Reduce your speed and down­
shift before entering a corner.
RIDING ON HILLS
• When climbing steep hills, the
motorcycle may begin to slow
down and show lack of power.
At this point you should shift to
a lower gear so that the engine
will again be operating in its
normal power range. Shift rap­
idly to prevent the motorcycle
from losing momentum.
• When riding down a steep hill,
the engine may be used for
braking by shifting to a lower
gear.
• Be careful, however, not to
allow the engine to overrev.
Gear position
km/h miles/h
5th -74th 35 22
4th-> 3rd 25 16
3rd -7 2nd 20 12
slip the clutch to COl
speed, but rather dOl
allow the engine to rur
Disengage the clutch when th,
motorcycle speed drops below 1
km/h (9 miles/h).
5-4
5-5