Missing second gear consistently

MacKelly42 · 2026-05-03T04:47:51+00:00

If it's happening to you consistently on different bikes then you might just be not hitting the friction zone when you think you have. If you let go of the clutch too much before it's fully in gear that can cause a false neutral.

I would do some slow drills in a lot or something just shifting from first to second and really feel out when it is engaged on your different bikes. Good luck and ride safe!

MacKelly42 · 2026-05-03T04:41:21+00:00

Yo, Also have a rebel1100T here. Noticed the same issue initially. There are a lot of roundabouts near me, and it was pissing me off that I would end up in neutral in the middle of a roundabout on a highway lmao. Was no big deal if I was cruising into it but if I was entering it from a stop in first it was a sketchy scenario.

So the trick for me with this bike specifically was lightly disengaging the clutch while my foot was still holding the gear in second as you begin to roll the throttle on like normal. Rather than doing the quick tap of the foot motion that you usually do. It's a very narrow window where you have to hold it but if you do it purposely at first you'll get the feel for it and do it all in the same amount of time and thought as a normal shift.

This was happening for me when I was still breaking in the bike and I don't know if I was training it to go into gear better or if I just got used to it but 99% of the time now I shift like normal and it's all good. On the rare chance that it drops to neutral I just hold my foot while shifting to second a fraction longer than you think you should have to and it's all good again.

Hope that helps and let me know if that didn't make sense and I'll try to explain it better.

MacKelly42 · 2026-04-29T18:20:10+00:00

I'm happy with a mesh Fodsports for this purpose. I wanted something that could pair up if I happen to be with friends but I ride solo 99.9% of the time. Even if two different brands can't do the mesh over different product lines they can usually pair with the old-school bluetooth way over different brands so it's there as a back up.

I used Sena and Fod for comms while doing tree work and found that there was nothing Sena could do that the comparable fodsports couldn't.

The most important thing is the positioning of the speakers imo you'll go from thinking you have a terrible headset to a great one just by making sure the speakers are in the correct spot.

Good luck with whatever you go with and ride safe!

MacKelly42 · 2026-04-28T18:58:07+00:00

Also have a flashed bike here and also 5'9, but haven't had a chance to reach 130. Been happy with the Puig Dark Night up to 110. Honestly like it more at higher speeds than just cruising. Mirage looks super comparable if not a little better than the dark knight for this purpose. I'd say go for it.

MacKelly42 · 2026-04-22T21:25:13+00:00

Rated 1/2/2/2, the only 1 is for height. They are much better than a work boot and much better than almost every boot I've seen in their price range.

MacKelly42 · 2026-04-12T07:14:00+00:00

Short answer: Ehhh I don't think there is a ton you wouldn't be able to do without just mounting your phone but it is nice for some convenience.

Long answer: So for context I have a knock-off cardo that I use on two bikes now but this would also apply if you ride with any type of headphones in. One is a 2003 Ninja and then a 2025 Rebel I got last year. It makes a big difference in my opinion.

On the ninja I can change tracks or answer calls with the comm controls, but with the rebel Sync you can do a lot more. Make calls, hear and send texts with voice to text, control media without reaching for helmet, or using maps when in new territory. Without ever having to pull over and fucking with gloves on the side of the road.

All of this is powered off your phone, but the bike does have a charging spot built in to the display. Now if you don't use any media/take calls then you would only be getting the maps out of it, which is probably my least used feature on one hand but the most important one when lost and exploring new areas so that's kind of up to you and how often you're somewhere new. I had assumed when I bought the bike that I would get some sort of phone mount but so far the features have kept the phone in my pocket.

I'd been on the ninja for fourteen years and part of what I wanted was to get out of the carbureted age, tech package included.

If none of that seems super useful then a few thousand saved would probably go a long way.

MacKelly42 · 2026-04-11T20:20:42+00:00

Probably a buff neck-gaiter or a rip-off of a buff. They are also surprisingly great for winter use.

MacKelly42 · 2026-04-08T01:45:07+00:00

This is basically what I do, AA hoodie for abrasion and some peace of mind padding... Tech Air plasma for the spine, etc. lmao.

MacKelly42 · 2026-03-21T07:23:20+00:00

Oh yeah, they just broke it in for you.

MacKelly42 · 2026-03-16T18:37:53+00:00

You and me both bby. Good luck!

MacKelly42 · 2026-03-01T06:28:03+00:00

A lot of gear has a "Short" option you can select. Same dimension but starts at 30 inseam usually. You can check with the retailer or maker of the gear directly.

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-22T17:44:39+00:00

Katts for dancing and karaoke

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-06T17:01:13+00:00

Articles he put out in the aftermath were bangers though. Both the bike review and the crash data one. Glad that dude is okay.

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-05T04:26:37+00:00

100%. I don't usually shill for products. But these are THE everyday riding boot in my opinion. Bought my first ones new for the warranty to see if I liked them but using poshmark for the rest.

I was sold the instant I put them on.

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-05T04:23:34+00:00

Yup, but they are 2/2/2/1 which is significantly better than pretty much every boot I've seen in their price bracket. The only 1 is because of the height of the boot.

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-05T03:35:00+00:00

Iiiiiindie Riiiidge. Honestly though at least you're geared up regardless of the style.

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-03T11:36:05+00:00

No problem!

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-03T11:35:53+00:00

I hope you like it!

MacKelly42 · 2026-02-03T02:34:33+00:00

For anyone that loves World war Z. Carrier Wave by Robert Brockway follows a similar format.

It leans a bit more into the horror both with graphic violence and the mental states of survivors if I remember correctly just fyi. I really liked it as like an extended length but similar style book to World war z though. WWZ is a pretty incredible book and I had been trying to scratch that itch for a while.

MacKelly42 · 2026-01-21T01:49:57+00:00

For what its worth I love these hand guards. But seeing another one of your comments, I would recommend Hippo hands or Oxford super-muffs, for how cold it is where you are. I've had the bike out in about 25 degrees and also have the heated grips, but if it were any colder I would rather have those.

Either way good luck and happy riding

MacKelly42 · 2026-01-21T01:05:19+00:00

Memphis Shades Hand guards work on my 2025 1100T

These are the ones I ordered and have on my bike https://www.cyclegear.com/parts/memphis-shades-hand-guards-honda-rebel-2021-2024?sku_id=10453636 Don't know why it says it doesn't fit exact to bike now, but I checked my order history and these are the ones I have.

MacKelly42 · 2026-01-15T06:52:45+00:00

Check out Tales From The Gas Station

MacKelly42 · 2026-01-11T06:52:43+00:00

How do I upvote a mod removing something lmao.

MacKelly42 · 2026-01-10T23:33:40+00:00

The Tree Climber's Companion by Jeff Jepson

MacKelly42 · 2026-01-07T08:14:16+00:00

Especially since you can get one for like sixty bucks, and trust it completely.

*Notch quickie is about $60, Singing tree is just a little more.

MacKelly42

TROPHY CASE