I appreciate the help guys. Thinking it over that completely made sense. when I thought i was stuck in second and could shift up through the gears i was actually shifting into 1st right past N and then back to 2nd. that half shift is going to take a little getting used to.

 

Hey , just given you a little sh*t man , take no offense to some of the things I say, Im just always trying to be funny.

I use to race dirt bikes when I was a teen, and I took the course anywase. It does help, theres a big difference between dirt and pavement, 250lbs and 500lbs, 125cc and 1000cc, and Im pritty sure getting hit by a car will hurt alot more than getting hit by another bike.

 

none taken - i do plan to take the course - but i'll have over a month of on the road experience before the next opening.

 

You know, it's possible the owner before you switched the shift linkageto shift "moto GP" style. (I think that's what it's called when the shifter works opposite to a regular bike)

The usual way to shift up to the next highest gear is to pull up the shift lever with your toe. But on some bikes it is possible to push down on the shifter in order to shift to the next gear.

 

no i think its stock, but what i was expecting it to be was the "moto GP" style just like the quads i'd driven. makes sense to me now if i was trying to shift backwards. I look forward to testing out my new found knowledge when i get home from work today