Cub NBC 110BN Gearchange

[Paul Whitehead]

I have just bought a 2017 Cub and ridden it for the first time today. It is also the first bike I've had without a clutch. My question is: when changing up do I shut the throttle, engage a new gear and reopen the throttle or do I make a change by heeling the gear lever when it feels ready? The speedo (in KpH in my case) has 1 2 3 and 4 which I'm guessing is the max recommended for each gear. Any thoughts?
Paul in New Zealand

[bikerbaker]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm no expert but semi auto gears take a bit of practice to get used to. Practice should show that you'll only need to roll off the throttle slightly when changing up. Changing down is something else entirely, 3 speed Cubs were called Crunchies here by some.

I've never ridden an NBC but find that the C90, Wave 110i and CT110 all operate slightly differently but smoothish changes can be made. On the CT I never use the rear part of the lever but use the front rubber covered part like a manual bike lever, it will get a pit bike lever later this year. Not many NBCs in the UK but George has a CC110 which is the same bike in a civilian suit.

Speed markings for the gears on the speedo, not sure anybody takes any notice, they all take a lot of abuse well.
Just ride and enjoy it a bit, you'll soon get the hang of it

[Paul Whitehead]

Thanks Biker Baker. I'll get out and practice. I've yet to decide if I'm a heel man or toe man and whether the gear lever is in the right angle. I'll get my wife to photograph my leg for a better understanding. By the way, there are lots of these models in NZ and mine is an ex Postie bike. Our local Postie uses one and if I catch him I'll delay his daily duties by gassing about them with me.
Paul

[bikerbaker]

I've found some "proper" Oz posties, the ones wearing shorts with brown legs, do like to talk about their bikes. Nowadays these seem to have been replaced by people wearing full kit just doing their job.
My CT is an ex AusPost bitsa and kept now in Geelong at my son's house, I saw a few NBCs in use in January and even managed to overhaul one on a main road who waved as he turned off. The bike was in Melbourne previously where I found I couldn't keep up away from the lights.
Back home now and collecting bits to take out later this year.

[Paul Whitehead]

Thanks for the message. Going a bit off topic now. Is there anywhere on the Forum where I can read recent messages, on the whole range of topics, that have come in daily? I used to be a member of the VMCC whose Forum seems to use the same software and there, each time I logged in, were all the messages just in. Obviously many were not relevant to me such as UK legal bits and bobs but the majority were interesting if only to see what other people struggled with. (I dropped out of the VMCC a couple of years back when the chairman made it clear they lost money on overseas members and they were not really wanted. The Cub is the first modern and the first Japanese bike I've owned. At almost 86 years of age I want to keep riding as long as I can and I'm hoping the Cub and I will get to know one-another.)
Paul

[wightegi]

Paul, go to the quick links at the top and click on new posts Plus lots of other info.

[Paul Whitehead]

Got it and I'm in. Thanks for that. I took the monster out for its second run today and found all four gears. Am I right in assuming I can coast to a stop with the throttle shut in any gear and the engine should continue to tick over? Is taking off in second gear, on the flat, at all risky?
Paul

[Devon general andy]

First of all, I want to say I admire you at 86 and still riding! Long may it continue.
Yes, you should be able to be in any gear, even top 4th gear, come to a stop and clutch will disengage the drive and engine will just tick over.

Pulling away in 2nd downhill is fine.
Pulling away in 2nd on the flat will result in a tiny bit more wear on the clutch. It depends aswell on how ‘sporty’ you are pulling away. If you pull away gently then the wear wil a lot less than just opening the throttle wide.
The correct way is to start off in 1st then do a quick change into 2nd…. A lot kinder to the clutch.
Andy.

[bikerbaker]

Got it and I'm in. Thanks for that. I took the monster out for its second run today and found all four gears. Am I right in assuming I can coast to a stop with the throttle shut in any gear and the engine should continue to tick over?

Something else to consider and try. Not sure about the NBC but with my CT, C90 and Wave you can coast to a stop in top gear and one more push of the lever takes you straight to first gear.

[Paul Whitehead]

Thanks gents for the advice and kind words. I'll try the change up to second quicker than before. Interesting about coasting in in fourth and one dab to neutral. I'll try that also. I set the tyre pressures right this morning and polished some of the chrome. The French were right to give the motorcycle a feminine noun as all my bikes enjoy a bit of polish and go better for it and, dare I say it, some of the old ones have "moods". Please tell me the Cub does not get moody.
Regards to all
Paul