QUESTION ABOUT SM6 TRANNY

[JKMSPYDER]

I have a friend that is buying a used 2014 RT from a private seller. He is selling his Harley but has never ridden a Spyder. He also has no experience on ATV's or snowmobiles. I have volunteered to ride the Spyder back from the seller to his house, a 5 hour drive. I have a question about the SM6 tranny. Is the sequence 1 down for first gear and 5 up thru the other gears? I have an F3 with the SE6 but I have driven cars and trucks with the manual transmission. I just want to be familiar with the gears before I get there. Also, if I want to go into reverse would I have the transmission in neutral, press the reverse button, and then press the shifter down? And if I have to make a sudden stop when in a higher gear, when I press in the clutch will the transmission downshift automatically, or do I have to go thru the gears to get back to neutral or first? Thanks for any advice.

[asp125]

On the SM6, it's 1 down 5 up. Neutral is halfway between 1st and 2nd. Dunno on the '14 RT, but our GS you have to clutch-in, pull the lever on the clutch side grip, and step down from neutral to get reverse gear. Sudden stop in a higher gear, just like any other motorcycle, you have to sequentially go down thru the gears to find first.

[blacklightning]

On the SM6, it's 1 down 5 up. Neutral is halfway between 1st and 2nd. Dunno on the '14 RT, but our GS you have to clutch-in, pull the lever on the clutch side grip, and step down from neutral to get reverse gear. Sudden stop in a higher gear, just like any other motorcycle, you have to sequentially go down thru the gears to find first.

with what he said. But the only thing that is a little different from above is that if you step down from neutral, you go into 1st. Once in 1st, then you push the button and step down again. That is what will take you to reverse. I actually had a 2014 RT SM6.

[Chupaca]

standard shift pattern as on most all motorcycles. The reverse is as blacklightning said above...

[SpyderAnn01]

You’ll ride the RT home and when you get back on your F3 you’ll be grabbing for the clutch, you will have forgotten where your parking brake button is located and you won’t remember how to
shift to reverse! Have fun

[Don'tPanic]

SM6 won't downshift for you.

[JKMSPYDER]

Thanks everyone! I’m looking forward to shifting a manual again, but I don’t think I will trade my SE for an SM anytime soon.😁😁

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Thanks everyone! I’m looking forward to shifting a manual again, but I don’t think I will trade my SE for an SM anytime soon.😁😁

Use shifting methods that have been explained above .......... Tell your friend to DRIVE IT LIKE A CAR .... because that is how it's designed to handle ...steering , footbrake only etc............The very first time I drove a Spyder that's what the Dealer Manager told me, and I proceeded down the road ( 1/2 hr test ). I had NO issues with how to drive with Confidence ..... the finer points will be learned over time .......jmho .... Mike

[ThreeWheels]

Oh, you mean TRANSMISSION !
These days you never know.............................