2010 Polaris Vegas 8-Ball Owners Manual - Page 67

Shifting Gears Operation 5. Release the brake lever. 6. Simultaneously release the clutch lever while opening the throttle (rolling the throttle control grip rearward) with a smooth motion. As the clutch begins to engage, the motorcycle will move forward. 7. To shift to a higher gear, accelerate smoothly and easily to the recommended shift point. See page 66. 8. With a quick motion, simultaneously close the throttle completely and disengage the clutch. Move the shift pedal until you feel it stop at the next gear. 9. Simultaneously release the clutch lever while opening the throttle. Tip: Within the recommended speed ranges, you can downshift to slow the motorcycle or to increase power. See page 66. You may want to downshift when climbing a hill or passing. Downshifting also helps to decrease speed when combined with closing the throttle. 10. To shift to a lower gear (downshift), simultaneously pull the clutch lever toward the handlebar and close the throttle. Move the shift pedal downward until you feel it stop at the next gear. Simultaneously release the clutch lever while opening the throttle. WARNING! Downshifting improperly could cause loss of traction and loss of control, which could result in serious injury or death. • Reduce speed before downshifting. Always downshift within the recommended shift points. • Use extreme caution when downshifting on wet, slippery or other low traction surfaces. Release the clutch lever very gradually in these conditions. • Avoid downshifting in a curve. Downshift before entering the curve. 65