Hello from Beijing, China

[diffluere]

One question - will it hurt anything if I start in second gear, instead of first?

I actually did this on accident the other day. I was at a four-way stop, the truck stopped there waved for me to go first and I guess I forgot to click down one more time. The engine makes a really funny chugchugchug noise if you do this, lol. Somehow I managed to not stall out. Is this bad for the clutch/transmission? Obviously I don't intend on doing it again, but just in case...

[New GZ250]

I do the same thing at least once ever time I take my bike out. Shouldn't hurt a thing as long you don't lug the bike on a regular basis. I hear the same noise when I'm on mountain roads, I down shift as some as I hear the bike is struggling or chugging.
You can sleep tonight!
:??:

[alantf]

My problem is - I've had the gz for well over 2 years now, so I tend to change gear etc without really thinking about it. About 400 yards from home is a junction with only a "slow" sign, not a "stop" sign. If the main road is clear, I can turn right onto the main road without stopping. I find that I go round the junction in the same gear I would if the engine was hot, so that when I try to accelerate away, the engine gives a "clunk". Oh sheeeet, drop down a gear (or two!). Thing is, I'm so busy checking for traffic, & doing the riding in "automatic" mode That I'm doing it TOO regularly. Must try to THINK next time!