u/BorderEducational506

Very new rider here, just got the KLX SE. Keen to hear from more experienced riders about when to change gears on this bike.

I’m tending to switch quickly to second after first and then hearing the revs getting higher, feels like the bike is straining around 30kmph, so I generally move into third and then fourth about 45kmph, again as it feels like to my inexperienced ear that the bike starts to strain. This is all on flat paved roads.

I’m rarely going above 55 so hardly using anything over 4th gear.

Am I changing to third and fourth far too early?

Honestly I’m dropping about 1 litre of sweat in 90 min training sessions and I feel so bad when hitting pads and sweat droplets will hit the coaches in the face.

To be fair it’s 35 degrees Celsius outdoor gym and I’m in Zone 4 for 20 mins or even 5 for a few mins but still… Pretty sure I’m not the only ‘customer’ with this issue as when I look at the other guys during break they also have cups of sweat under their chairs!

Should I wear a headband like tennis players or what else can I do? Does the sweating reduce as fitness increases? Been doing this a month so far.

Thanks!🙏