Keep hitting neutral going from 2-1?

[veeeffarr]

Hi guys,

Have done this quite a few times, on various bikes, but done it quite a bit on the Viff...

Have tried waiting until I slow right down and then changing down gears in one go (Going 4-3-2-1, etc) instead of going (4-blip-engine brake-3-blip-engine brake-2-blip-engine brake-1) but the latter feels a lot more natural...

Any more ideas? I take it its going into neutal because I'm not giving it enough of a shove from 2-1? Would repositioning the gear lever so that it sat higher up help (So I wouldn't have to bend my foot down as much)

Thanks,

T

[D O G]

Sorry for thread mini hijack, but wtf is it with 2nd gears on bikes being shit? The SRAD had a couple of problems in the 1-2/2-1 interface, same (occasionally) with the FZR (I know it is a bit of a Yammy problem)? Is there a fundamental difficulty in getting the thing to work right?

Toby, I would go for adjusting the shifter, so you can give it a good shove into first, although I generally don't go into first unless I'm stopped. AFAIK you cannot actually put Kwaks into 1st until they are stopped.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Yeah, give it a more many shove downwards.

You must only be tapping it for it to have happened on lots of bikes.
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[veeeffarr]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Feasty]

And probably a complete noob question, but why couldn't they just make bikes with the neutral last??

I.e 5-4-3-2-1-N-1-2-3-4-5
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(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Syx]

The easiest way to do this without having to put unnecessary pressure on the mechanism is to just apply the regular amount of force you would need to shift down, and slowly release the clutch lever. This will result in the gear engaging correctly, and then you can just pull the clutch back in.
The gear will engage before you reach a point where you're moving, but if you're not sure just apply a dab of rear brake to keep the bike in the same spot.

Works for me every time.

Small edit: You might want to ensure you're moving before you try to apply rear brake and shift gears! I added that bit as an extra; I've never needed it.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Paddy Blake]

Hi Toby.
You need the clutch and lever adjusted right first then lube both.
If you let the revs drop to far it will be harder to change gear.You need to find out at what revs it is best to change at and do it fast.

I hope that helps.

Paddy.

[stinkwheel]

[veeeffarr]

Thanks for the input guys, it's pretty pant filling when you're approaching something and you shift down from second only to start rolling in neutral...

[carlnicholson...]

My brand new Ninja had a wank second gear as well, you'd think for all the technology on modern bikes now they'd have cracked the art of crafting a few cogs in a box. (Before you set upon me, I expect there's a fair bit more to it than that!)

It's amazing how much of a difference adjusting the lever makes, even wearing various footwear can make a difference I've found.
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[Bike_craze1]

Happened to me.
Kick into 2nd harder, bikes always do that.
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[veeeffarr]

[Pickle]

[Phoenix]

I usually downshift a couple of gears when slowing down, then block shift the rest as I roll to a stop, clutch in. Often end up not being able to go further than neutral, so you just slowly let the clutch out until you hear a small clunk, pull it back in and it'll go into first.

[carlnicholson...]

[strag]

TBH if you haven't got your engine braking sorted by the time you are in 2nd you might want to think about slowing down sooner, first will lock the back wheel very easily. Personally I only ever go into first from a standstill.
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[Phoenix]

I think he's referring to just engaging 1st, not releasing the clutch and slowing down using 1st, as you say it's only really appropriate for pulling away rather than slowing down.

[LeeR]

[quacker_boy]

[Tristan.]

Farm quads I've ridden have been 4/5 up

[Ben.]

if it starts clunking of grinding you will start ti damage the box. is it just slipping into neutral then like grinding as you try to kick it into first from neutral or does it engage properley
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[Dalemac]

im constantly going into first on the gpz, like when cornering and doing roundabouts.

I love to fly around them, and 2nd gear is just too lumpy on a parallel twin to produce any sort of power when turning off the roundabout.
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[McJamweasel]

Is your chain tension right? If it's a bit slack it can make it harder to go between 1/2/n. Also make sure that you give it a decent knock and not just a little tap. Adjusting the gear lever may well help you and if it doesn't it's only a 2 minute job to change it.
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