Annoying shift of kawasaki bikes

[kawashima]

I've bought Kawasaki W650 last August and this bike has annoying kawasaki shift. Once stopped, I can't shift to 2nd gear from neutral. I can shift only to 1st gear from neutral. I heard every kawasaki bike has this type. If I want to start in 2nd gear, I must stop in 2nd gear and hold clutch lever. And in case battery died, pushing bike to start engine in 1st gear is crazy. I can't find any merit of kawasaki shift. I heard accuracy of shift is worse than other makers(Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki) and that's why kawasaki apply this shift type.
Every recent Kawasaki bike apply this shift type?
What is the merit of this shift type?

[bidman]

Hi, having owned a fair few kawasaki's I can agree with you. The only reason I can think of for it is to try and stop false neutrals, and make shifting more positive , maybe someone else has a better explanation? Dan
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Don't ride it, RAG IT!!

[riichy]

kawasaki's are a baste#d for it, no way round it....
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.......... PLOD ............ zx636 2004

[stinkwheel]

They are designed to be like that. There is a 'neutral finder' which makes it easier/possible to change into neutral when the engine is running.

This was not always the case, you have obviously not encountered the joys of repeatedly changing between first, second, first, second, first, second, first "Oh fukkit, I'll just hold the damn clutch in." when you come to a halt. This is common on almost every bike made in the early 1980s and most Ducatis.

My 350 powervalve was like that, the only way to get neutral was to snick into it before coming to a complete halt or to switch the engine off.

Believe me, the neutral finder is a wonderful invention and well worthwhile compared to the minor inconveniance of not being able to change into second from neutral with the engine off.

Incidentally, you CAN get them into second with the engine off, but you have to go straight up into it from first with the bike rolling a bit.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[kawashima]

Thank you for informative post.
I didn't know this system was called neutral finder. I was annoyed for bike forcing rider to select 1st gear but it is far better than being annoyed to find neutral.
I googled and found some rider who changed bike from kawasaki to honda and confused at finding neutral.
thank you.

[MikeH]

Why do you want to pull off in 2nd anyway , 1st is there for a reason and no it's not just for wheelies
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Busa Junkie

[kawashima]