gear boxes

[andym]

Just a quick question... and probably very simple too.

Why are motorbike gearboxes set up with neutral between 1st and 2nd?

Not sure if it's all bikes out there, but all the ones I have ever seen.

I thought it would be easier to have neutral at the bottom of the list.

[Acemastr]

if you had neutral on the bottom, you'd get to a set of lights, keep slapping it down, then try to pull off and be in neutral, this way you're always in gear unless you intentionally click it up half(or accidentally as has been known).
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[Ben.]

[fiveus]

Why does the shift pattern have neutral between 1st and 2nd?
Actually, there is a specific reason why neutral ended up between first and second gear when motorcycle controls were standardized in 1975: SAFETY.
In the 60s and 70s, there was a growing trend toward placing neutral below first gear. My nephew, for example, had a Kawasaki 100 with a "4 up" shift pattern (N,1,2,3,4). As this shift pattern gained popularity, more and more motorcyclists were developing the tendency to instictively shift the bike all the way down into neutral as they slowed, sometimes accidentally, but most times intentionally. The idea was that you could stay in neutral at a light or stop sign, then clutch into gear and start rolling again when right-of-way was established. The habit was obviously flawed, and riders started getting hurt.
The vast majority of injuries were caused when a bike was inadvertently upshifted from neutral into first gear at a fast coast. The resultant engine breaking caused instant rear wheel lockups, which in turn caused crashes. The mechanical aspects of neutral's location also caused various runability and logistical problems, as well.
By locating neutral between first and second gears, the severity of engine breaking in the event of accidental upshift was reduced, as well as making neutral a relative inconvenience, rather than something riders depended on. It also made first gear the natural first position in the gear box, which is where the transmission should be adjusted whenever the bike is stopped in traffic anyway.

Neutral is in its odd location because that’s where it makes the most sense to locate it. On a bike, you rarely need to be in neutral: you’ve a clutch, which is your primary method of disconnecting the engine from the transmission. Indeed, you could go completely without a neutral gear, if you could stand the monotony of holding the clutch as the bike warms up, and turning off the bike whenever you got more than an arm’s-reach distance from it.
First gear, however, is extremely useful. It’s great for starting in. And it’s great for stopping in. It’s really good for driving slowly, too. So it’s at the bottom: as you approach a stoplight, you start to brake, and you tap your gears down to match your speed. If the light goes green before you get there, you’re ready to rocket. If it’s red, you keep the clutch in, and remain in first gear, ready to rocket. You never do go into neutral when you stop. As you leave the stoplight, you tap your gears up to match your speed. You never do go into neutral when you accelerate.
Now, imagine the situation if neutral were located at the bottom: you start slowing for the light. You begin tapping down. You’re almost stopped, you tap into neutral, the light goes green, you rev the gas, and you tip over because you’re out of gear. The asshole behind you runs you over as your engine shoots a piston through your groin. Damn, that sucks.
As it’s absurd to place neutral between 2nd and 3rd, or any of the higher gears, no example needed.


stolen from the world of google

[stinkwheel]

I was wondering if it's something older than that even.

My Enfield has an Albion 4-speed pre-unit gearbox fitted to it. They used these on umpteen British bikes in the post-war era. Almost to the extent that if you bought a bike, this is the gearbox you'd have (or a varient thereof).

Now neutral can be very hard to find on these and shifting gears takes a bit of time and forward planning. If you stop quickly, chances are you're going to land up stuck in the wrong gear. Th counter this they fitted them with a "neutral finder". an extra small lever that changes the box straight into neutral when you press it with your heel.

So the drill becomes: Approach junction in fourth, apply brakes to slow down. Once speed is below 20mph, hit neutral lever. As you approach the junction, you will either be able to carry on because the way ahead is clear, in which case you want second. Or, you have to stop completely, in which case you want first. Either can be selected from neutral.
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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.

[andym]

thanks... that's cleared that one up