Help! Test tomorrow and SR125 jumps from 1st to neutral

[jen99]

I've been learning to ride on SR125s. I've had the same problem with two school bikes, and now with a 2001 SR which I've just bought. It's worse on the bike I've just bought tho'.

Often if I'm waiting any length of time at a junction / lights, I find that even though I've arrived at the junction in 1st gear, and hold it at the biting point, when I go to take off, it's in neutral. Sometimes it happens at the same junction, twice (e.g. I've picked up that it's flicked into neutral, and stomped down again into first, then find I'm AGAIN in neutral when I come to take off.) All up, it happens about one time in four. Is it me, or the bike?? My father says the clogs might be worn.

Also, changing down - often I stamp down pretty hard, but sometimes in the lower gears (2nd and 1st) the 'message' doesn't get through.

My second main problem - this is specific to the bike I've just bought - is difficulty starting and warming up. I pull the choke out, and use the electric starter - the engine quickly revs really hard. I warm up for about 2 mins with the choke (and the bike screams), but as soon as I put the choke back in, the engine dies, even if I open the throttle a bit first. Then it's hard to start again. It can take 5 or 6 attempts.

Also, if I stall the bike for any reason, I sometimes have to pull the choke out to get it going again, even tho' the engine is warm. A nightmare at junctions and roundabouts.

I bought the bike from a girl who'd left it standing (with petrol in) for over a year. I had it serviced and mot'd, and the mechanic says he cleaned out the carburettor.

I have my test tomorrow, and I'm afraid I'm going to stuff up,

Thanks for any help you can give.

Jen99

[Flip]

Can you not hire a bike for your test, then worry about the bike. I'm sure kickstart will give you your answer on the bike it self

[MarJay]

If it goes into neutral you won't just be able to stomp it into first!

What you'll have to do is if it goes into neutral, release the clutch and then pull it again before clicking back into first.

For some reason first gear on most bikes needs to have had the clutch in and then out again for it to engage, I guess its just the way the bike gearboxes are designed.

Just relax and remember to let the clutch out and back in again and you'll be fine.
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