Accidently shifting into neutral

[SMOKEU]

How often do you guys accidentally hook neutral instead of second gear? It happens to me about once every 200km, and it usually happens when attempting an 18000RPM shift.

[onearmedbandit]

Never with a Suzuki gearbox. Now I know someone whose '09 'blade did something weird in the 'box the first time he really gave it the berries. In 4th or 5th gear too.

[sil3nt]

Every now and then. Generally when im rushing and not hitting the shifter hard enough.

[slofox]

Hasn't happened on the gixxer.

I missed the odd change on the SVS when I had it - not usually 2nd though - usually higher up. Always because I was less than positive with the shift.

[Grasshopperus]

I also get that a little bit when the bike needs an oil change. A fresh drink every 5000kms keeps it happy.

[mikemike104]

Every now and then. Generally when im rushing and not hitting the shifter hard enough.

Same, and always in front of the people/person I am really trying hard not to hook netural in front of :facepalm:

[kevfromcoro]

I have had it shifting from 4th to 5th in a couple of my bikes..
My mates new honda 1300 seams to have a neutral between 4th and 5th too

??

[pzkpfw]

My bike does the reverse to me - on purpose. Some stupid Kawasaki "feature" for automatically selecting neutral from a full kick (instead of the normal half kick) - as long as you did exactly what they want you to do when you slowed down. (Screw them, sometimes it's just easier to just stop in whatever gear, with the clutch in (maybe a sudden stop required when I'm in 3rd), then change down through every freakin' gear. Bastards). And if you dont, neutral is hard to find - I find myself having to let the clutch out a bit, so it grabs, so I can then fish around for neutral.

The box on my old NZ250 was better. I don't remember ever having issues with my RD250/350LC, either (except that one had no working neutral light).

While riding, occasionally hit a false neutral when rushing a change. That's my fault. No idea how to quantify it.

[Spazman727]

I do that every now and then, usually when shifting fast. Its embarrassing and sounds bad for the bike. When I want neutral when I'm stopped, on the other hand, its almost impossible to get it 'cause the shifter doesn't want to move when the bike is warm and I'm not moving.

[Milts]

Pfft I don't know what the problem is. My 20 year old ZZR has never hit a false neutral on me and it's easy enough to find neutral at the lights, because it won't let you into anything but neutral or first while the bike is stopped.

Does make bump starts near impossible, but damn convenient the rest of the time.

[Mom]

First ride on the BB! I felt the burn. Then it happend again and again. More of select neutral miss-shift. False neutral sucks! Re conditioned the clutch, and it has been good for (not as long as I expected) a while. Last weekend I managed to get a false neutral a couple of times. Worst was selecting a false 1st gear on a hill start :pinch: Makes you tighten up bits that should not come into play riding a motorbike, while slowly rolling backwards on an incline. I have a neat bruise on my shin where I bravely held her on the slope.

Proper answer.

Never happens. Never ever!

[boman]

Just as well, that they put them in a box then... You could chase that little bugger 2nd gear for a while otherwise..

Oh and I have not had it yet on the Suzuki..Yet..

:woohoo:

[varminter]

I took out my neutral, wasn't using it, just a wast of space. Anyone want to buy a second hand neutral??

[Spazman727]

I took out my neutral, wasn't using it, just a wast of space. Anyone want to buy a second hand neutral??

Sure, my neutral is tricky. Can you fit it for me? :bleh:

[rustyrobot]

Happens to me sometimes when I am distracted. Usually either by someone on a pretty bike, or someone who is pretty :facepalm:

I know my gear box will need some attention at some point in the future.

[SMOKEU]

I took out my neutral, wasn't using it, just a wast of space. Anyone want to buy a second hand neutral??

Shall we start the bidding at $1?

[onearmedbandit]

When I want neutral when I'm stopped, on the other hand, its almost impossible to get it 'cause the shifter doesn't want to move when the bike is warm and I'm not moving.

If it's been a while since its last oil change, do that. Then adjust the play on your clutch cable. Unless it's hydraulic.

[DarkLord]

Hasn't happened on the gixxer.

I missed the odd change on the SVS when I had it - not usually 2nd though - usually higher up. Always because I was less than positive with the shift.

Same here with my SV - usually when I'm trying to do a somewhat quick takeoff. Rather embarrassing when you rev super high and go nowhere. :facepalm:

[Slyer]

Know it all too well, and yes it seems to happen when you need second gear most.
Both wheelies I've ever pulled on the GPX are from accidentally changing into first instead of second. :facepalm:

[DarkLord]

My default reaction when I find myself not moving always seems to be to rev higher - kind of embarrassing when you take off down a road and are trying to get to 100 quickly, then find yourself going nowhere fast with your engine screaming at you. Makes you look like a bit of a plonker.

Anyone else do this?

[pzkpfw]

My default reaction when I find myself not moving always seems to be to rev higher - kind of embarrassing when you take off down a road and are trying to get to 100 quickly, then find yourself going nowhere fast with your engine screaming at you. Makes you look like a bit of a plonker.

Anyone else do this?

Yes - but worst was when the chain had come off the back sprocket on the RD250/350LC (I'd gone slowly round a corner, and had got slack on chain tensioning, so I think it just rode itself off the sprocket teeth).

Ringa dinga dinga, and then when I finally shut the throttle the chain flicked forward and knocked part of the engine casing off.

All the gearbox oil fell out.


---

It's a reason I don't often filter to the front of a queue. Too cautious about what might happen if I stall or miss a gear...

[quickbuck]

Interestingly enough, my CBR box was full of false neutrals (5 to 6 many times).
The weird thing is that i haven't found a single one since getting new boots.

I think it is because i am more positive on the leaver.....

[Swoop]

Check your chain tension.

My bike/s give feedback of when they want to be tightened up, by providing false neutrals as a sign.

Tension the chain and the false neutral monster goes back into his hiding place.

[Mom]

Check your chain tension.

My bike/s give feedback of when they want to be tightened up, by providing false neutrals as a sign.

Tension the chain and the false neutral monster goes back into his hiding place.

Well, I'll be a pickled, jelly eel!

I just went and checked BB's chain and it is a bit slack, yay easy fix. Thank you for this.

[Banditbandit]

Occassionally - usually on a down shift ... I can't rememebr hooking neutral on an up shift ...

[O2R]

Couple times a year maybe. Mostly when trying to impress for no good reason :blink:

[avgas]

I also get that a little bit when the bike needs an oil change. A fresh drink every 5000kms keeps it happy.
Yep what he said.
false neutrals between gears means I need to do a service.
Which reminds me, I need to get used to false neutrals between all gears, or do a service soon :sick:

[p.dath]

How often do you guys accidentally hook neutral instead of second gear? It happens to me about once every 200km, and it usually happens when attempting an 18000RPM shift.

I have the same problem on my CBR600, mostly when I am on the track practising. Note to self, be more assertive with gears.

[Spazman727]

If it's been a while since its last oil change, do that. Then adjust the play on your clutch cable. Unless it's hydraulic.

Thanks. I've done that, it helped a little but its back to where it was now. I've read on a Nighthawk forum form the States that it's a quirk that Nighthawks have. Annoying but I'm used to it.

A spare neutral would be useful though. too bad I don't have a spare dollar to make the first bid :angry:

[Old Steve]

I've recently been having trouble finding neutral, when clicking up from first. This is a common glitch in Suzukis and Hyosungs (Hyosung must've copied the suzuki gearbox so well that they included the Suzuki first/neutral problem).

Anyway, Gloria had clocked up 4000 km since her last change, so I gave her an oil change.

Now, what problem, want neutral, there it is, just like that.

[AllanB]

If I was making gear changes at 18,000 rpm on the Hornet I'm sure the gear shifting would be the least of my worries! (9500 redline).

It's a Honda - it will be fussy with the brand and age of the oil and their boxes appear to take 5000 kms or so to get nice.

[skinman]

I would say I miss 2nd about once a week which would be about every 400km. did a good 1 yesterday, big riiiiiiiing ahhh clunk. usually when going for that gap at intersections, trying to hook 2nd on lean. damm short 1st gears. Sometimes get neutral when putting along in traffic, shifting too gently.

[jonbuoy]

Technique - keep gentle upwards pressure on the gearlever until the clutch is home and be positive with the shifting (not rough - don´t "stab" the shifter) works every time on any bike.

[scumdog]

I have had it shifting from 4th to 5th in a couple of my bikes..
My mates new honda 1300 seams to have a neutral between 4th and 5th too

??

My old iron0head Sportster had a whole fist-full of neutrals if you tried 'racing changes'..

[ellipsis]

....only happens to me when you really want a good start off the line when racing or when every man , woman and their dogs are looking....

[onearmedbandit]

This is a common glitch in Suzukis and Hyosungs (Hyosung must've copied the suzuki gearbox so well that they included the Suzuki first/neutral problem).



Really? In 20yrs biking I've found Suzuki's gearboxes to be almost 100% fault free. In fact Suzuki's are known for their slick, smooth reliable gearboxes. Unless you are talking about their budget models?

[howdamnhard]

How often do you guys accidentally hook neutral instead of second gear? It happens to me about once every 200km, and it usually happens when attempting an 18000RPM shift.

Normally only if trying to pull away fast and not being positive enough. Momentarily dipping the revs as you change helps.

[javawocky]

Hasn't happened on the gixxer.

I missed the odd change on the SVS when I had it - not usually 2nd though - usually higher up. Always because I was less than positive with the shift.

Same here, never happened, but haven't had a proper track day yet, so anything is possible.

On my old SV thou it was a little temperamental around 4th to 5th when giving it stick at Hamptondowns under duress.

[O2R]

Really? In fact Suzuki's are known for their slick, smooth reliable gearboxes.

Clearly not owned a Boulevard. :blink: I believe the saying is "agricultural" :yes:

[onearmedbandit]

Clearly not owned a Boulevard. :blink: I believe the saying is "agricultural" :yes:

Ha, true, no I haven't. Actually thinking about it now my previous statement was probably a little off, the GSX/GSXR range is known for the nice gearboxes. Not too sure about their other models, my RGV and RM were fine, but obviously the owners of SV's and Boulevards too have had issues.

[O2R]

the owners of SV's and Boulevards too have had issues.

Yes, My mate had a SV1000 and I a C90 and we would merrily clunk our way around the country laughing at each other :shit:
I believe the GSX might be the "RR" of the Suzuki fleet, so you would expect smooth and reliable :woohoo:

[AllanB]

Clearly not owned a Boulevard. :blink: I believe the saying is "agricultural" :yes:

Nah- I bet they spend tens of thousands designing that shifter - trying to copy the Harleys :facepalm:

[O2R]

Nah- I bet they spend tens of thousands designing that shifter - trying to copy the Harleys :facepalm:

I hadn't thought of that, maybe... Are Hogs clunky though? :blink:

[Gibbo89]

I hadn't thought of that, maybe... Are Hogs clunky though? :blink:

harleys don't have gears, they are automatic.:innocent:

[scumdog]

I hadn't thought of that, maybe... Are Hogs clunky though? :blink:

No more than the average International truck gear-box.....