Help - weird thing with not going into gear

[apteryx_haasti]

Hi all -

I went for a nice ride today but I had one problem. I'd like people's opinion on whether it is something I should go to the bike shop about or whether it's likely to be just a oncer or one of those odd things that occasionally happen.

What happened was this: coming along the Hutt Motorway and was approaching a red light, so geared downwards from 5th to 2nd as I was slowing and stopped at the light in 2nd with the clutch in.

Now here's the thing - I couldn't gear down any further (ie. go to N or 1st) although I still could go up. Going up and coming back didn't help - would not go anywhere lower than 2nd. Rolled forward and back a little as I had heard that this can help free up the gear if you're having trouble. Still no dice.

Ended up having to switch engine off so that I could let go the clutch, then re-engage clutch and start up so that I could change down.

Is this something to look into or is it just one of those things that happen with bikes every so often? SOunded and ran fine after I got it back in 1st. Just felt like a dork, stuffing around with my bike at the lights!

CHeers,

A_H

PS - other than that, it was a grand ol' day for a ride! Wheee!

[idb]

Hi all -

I went for a nice ride today but I had one problem. I'd like people's opinion on whether it is something I should go to the bike shop about or whether it's likely to be just a oncer or one of those odd things that occasionally happen.

What happened was this: coming along the Hutt Motorway and was approaching a red light, so geared downwards from 5th to 2nd as I was slowing and stopped at the light in 2nd with the clutch in.

Now here's the thing - I couldn't gear down any further (ie. go to N or 1st) although I still could go up. Going up and coming back didn't help - would not go anywhere lower than 2nd. Rolled forward and back a little as I had heard that this can help free up the gear if you're having trouble. Still no dice.

Ended up having to switch engine off so that I could let go the clutch, then re-engage clutch and start up so that I could change down.

Is this something to look into or is it just one of those things that happen with bikes every so often? SOunded and ran fine after I got it back in 1st. Just felt like a dork, stuffing around with my bike at the lights!

CHeers,

A_H

PS - other than that, it was a grand ol' day for a ride! Wheee!

Hmm...owning a Ducati means I know all about not being able to find neutral.
If it doesn't happen again I wouldn't worry about it. it could be one of those odd occasions when the doohickeys get a bit tangled with the whatsits in the gear-box.
Just a thought though, does your clutch drag, by that I mean does your bike still want to creep forward a bit when you are standing still with the clutch in and the bike in gear?

[Jeremy]

Did you hit all of the gears from 5th to 2nd? Or just switch straight down to 2nd?

[Ixion]

If it doesn't reoccur I'd not worry about it. Motorcycle gearboxes are rather odd things, just reckon it as part of life's rich tapestry.

[bobsmith]

Hmmm I don't know why but both on my ZZR and my last FXr I've found that if you come to stop at gears higher than 2nd gear (3rd, 4th , etc , etc) sometimes it will perhaps go down 1 gear from the gear you were in when you stopped (sometimes not even that and even in 2nd gear) and it will not want to change down for some reason.

I find that if you let the clutch out very carefully while holding the brake until it just starts to bite, then bring the clutch in again, you can usually change down the gears.

Otherwise the ideal way of avoiding it is making sure that you change down to 1st just as you come to stop of course.

hope this helps.

[sunhuntin]

i do the same as bobsmith. if i cant get the gear to lock, i gently let the clutch slip enough to engage, and then pull it back in to select the gear i need. remember to hold the brake, otherwise shell leap forwards and stall, and you could fall over. i have more trouble with not changing up fast enough or something and getting stuck in a false neutral. i hate that!

[andrea]

as what the others say above, it happens in my car too when i cant get into gear, i just let the clutch out again and then push the clutch in and slip it into gear. oh and also my bike too "ahem":yes:

[Drum]

If worse comes to worse you could still head off in second anyway couldn't you? Just give it heaps.

[quickbuck]

If worse comes to worse you could still head off in second anyway couldn't you? Just give it heaps.

Or control the release of the clutch as not to stall.

As for the original problem, as Motorcycle gearboxes are sequential then things like this happen all the time. Moral of the story, when coming to a stop, do all the way down to first.

[diggydog]

this does happen from time to time, when this occurs i let the clutch a little just before moving and if this fails, use a bit of sharp rev then engage , this does help at times.:yes: :rockon:

[apteryx_haasti]

Thanks everyone! I will try the clutch thing if it happens again. I was pretty sure that letting the clutch out and in again would fix it, but I didn't think of trying it with the engine still on! I didn't want to jump forwards. Duh - brakes!

I will also remember to go all the way down to first before stopping.

Cheers - I was wondering if it was just some weird motorbike gear box thing. Sounds like yes!

A_H

[Flyingpony]

Sounds like you're just coasting to a stop and clicking down without releasing the clutch during this process. Put a few more revs on the engine and it'll help make it down-shift easier, put engine at something like 2x idle rpm.

[The Pastor]

yeah give it a bit of curry, slip it out a bit and she'll be right mate. Good as gold. Shit hot.

[Pwalo]

As everyone else has said it's not a biggie. Motorcycle gearboxes are sequential, unlike most cars. Most of the time they operate better if you release the clutch lever between each gear change, ie 4th to 3rd, release clutch, 3rd to 2nd ditto.

It's also a good idea to learn how to 'blip' the throttle as you are going down through the gears (from 5th to 1st). To do this the easiest way is to pull the clucth in, blip the throttle (give it a gentle rev), select the next gear, and let the clutch out. It's a sight quicker to do than it is to describe, although it does take a bit of practice.

The idea is that it gives the different different gears a chance to equalize speeds, and make shifting easier and smoother. It also helps lessen the chance of locking up your rear wheel, especially on single and twin cylinder 4 strokes.

[rwh]

It's also a good idea to learn how to 'blip' the throttle as you are going down through the gears (from 5th to 1st). To do this the easiest way is to pull the clucth in, blip the throttle (give it a gentle rev), select the next gear, and let the clutch out. It's a sight quicker to do than it is to describe, although it does take a bit of practice.

The idea is that it gives the different different gears a chance to equalize speeds, and make shifting easier and smoother. It also helps lessen the chance of locking up your rear wheel, especially on single and twin cylinder 4 strokes.

Do people normally do this while on the front brake? I've tried it, but it's quite tricky - more so than heel & toe in a car (depending on pedal layout).

Richard

[Pwalo]

Do people normally do this while on the front brake? I've tried it, but it's quite tricky - more so than heel & toe in a car (depending on pedal layout).

Richard

It's all practice mate, like all skills. I use my thumb, palm and first finger to blip the throttle, and my middle and third finger to control the brake. You can also change down through the gears at the same time.

It sounds tricky, but it really is practice. Break it down in to seperate functions to practice and then put them together.

I sometimes find flicking the indicators while down changing into a corner and blipping the throttle takes a bit of concentration, but if an old chap like I can manage it. Well anyone can.

[quickbuck]

Blipping the throttle is one of those things you do naturally after doing it for many years, so natural you forget you do it.

[Lias]

I used to have a similar problem with not being able to go down from neutral to 1st (or sometimes 2nd to neutral) with my GN250.

Rolling the bike back an inch or two always seemed to suss it out thou. Never did figure out WHY but then again i wasnt really trying to.