What is with big bikes and gears?!?!?!

[niero]

OK, all I can say is WTF, So Im riding along not hurting a soul (apart from the occasional bumble bee) switch gears 1 ----> 2nd yay, approaching 40km/h ---> *CRUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....CRUUUUNCH*, Whooph, 3rd.", OK, I have the clutch fully in, (right in, defiantly nothing to do with my reflexes, bcoz I pulled the clutch about .5sec. before I switched gears), and it happens when ever she feels like it, it can happen in 5th, or 4th, also when Im going in high RPM it crunches 70% of the time, I swear I have the clutch in, :shit: !!! Also when I shift down gears the following story occurs --- Me : "O Flippin lights have turned red, o well better slow down" shift into 3rd, release clutch ---wroooooommmmmmmmmm ((slowly fading)) (while using a little of the breaking power), pull clutch 2nd --- wrooooooommmmmmmmm ((slowly fading)) Fir.... Crunch --- Neutral---cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunch ---somewhere in between neutral and first---, (Me meanwhile in a nice calming voice " Cmon baby, I will wash you, and wax you tonight, also give you an oil change, I love you... so we got a deal?"), *Dong* (a *dong with attitude, I have even felt the gear change in my body), 1st! Next thing I know Im heartbroken at a red traffic light. I cant keep doing this to my bike, what am i doing wrong guys? Im sure you had those incidents before, (who didnt?!?), it just hurts hearing that sound, and the worst thing it happens and then the next day it doesnt occur at all, and then suddenly every time i shift gears it just doest it. Im sure its not the clutch lever as when I have it fully in and rev the bike it doesnt want to move anywhere. (meaning the clutch fully engages)

Any Ideas? I somewhat suspect I am to blame rather than the bike as she does it when ever she feels like it, not every time.

[Coyote]

The problem I see is you started to bribe the bike. She ain't gonna take any of that shit, she'll do what she bloody well wants to. If she wants something, and ninety nine times out of ten she will, she'll let you know by not working or running poorly.

Let go of the throttle as you shift. The clutch disengages the gearbox from the drivetrain, not the gearbox from the engine. So high revs = gearbox spinning faster.

[Pumba]

I didnt know a RF400 was a big bike:confused:

Apart from that I am no help, but Im sure someone will be along shortly

[T.W.R]

How much cable free-play is there between the lever & the perch??

[FROSTY]

Hows the oil level? How long since ya changed it?
low oil can make for clunky changes.
try slowing the action down --see what happens.
Say this in ya head as you perform each action -dont do the next action till youve counted
"Clutch in"-one thousand
Change gear --one thousand
Clutch out --
If it has no effect -nothing lost -just forget it
If the gear changes get smooth then ya have your answer

[JimO]

you use the clutch to change gears???

[Monsterbishi]

Could it be 15 year old, high mileage-itis?

[homer]

maybe try half clutching it
or your changing to slowly
i had found that the calf clutch approach seem to be very smooth

[niero]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the tips, um first of all, it getting better now, it seeems like half clutching her, and changing the gears instantly works really well, still can be crunchy at times when I am going from 2nd to first but definatly doesnt do it as often, as far as the oil goes, I change it every month or so, so that shouldnt be a problem, but thanks for that, I will definatly keep this on my mind next time she will start doing this agian.
RF400 physically is >almost< the same size as the 600 or even the 900, CC wise, well not really. None the less love her to bits. There is a tad of free play, about 2-3 cm then it starts to engage. The high RPM crunch is not going away though, no matter what I do, she gear crunches on me when ever she feels like it, no matter wether I have waited 1 second after engaging the clutch or went straight for the gear change. All I can do is let the rpm drop to 4'000 and then change gears. But, that shouldnt be the case, it takes like 2 seconds to come down from lets say 16'000, in that time i may eswell drag race a cow and I will still loose. Not that I drag race anyway, but it just frustrates me if you know what I mean.

[jonbuoy]

Do you keep a bit of upwards/downwards pressure on the shifter until the clutch is home?

[T.W.R]

There is a tad of free play, about 2-3 cm then it starts to engage. The high RPM crunch is not going away though, no matter what I do, she gear crunches on me when ever she feels like it, no matter wether I have waited 1 second after engaging the clutch or went straight for the gear change. All I can do is let the rpm drop to 4'000 and then change gears.

:lol:Hope you mean 2-3mm of free play and not 2-3cm!

Sounds more like your friction plates are knackered or partially binding in the clutch basket

[madandy]

Is the linkage rod between the gear change lever and the gear box adjusted correctly?
Have you tried not using the clutch to change gears?

[Ixion]

Not intending anything disrespectful, but how long have you been riding and how many bikes? And has another (experienced) rider tried your machine to see if he gets the same result?

Bear in mind that bike transmissions are nothing like cars.

[niero]

Hey guys, I have been riding for 4 years now, have had an FXR 150, GSXR 250, Rode on R-6 and ducati 998. I havent let anyone ride her (yet), I still remember last time I let my fxr to a friend of mine, he forgot that there was a stand on the bike and when he went to turn the stand caught on something and he fell... and so (sadly) did the bike. O, and yeah I meant 2-3 mm, my bad! I havent tried not using the clutch, I know when racing some people dont use the clutch for upshifting, but what about climbing down gears. And I have never, ever, ever driven a car before lol. Um, I will have a check on the clutch assembly again today, but last time I checked (to my view) everything was fine. Um, I keep the the pressure on the lever until I start disengaging the clutch, then I return my foot to the peg, does it make any diffrence?! I mean the cracking occurs during the gear change not after.

Many thanks

Nikolai

[Monsterbishi]

Changing gears isin't a huge science, if it's crunching so easily, it's most likely the gearbox needs mechanical attention more than just fluid changes.

[Tony.OK]

Check the chain tension while your at it,too tight and it will cause harsh changes,and too loose it'll slap badly if you're not smooth with it.
My VTR used to have a crap gearbox,I started using SPECTRO GOLD oil and it was like a different gearbox.

You only change up without the clutch,preload the shift lever and as soon as ya let the throttle off it'll snick up a gear

[FJRider]

I didnt know a RF400 was a big bike:confused:



What he said.
Cable or hydraulic, there SHOULD be adjusters there...somewhere.
I wonder if you have ANY clutch plates left...intact.

[Skinny_Birdman]

I used to find the 'bird a bit clonky, especially when it was warm. I found that only using two fingers on the clutch (seems to make my action more smoove), and clutchless upshifts where possible (haven't figured out how to go 1st to 2nd without the clutch)made all the difference :clap:
A guy rides an RF600R past me (I'm walking)on the way to work every morning and it clonks and clatters its way thru the gears. :puke:

[niero]

Check the chain tension while your at it,too tight and it will cause harsh changes,and too loose it'll slap badly if you're not smooth with it.
My VTR used to have a crap gearbox,I started using SPECTRO GOLD oil and it was like a different gearbox.

You only change up without the clutch,preload the shift lever and as soon as ya let the throttle off it'll snick up a gear

OMG, it actually worked I replaced the back, front sprockets and the chain and had the gearbox taken apart and put back together again, it finaly makes smooth transitions, wow what a difference, thanks to all who have contributed the help is much appreciated.

Ride Safely everyone

Nikolai