Honda Hornet gearboxes

[Gizzit]

What the guts on Hornet gearbox's ? Mine seems to click up into gear, but it has a second click, like it's not quite into gear fully, and has a second small click.
Has anyone experienced this on any Honda's, but particularly other Hornet owners ?
Thanks.

[MotoGirl]

Mine seems to click up into gear, but it has a second click, like it's not quite into gear fully, and has a second small click.

My VTR never did this (but it religiously crunched into second). Funnily enough though, my Aprilia does this going into sixth gear so I'd like to know what causes it.

:corn:

[Sketchy_Racer]

My hornet 600 does the same. honda never did seem to make a great gearbox eh

[dipshit]

My hornet 600 does the same. honda never did seem to make a great gearbox eh

A CB900 I once had completely lost top gear. A friend's CBR900 keeps jumping out of 2nd gear.

I can never understand why motorcycle journalists keep wanking on about Honda build quality and reliability...???

If any Jap bike is going to blow its engine to bits or lunch its gearbox or start burning excessive amounts of oil... its probably going to be a Honda.

[vifferman]

Every Honda I've had has either had - or ended up with - a bad gearbox. Never so bad that I lost gears or anything, just false neutrals, graunch going into second, etc. The current one was the best I'd ridden, but despite fitting an Evo Star shifter kit, it too misbehaves from time to time.
But then I am an serial gearbox wrecker....

[Trudes]

Haven't had any problems with mine, so now that I've said that it is bound to crap itself now, thanks! I hit false neutral occasionally, but that probably has more to do with my gentle foot action than the gearbox.

[NOMIS]

Ive found a false neautral between 4th and 5th once, a few times its clicked into 2nd but then droped back to neutral

[vifferman]

I hit false neutral occasionally, but that probably has more to do with my gentle foot action than the gearbox.
I had to bend my gearlever down to prevent that (the VFR has a shitty gear lever without the micro-adjustability that other models have).

[Gizzit]

Every Honda I've had has either had - or ended up with - a bad gearbox. Never so bad that I lost gears or anything, just false neutrals, graunch going into second, etc. The current one was the best I'd ridden, but despite fitting an Evo Star shifter kit, it too misbehaves from time to time.
But then I am an serial gearbox wrecker....

Pretty poor eh! Honda is supposed to be well made. I wish I knew about this problem before I laid down the cash. I wonder if it's "fixable" as my bike is brand new and under warranty.
It goes in for it's first service on Thursday and I have spoken to the service manager about the problem so he's going to take it for a ride and see what he thinks.

It sounds as if it's quite common though, which is a pain in the ass, as these are otherwise an awesome bike!

[Gizzit]

I had to bend my gearlever down to prevent that (the VFR has a shitty gear lever without the micro-adjustability that other models have).

Funny, the service manager was saying a similar thing about making an adjustment to the lever to put it further down to help solve that problem. That just sounds like it will make it an unnatural foot angle and a bit uncomfortable when changing up !

[Gizzit]

Haven't had any problems with mine, so now that I've said that it is bound to crap itself now, thanks! I hit false neutral occasionally, but that probably has more to do with my gentle foot action than the gearbox.

I hope it doesn't become a problem for you! Keep everything crossed that it won't :blink:

[Gizzit]

My VTR never did this (but it religiously crunched into second). Funnily enough though, my Aprilia does this going into sixth gear so I'd like to know what causes it.

:corn:

Mmmmmm Bugger ! Must be a "bike" problem !! lol :shit: Maybe need to trade them in and get Mobility Scoots !! :eek:

[MotoGirl]

Mmmmmm Bugger ! Must be a "bike" problem !! lol :shit: Maybe need to trade them in and get Mobility Scoots !! :eek:

Yeah, I hear the batteries continuously go flat though. :rofl:

[Goblin]

First adjustment I made to my Hornet was moving the gear lever down a notch or two to make shifting up easier.(small feet) Never had any problem changing gears. It's smooth and easy all the way up and down the gears.

[Gizzit]

First adjustment I made to my Hornet was moving the gear lever down a notch or two to make shifting up easier.(small feet) Never had any problem changing gears. It's smooth and easy all the way up and down the gears.

Yes that's what the service manager has in mind I think. I haven't had any issues changing down, only up. I haven't missed a change so far, just that it isn't "positive" when selecting, and has a kind of second bite at it. It is definitely two movements, and I feel like from the first movement, it is sufficiently in gear not to jump out, but it takes a second very small movement anyway when you still have some upward pressure on the lever. It's an unnerving feeling, and not what I expect from a new bike having done just over 1000 K's. It could be nothing to worry about .... but I'm pissed off as it's the only thing that lets down an otherwise brilliant bike!
Thanks for the input. I hope the lever position change makes a difference.
Cheers.

[Goblin]

Thanks for the input. I hope the lever position change makes a difference.
Cheers.No worries. Let us know how it goes. :)

[pritch]

My Hornet never gave any shift problems unless the chain was in need of adjustment, but then that was my fault and easily fixed. While the Honda boxes may not be as slick as Suzuki's finest I haven't heard of them giving problems either. (Touches wood...)

If it's under warranty you have the remedy - provided that there is actually a problem with the gearbox.

[T bone]

I moved my pedal downwards to give me a better angle to shift it at, I have no worries shifting gears unless I get lazy going from 1st to 2nd, but thats just me. Otherwise its silky smooth:love:

[AllanB]

No need to panic yet.

I had that happen twice early on - both times were from lazy shifting so my bad.

I've had no problem since the first 1000kms or so (7,000 now after a year of ownership).

What the dealer will be doing is lowering the shifter a few degrees so your up-shifts are full and complete.

The Hornet 900 has a pretty firm box early on - this will free up a lot after you get a good 3-4,000 kms or more on it.

Mines very sweet now and a dam site better than the Suzuki I had before.

Now where are those pictures of your new pipes and seat :clap:

[Gizzit]

I moved my pedal downwards to give me a better angle to shift it at, I have no worries shifting gears unless I get lazy going from 1st to 2nd, but thats just me. Otherwise its silky smooth:love:

Thanks T bone, thats good to hear. Sounds like the pedal angle adjustment may help solve the issue a bit. It will be interesting to hear what the mechanics say.
Cheers.

[JeremyW]

Mine is an 06 which I think sat in the showroom for a few months, I got it at 8k and the gearbox has gotten so much better over the 3.5k I have done on it (in just over a month!).

I dont get any false neutrals and the shift is quite positive, I did miss a few gears at high rpm to start with but its all good now. Damn site better than the KTM 690 I rode a few times! That would almost religiously hit false neutrals!

[Choco]

Havent had any problems with mine unless you...


clicked into 2nd but then droped back to neutral

Mine does that if you clutchless shift 1st to 2nd badly.

Apart from that it's all good!
EDIT: i have my lever adjusted WAY down. why? coz it's comfortable.

[TOTO]

Yes , my Hooligan (900) has similar issue, but I think I have a THEORY what the problem is. If the revvs are too low for the next gear it doesnt engage. I discovered this as I try to keep it in the highest gear possible around town due to the super extremely loud virgin exhaust and I dont wanna attract attention from the smurfs. but yea , try to keep it in lower gear - say 3rd instead of 4th or 4th instead of 5th, and shif gears slightly higher in the revv range.

This is my THEORY so it may not be right, but it works for me.

[wharfy]

A CB900 I once had completely lost top gear. A friend's CBR900 keeps jumping out of 2nd gear.

I can never understand why motorcycle journalists keep wanking on about Honda build quality and reliability...???

If any Jap bike is going to blow its engine to bits or lunch its gearbox or start burning excessive amounts of oil... its probably going to be a Honda.

I've done over 92,000 km on my Hornet, ride to work every day as well as tour and weekend fangs. PLUS Hill climb, Drag race and Road Race and it has never missed a beat - I have missed a gear change a couple of times racing but that was my fault. The only service is Oil, filter and spark plug changes (which I do myself) they are impossible to kill !!!

[Gizzit]

No need to panic yet.

I had that happen twice early on - both times were from lazy shifting so my bad.

I've had no problem since the first 1000kms or so (7,000 now after a year of ownership).

What the dealer will be doing is lowering the shifter a few degrees so your up-shifts are full and complete.

The Hornet 900 has a pretty firm box early on - this will free up a lot after you get a good 3-4,000 kms or more on it.

Mines very sweet now and a dam site better than the Suzuki I had before.

Now where are those pictures of your new pipes and seat :clap:

I think lowering the gear lever will be helpful. And as you and others have said, more K's on the bike will mean a freeing up of the tight gearbox that I presently have. I haven't missed gear changes, it's a minor gripe at the moment I guess, but I was concerned that it is a real fault and something that really needs sorting under warranty. However, I have a really good Honda Team here in Whangarei, and I trust their advice and judgment. My bike goes in for it's 1st service on Thursday, and we will go over the gearbox issue then.
I am appreciating the input of all the Hornet owners who are encouraging regarding the strength and reliability of the bike, and that the issue is probably only very minor.
I'm really loving this bike. It has to be the best bang for your buck around!
Cheers.

Hi Allan,
The pics are on my profile. I also have a post under "general bike ravings" with pics of the seat.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=83783

[Goblin]

So....how is it after the service? Did you adjust the lever?

[Armitage Shanks]

From memory my C50 steppy from 76 never had a problem, all 3 gears worked like a treat ........

[Gizzit]

So....how is it after the service? Did you adjust the lever?

Yes the bike is going great .... it's a bit easier with the gear lever lowered down further, .... but there still is a second click if you keep your weight/lifting action on the lever. A bit of a puzzle really. The mechanic explained something about it, which went over my head .... but essentially it isn't a problem.
If I just lightly flick up through the gears ... it doesn't seem to miss gears anywhere, and it doesn't happen. I'm used to being a bit more positive about each change up, as that's how I learned to ride .... about 38 years ago, when I had a two stroke single that was a bastard at missing gears!

I think the bottom line is that Honda gearboxes are pretty bullet proof, clunky or not.
It may settle down if I give it a good thrashing over the next few thousand K's !!!! :2thumbsup
,

[xwhatsit]

From memory my C50 steppy from 76 never had a problem, all 3 gears worked like a treat ........
My Super Cub shifts like a truck :laugh:

Those automatic clutch things are hideous.

Pillioning on the back of a GiJoe's Hornet 900, you could feel the thunk when shifting gears from the pillion seat, heh. But then again, a (Yamaha) TRX850 was worse unless you were trying to hoof along a bit.

[skidMark]

My hornet 600 does the same. honda never did seem to make a great gearbox eh


At least they were consistant with the rest of the bike too.
:girlfight:

[vifferman]

I think the bottom line is that Honda gearboxes are pretty bullet proof, clunky or not.
It may settle down if I give it a good thrashing over the next few thousand K's !!!! :2thumbsup
,
Nup, not really, so you're better to not thrash it. Or to see if there's an Evo Star shifter kit available for it, and fit it before it gets worse.
Another thing I discovered is oil makes a difference. My VFR is quite happy and smooth running on Motul 5100 15W50 (a semi-synthetic), but not so happy on Motul 10W40 (which is what I was last sold for it), and expensive full synthetics like Mobil 1 4T are somewhere in the middle in terms of graunchiness.

[Goblin]

Yes the bike is going great ....

snip

I think the bottom line is that Honda gearboxes are pretty bullet proof, clunky or not.
It may settle down if I give it a good thrashing over the next few thousand K's !!!! :2thumbsup
,Great to hear.

I agree. The Hondas I have owned (read, thrashed!) have been bloody marvelous! Had my Hornet since May and done nearly 8k kms so far, including some time on Taupo track. So has had some thrashing but never missed a beat. Gearbox has always been as smooth as silk but I didn't buy it new, already had 12000 ks on it. Just run in really.

Hope you enjoy many trouble free miles on your Hornet. :niceone: