False Neutral

**bear** · 25th January 2005, 11:23

Coming through to Wanganui from Raetihi yesterday and hit a false neutral for the first time on my bike yesterday. Doesn't usually do that, thought the chain had come off! And then another one after Wanganui. Both were on down changes.
Is this normal? Does it mean the gear selector/gear box might be wearing or in need of a big job soon? Or do I just have to be a little more forceful?

**vifferman** · 25th January 2005, 11:24

Is your chain correctly adjusted and lubed?

**XTC** · 25th January 2005, 11:27

Is your gear linkage all nice and tight? not getting a little sloppy? Definately not a lazy foot prob? I would be more concerned if it was jumping out of gear. How many K's on the bandit?

**bear** · 25th January 2005, 11:29

Got new chain and sprockets about 1000km ago, she's all lubed and not loose or anything. Never jumped out of gear either. Bandit's got 26,500 miles on it.

**bugjuice** · 25th January 2005, 12:00

even my bike sometimes does that. I put it down to me being a little too lazy and not pulling up or pushing down hard enough on the lever. I'd make sure it's all nice and tight around there (linkages etc) and then make sure that you change gear properly. If you can make it do it at will, then you might have a problem, but you might find it's a lack of concentration at the time.. Tis for me anyway..

**BM-GS** · 25th January 2005, 12:23

Never had a gearbox fault that did that, only the operator type - usually a lazy foot not pushing/pulling hard enough or at the right time.

If it won't engage or jumps out, it's the gearbox, if it only occasionally gets a false neutral it's more likely to be the foot than the box. Suzuki boxes are usually pretty good, so maybe you can get away with more than on an old lump like a BMW...

Ride for a bit, and if it's definitely doing wrong when you're doing right, seek mechanical advice.

**Yokai** · 25th January 2005, 12:33

I don't get false neutrals - I get "Can't find neutrals" ... Ride the bike for a while and change down coming to a stop. Wanna put the stand down. Change into Neut..No not second... First... Neu - BUGGER! - Always - So now I just kill the darn thing in first. Pop it into Neutral then.... ANy clues?

**Pwalo** · 25th January 2005, 12:35

They all do that sir. Well not quite. They can all do that if you are a bit sloppy with your changes.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, unless it's a regular occurence, or it's between particular gears. Changing from first to second is usually the one that catches most people out. Probably need to be a little firmer with the changes. Could even be that you were a bit tired, which can make coordinating clutch lever/gear pedal a bit awkward.

**inlinefour** · 25th January 2005, 12:54

Originally Posted by bear

Coming through to Wanganui from Raetihi yesterday and hit a false neutral for the first time on my bike yesterday. Doesn't usually do that, thought the chain had come off! And then another one after Wanganui. Both were on down changes.
Is this normal? Does it mean the gear selector/gear box might be wearing or in need of a big job soon? Or do I just have to be a little more forceful?

Its not something to get too worried about as far as I'm concerned. Generally happens to me when my foot has gone to sleep and I do a lazy gear change

**Fryin Finn** · 25th January 2005, 13:03

My SRX hits neutral on gear changes every now and then, but it is 18 years old and you know how lazy teenagers can be.

**750Y** · 25th January 2005, 13:09

i agree with most of the guys here, foot, not box problem. Just be careful and make a concerted effort to nail it into each gear. If You are riding quick through twisties etc & You miss a gear, things can turn to shit in a split second & you can end up running wide or worse. I'd check the linkages etc are not loose and keep an eye on it for a while. good luck...

**clint640** · 25th January 2005, 14:17

If all of the above don't work & ya still have a nagging false neutral somewhere, it's often not that big a deal to take off the shift star & give it a bit of a massage with a file to sharpen up the point between the two offending gears, the neutral groove can also be deepened if finding that is the issue.
Probably not a job for the inexperienced though.

Cheers
Clint

**bear** · 25th January 2005, 14:28

Thanks guys, only did it twice over 450km's, so hopefully a lazy shift

**JohnBoy** · 25th January 2005, 14:57

i have for the been going from hams to welly (return) on my bike once every 5 -6 months for the last 2 years.
my bike will prob hit false neutral a couple of times on a trip, also i find it when under heavy engine brakes (ie track day).

the g box on the zed an't the slickest and after 45k km shes stating to show its age. but looking at having it overhauled in the next couple of months.

**Mencius** · 25th January 2005, 15:56

Originally Posted by Yokai

I don't get false neutrals - I get "Can't find neutrals" ... Ride the bike for a while and change down coming to a stop. Wanna put the stand down. Change into Neut..No not second... First... Neu - BUGGER! - Always - So now I just kill the darn thing in first. Pop it into Neutral then.... ANy clues?

It's an SRV. It has no neutral!
Except of course when I'm practicing second gear changes.....

Ang