Trouble finding neutral...

[roguegeek]

Alright. I got my GS back from the shop last weekend. One of the things I asked them to look at was a problem of finding neutral while the bike is on. They did a clutch adjustment and it's better, but I think it can be much better still. It's still generally hard to find neutral but if I give it a little gas while in 1st or 2nd, I can kick into it. What do ya guys think? Can I get it so that I don't need to play with the throttle just to find neutral? I don't see how someone can do more of a clutch adjustment.

[EDub]

its just the way the little bike is, you dont even notice it after a while and just automatically "blip" the throttle before putting it into neutral with out even realizing it.

[roguegeek]

So wait. This is a normal thing with the GS? Granted it's no big problem at all, but it definitely is an annoyance that I'd rather not deal with.

[94suzuki500]

ya my bike is the same way, just let the clutch out quick till it sorta "jerks" or blip the throttle.  Its easier from 2nd on my bike.  I thought the same thing when I first started riding, its just something to get used to.

[milo]

Yeah, you'll soon learn to ignore it, it's not that big a deal. Some tricks:

1) if it's not popping into neutral, roll the wheels a few inches while pulling  up with your left ankle. It should pop up as the wheels move.

2) Don't pull the clutch all the way in; just pull it most of the way in. Or pull it all the way in and then let it out a little bit.

Seriously, after some time on the bike you won't even notice it anymore.

[roguegeek]

Hmm. Well I understand what everyone is saying and I guess I'll have to learn to live with it. Still, it seems like something that should work the way it's meant to and not something that you should have to work around with these tricks. Is there just something inherently flawed with the clutch design of the GS? I haven't had this problem with the few other bikes I've tried.

[milo]

Seems not so much a design flaw as a quirk.

Which is to say: it may seem like a 'problem' the first couple times you notice it, but it's not something that inhibits the actual functioning of the bike. It works fine, it just works a little differently. It's not dangerous, and it really will become invisible to you soon.

Every machine has quirks. Look at comparable small bikes: the Buell Blast has a tight, unforgiving clutch. Quirk. The EX500 has an annoying superiority complex. Quirk.

[cummuterguy]

The EX500 has an annoying superiority complex. Quirk.

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Susuki_Jah]

going along the same lines of this thread... is the transmission suppose to be so clunky? it sounds clunky somtimes and while  stopped somtimes difficult to put in lower gears AKA kick the f%$k out of it.

[Kerry]

is the transmission suppose to be so clunky? it sounds clunky somtimes and while  stopped somtimes difficult to put in lower gears

This is mostly a self-training issue.  It still happens to me when I get distracted while stopping, but in general you should be shifting down as you slow down.

When I DO find myself stopped in a higher gear, and it doesn't want to shift down, I do the following in quick succession:

Rev it up a tad
Let out the clutch until it JUST starts entering the "friction zone"
Shift down
Pull in the clutch
Let up on the throttle
Repeat until I'm in 1st gear[/list:u]Hope this helps!

[Gisser]

No, I don't think this is a normal problem with the GStwin.  You might try adjusting the clutch lever to minimum free-play to ensure you achieve maximum clutch release when you pull in the lever.  Other tips to minimize clutch drag--which seems to be your problem-- would be to avoid overfilling past the oil level full mark and switch to synthetic oil after break in.  Break in itself should improve the condition as well.

[Cal Price]

It's fairly common to have found neutral but not get a neutral light.