issue shifting to 1st?

[niteshade]

wondering something...

sometimes when shifting down it's hard to find 1st gear.  Especially when at a stop light... I'm in second, say, and I shift down, and it can only find neutral.  Doesn't happen every time, but often enough.

Also, when the bike is in neutral and I do make first, the tranny sometimes falls into gear with a moderate "ka-thunk" sound.  Is this normal, or bad?  Guy at the shop says I may need a clutch adjustment.

[Turd Ferguson]

Everything you describe sounds normal to me...not indicative of needing a clutch adjustment.  I believe it was Alpha who offered the great suggestion to get the bike into 1st when it doesn't want to.  If you pull the clutch in and try to kick it into first, but it doesn't want to go...simply let the clutch out, pull it back in and try again.  This seems to always work for me.  If that doesn't work, you might need to roll the bike back and forth a few inches while trying to get into first.

Nextly, the clunk when shifting to first is normal as long as the bike isn't lurching forward or anything.  The "clunk" is most typical after start up, as the clutch plates are not completely lubed, causing some friction between them.

-Turd.

[MarkusN]

When you can't get into gear, let the clutch out a bit while applying pressure to the shift lever. That'll make the gear slip in.

[pandy]

My GS did the same thing, and my SVS does, too. Usually double-clutching will get me into first, or moving my bike slightly forward or slightly backward.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

fd4

[MarkusN]

Actually, BMW's used to be notorious for their clunky gearboxes. That's some time back, though. (eighties)

[niteshade]

groovy... thanks everybody.  Sets my mind at ease a little.

[Caffeine]

The clunk is normal.   I even hear it on my friends' bikes at stoplights, including much more expensive bikes.   

And I use the roll-back method to get it into first at stoplights, but it isn't necessary very often.   

[bargovic]

I try not to shift much when I'm not moving.

Yeah it took me all of 2 or 3 rides to get used to shifting to first before I stop.  I never really have the problem now unless im trying to leave a parking spot.

[Alphamazing]

Everything you describe sounds normal to me...not indicative of needing a clutch adjustment.  I believe it was Alpha who offered the great suggestion to get the bike into 1st when it doesn't want to.  If you pull the clutch in and try to kick it into first, but it doesn't want to go...simply let the clutch out, pull it back in and try again.  This seems to always work for me.  If that doesn't work, you might need to roll the bike back and forth a few inches while trying to get into first.

I was just about to write that, but decided it would be a good idea to read the prior posts. Good thing I did, I would have looked silly.

[galahs]

My bike also makes a grating sound as you shift it into first when you first start it. Sounds awfull. Glad to hear it normal