1st gear is bit more jerky after not riding for a few months

[anoopb]

My GS is garage kept so i don't really bother covering it or anything.

I warmed him up on saturday night (boy did that take some time)

I rode around a little bit but 1st gear was way more jerky than it had been in the past.

is this normal for bikes that haven't been ridden in a while?

[Zethioth]

The oil sits into the all the gears and the clutch plates. After several years they could deposit and cause stickyness, but I would not think that after a few months.

Was the oil that was sitting in the bike old while it sat?
Was it better afterwards while riding than when you first began to rode?

[jestercinti]

I have one thought:  GAS

Did you use stabilizer?  How long did it sit?  A month or 2, OK.  Takes a while for an air cooled engine to warm up.  Then there may have been moisture in the engine/oil.  A little is OK...it will just evaporate.

Three or more months sitting probably old gas.  If it's been 5-6 months or older...dump out the gas and put in fresh gas IF no stabilizer is used.  Ethanol turns into junk after only a few months.  Thank you Al Gore!  Also run some Sea-foam through it.  I use stabilizer if I don't replace the gas for a month.  Maybe overkill, but it takes only a few minutes.

[jestercinti]

One thing I'll add...if better gas (for engine jerks) doesn't work...
And if an oil change (for clutch jerks) doesn't work...

Try cleaning and adjusting the clutch plates in Kerosene:  http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=62991.msg741842#msg741842

[anoopb]

I did put stabil in late last year but i forgot to fill up the tank. i might go get some fresh gas in there today.

it's only in first gear that this happens. once i shift, it's smooth but not nearly as fast.

i'll keep riding it around and see if that fixes it.

i'll look into the cleaning as well. hope it doesn't need it.

[ToneZone]

Let me know what you come up with. I recently bought my bike and it has similar symptoms, fine in every gear but jerky in first. I haven't been able to get the bike on any good rides though since it's has a bald front tire (putting a new one on today). Will let you know if I come up with any solutions.

[anoopb]

my gas tank is virtually bone dry!

i'm going to get some fresh and good gas in it tomorrow and see how it goes.

how could i have let this happen?!

[redhawkdancing]

If the fresh gas doesn't do it,  drop in a little bit of Lucas Oil Fuel Treatment! 

[noiseguy]

Yes, typical on bikes that are not ridden frequently. Few tanks of gas should clear it up.

Also, check your chain tension.

[ToneZone]

Yeah, so I put a good tire on my bike so I was willing to actually ride it more than up and down the block. I think it's gas for sure, I put a fresh gallon on top of whatever was on the tank thinking magical osmosis would some how make all the gas better. Well it was a little better but had stutters under load and died at stops at least half the times I came to a complete stop. I will try some stabilizer and see if that clears it up, I really don't want to have to dump the gas.

[jonathanhly]

I have been having this problem as well, but I (incorrectly?) was just thinking that as I new rider I hadn't quite mastered the clutch yet. But I know have 700 miles on the bike and still have the problem. First gear, low speed jerking. Only at very low speed such as manuevering in a parking lot, or making a U-turn. My bike is a 2001 and only has 5,000 miles, so it sat for a LONG time. Should I think about cleaning the clutch plates? Gas is good, and has had a few fuel tanks run through it.