Clutch, gear problems

[axexandru]

Hy all,

I am new here and I hope to find some answers.

I have a GS500F from 2005 that has some problems with the clutch or the gear shifter. When the engine is cold it works just fine, after a few minutes of riding, when I stop at a red light, and put the bike in neutral, I have some problems shifting into first gear, or second, sometimes it helps if I give it some throttle, but today it simply did not want to shift into first or second. I stoped the engine and after I started it again it worked. Any ideas?

Thanks and have safe journeys.

Alex

[Slack]

Normally rolling the bike forward or backwards a few inches (depending upon which is easier) is all that's needed. The cogs in the sequential transmission just happened to line up. Nothing wrong with the bike. It's about the only negative to having a sequential transmission.
However if you need to change your oil it could exacerbate shifting issues.

[axexandru]

Hy Slack,

Thanks for the answer, I will try moving the bike forward or backwards next time it will happen to me, today I just stopped the engine and started it again and it worked.

Thanks,
Alex

[axexandru]

Quick question ... I don't need to change the oil right now, it's new, but when I will have to change it, what could I do to prevent more shifting issues?

[Rallyfan]

Keep the correct level, type, and viscosity of oil.

Adjust the clutch cable and lever as described in the periodic maintenance; top and bottom.

If in neutral, release the lever then pull it again fully. This may avoid balking and engage 1st.

Rocking back/forth may also help.

[Joolstacho]

Alex, a lot of newbies have problems finding neutral when stopped (say at lights), but you have the opposite problem.
Try this: snick it into neutral just before you come to a stop, don't wait until you've stopped. It may take a little practise, try just easing the gearlever into neutral just before you come to a halt. (Bike gearboxes LOVE this!) Rocking the bike in neutral isn't going to help you I fear, - that works with the opposite problem.
It's possible your selector is binding because you select neutral when you are stopped and the mechanism can't free itself properly, so when you try to get into gear again it's binding a bit.
Just an idea.

[Atesz792]

OR, don't ever put the bike in neutral outside your garage!
Keep it in first, clutch pulled in, and keep an eye on the rearview mirrors, so you can see if the car driver behind you noticed you & is slowing down. Also have an escape route prepared.
Paranoia saves lives my friend.

[axexandru]

That is what I am doing right now, I don't put the bike in neutral, but from what I know it's not a very good practice for the clutch cable and also for my left hand )

I will try to put it in neutral before i come to a full stop, I have a feeling that it's not going to be easy but I wil try.

[Atesz792]

Some people quick-tie the clutch lever for the night, some even for the whole winter(!), so their clutch doesn't stick in the morning (no clunk going into 1st).
Now that, I believe, may not be good for the clutch components, hence I don't do that, but just regular use will not hurt it. Also your left hand could always use a workout.

[ShowBizWolf]

I try to just leave the bike in gear when I stop too. Sometimes however if I know I have to open my visor and adjust my glasses or I know I am at a stoplight that is going to take forEVER I click into neutral before I stop... it seems to work really well for getting rid of the no shift problem when that light finally turns green 

OH and welcome to the forum! !

[Joolstacho]

OR, don't ever put the bike in neutral outside your garage!
Keep it in first, clutch pulled in, and keep an eye on the rearview mirrors, so you can see if the car driver behind you noticed you & is slowing down. Also have an escape route prepared.
Paranoia saves lives my friend.

That's ignoring the main problem (difficulty engaging gear) only to replace it with another problem (fast-wearing clutch components). Sort out the actual mechanical problem!
Sitting in gear (say at traffic lights) holding the clutch in is by no means good practice, as any number of things can happen that could cause you to inadvertently drop the clutch and see you hurtling right into the path of cross-moving traffic. Deadly habit! Assuming you are in neutral It takes only a fraction of a second to put it into gear and move out of the way of a car coming up behind you. But that's why you need to solve the difficulty getting into gear problem, so you can easily find first gear. No need for paranoia, you just need awareness of ALL the possibilities.

[gsJack]

I've always kept the bike in gear at stops and believe it's safer and not a deadly habit.  I've survived over 400k miles on 6 bikes that way, 4 Hondas and 2 GS500s and all can be a bit quirky getting into gear occasionally.  It's the nature of bike trannys.

I rarely have the bike in neutral outside of the garage, works for me.  And it's not a fast wear problem on the GSs either as far as I've experienced.  Put 80k miles on my 97 GS and over 100k on my current 02 GS with no clutch or clutch actuating component problems.

Make sure your clutch is properly adjusted with a 3 point adjustment as shown in the shop manual, use good oil of the proper viscosity, and don't overfill.

[Janx101]

.... what was I gonna say again? ... oh yeah! ... practice practice practice and more familiarity with this particular quirk always helps. ..

A lot of folks are too tender in action when using the shifter. .. you don't have to Hulk Smash it! .. but it's best to be firm and positive in foot action! . 

Yes it is a problem on the gs500. .. and on a number of other bikes. .. but knowing/checking to rule out/correct any mechanical issues with the clutch, shifter and cables. ... I think the main problem is normally new owner user error! ... it's no big drama... just don't baby tap the thing!

[axexandru]

Hy,

Thanks for the welcome ShowBizWolf, also, thanks for all the answers, I will try everything that was suggested and report back with what worked best for me. Right now I just shift the bike into first gear while I stop, so this way I am not going to disturb any driver that is behind me, if I have any problems shifting into first.

I also tried shifting into neutral while still rolling, just before a full stop, did not manage to do that, I will try again.

I did not buy the bike new, so I don't know when the clutch was last time adjusted with a 3 point adjustment, I will try to do it this weekend.

Thanks again for all the replies, great community out here.

[Joolstacho]

Jack, you've obviously never had a wasp fly up into your helmet whilst sitting at the lights! That's guaranteed to have you involuntarily dropping the clutch as you desperately try to get it out. I've seen blokes accidentally drop the clutch just by absent-mindely reaching to adjust their mirror at the lights. Different strokes eh?
Me? over 50 years riding on about 23 bikes, -(I've never counted up the k's).
I never ever ride the clutch, but that's just me. But I really, really would like to wise up some of our newbie mates before they kill themselves.

[gsJack]

No Jools I have never had a wasp inside my helmet but I did catch a small bee in my mouth once while riding.  It was under my tongue and flicking my tongue rapidly I managed to get it up and spit it out inside the helmet chin bar and then got it out of there with my right index finger as I came to a stop.  Saw it bounce off the tank to confirm it's identity.   

My son now 61 started riding in his teens so he must have about 45 years or so in by now but I've only been at it for 30 years myself.  I think that's about it for me as far as riding goes, finished radiation treatments a couple weeks ago and now waiting 2 months till they scan again to see results.   

[Atesz792]

My son now 61 started riding in his teens so he must have about 45 years or so in by now but I've only been at it for 30 years myself.  I think that's about it for me as far as riding goes, finished radiation treatments a couple weeks ago and now waiting 2 months till they scan again to see results.

Get well soon, Jack!
We're counting on you out here

[Slack]

I watched a video last night of a guy accidentally dropping the clutch while sitting at a stop sign. He shot straight forward and T-Boned the side of a semi driving past him at 60 mph.  If he had dropped the clutch 1/2 second earlier he would have been dead.
Hope your well soon Jack.  You still have a lot of miles to ride.

[Malfruen]

Unless I know I'm going to be idling for a long period, I leave it in gear with my right foot firmly planted on the brakeS. Knock on wood, no issues thus far.

[axexandru]

Sorry to hear that gsJack, hope you will get well soon.