Just got my '04 GS500 and took it for it's first spin... lovin' it so far (plus, getting plenty of looks :-)... though, I'm having a little trouble with getting it into first gear easily... (downshifts into N with no problem... but hangs a bit (once in a while) when I try to get goin' again and getting it into 1st) hopefully I'll get the hang of it after a little while... or is this a problem that I'll just have to live with?
Let the clutch out a little and it should drop into first easier.
i had the same problem... that always happened when i was comming to a stop with clutch and front brake held down until i was completely stopped... but i realized... i had to let go of the clutch and re-grip the clutch to get into the first gear... i dont know why... but it worked that way...
Hmm (let off on the clutch a bit or completely), I'll give that a try today... thanks guys.
Wait for it to break in. Mine had that whole 1st gear problem. It should go away. I was always scared to go into Neutral at a stop light when my bike was new cuz it wouldnt kick back into first. Just try releasing the clutch or rolling back and forth. That usually helps. It really sucks when you can't get the damn bike into gear while you have people waiting behind you at a green light. It's so embarassing. Like I said though it should go away with time. Also don't be afraid to kick those gears in hard if there not going. I'm pretty sure the shifter won't snap off unless your the hulk or something.
Yeah I can't just relax at the light when in neutral. I have to be ready to roll the bike forward a bit just in case it won't get into 1st.
Another embarrasing thing is trying to roll from a stoplight in second. Stalled at a hill stoplight once, line of cars behind, I barely made it through the light after restarting, rolling, shifting into first, then going. The car behind me made it too, but everyone else got caught by the red light. Got outta there quick hoping the angry cagers didn't catch up. LOL...
i neva really use the neutral to be honest. only when im about to park my bike. i just hold the clutch down when im at a light or at a stop and let it slowly out until it grips and im out zoomin away. only reason i do it cuz mah friend got hit by a car cuz he had his bike in N(and i got stuck in gear) and if it woulda been in gear he might have been able to drive away
If you've heard this already, good, but if you havn't...always treat the shift lever like it is glass. Kicking it forcefully with your heel is the worst thing you can do to your transmission. Like the others said, give the clutch a couple of squeezes and roll the bike a bit. On a rare occasion a soft kick is the only thing that will get you in gear but use it only as a last resort.
just a couple of things from my own personal experience...
don't let go off the clutch completely, just let it off until you are in the "friction zone." this and a little bit of roll (i mean just a touch) will make it slide into first no prob. if you have trouble finding the sweet spot, you can apply gentle steady pressure on the shift lever while slowly releasing the clutch and rolling (again just a touch).
also, i have noticed that i get this "problem" most often when i shift down several gears with the clutch in all the way. (like when you come up on a red light and are just click click cliking it down.) letting the clutch out a bit every couple of gears, while i'm shifting down, usually makes shifting into first no problem.
last, but not least, during my MSF course, i had been told repeatedly that sitting at a light in neutral is a bad idea. and it's an especially bad idea if you are the last person in line. they always said, stop at an angle, so that you're pointing past the car in front of you, and check your mirrors while standing still.
i have the exact opposite problem... goes into first no problem, shifts into every gear no problem... but is tough as hell to get into neutral. Tried adjusting the clutch every which way, but doesn't matter.
Any suggestions?
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LIFE should NOT be a journey to the GRAVE with the intention of arriving SAFELY in an attractive and well PRESERVED body, but rather to SKID in sideways, CIGAR in one hand, favorite beverage in the other, body thoroughly USED UP, totally WORN OUT, and screaming WOW - WHAT A RIDE!
Yeah, common problem (mine is like nisus1, likes to be in 1st or 2nd but not neutral... I guess my bike likes to ride... :) ). Anyway there seem to be three solutions:
1) if you're holding the clutch all the way in, let it out a bit -- not all the way to the friction zone, just a few millimeters should do it.
2) use your feet to roll the wheels back and forth a bit
3) make sure the bike is topped up with fresh, clean oil. Everytime I give it an oil change I immediately notice smoother shifting.
Thanks for the advices, I'll need it too. I keep stalling it in parking lots :oops:
It's easy to shift down into first when the bike is moving. As I come to a stop, I shift down into first when the bike gets down to about walking speed. I press down gently, and hear the "click-click" as it hits neutral then first.
The problem I have, is in the morning, with a cold engine, I need to leave the choke on for a few minutes. With a bit of choke, the bike wants to idle at 2k RPM. If I try to do the "low speed downshift" into first, with the engine at 2k RPM, I get a loud clunk (ouch!). With any less choke, the bike kills: it's 2k+ RPM, or nothing. At times like that, it seems best to downshift to first at a bit higher speed. But I still get it wrong often.
Quote from: DomKicking it forcefully with your heel is the worst thing you can do to your transmission. quote]
shaZam!. i have on a dozen occasions kicked teh lever as hard as i could. oops.
Quote from: Rema1000The problem I have, is in the morning, with a cold engine, I need to leave the choke on for a few minutes. With a bit of choke, the bike wants to idle at 2k RPM. If I try to do the "low speed downshift" into first, with the engine at 2k RPM, I get a loud clunk (ouch!). With any less choke, the bike kills: it's 2k+ RPM, or nothing. At times like that, it seems best to downshift to first at a bit higher speed. But I still get it wrong often.
how does engine speed affect shifting, if you're pulling the clutch in?