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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Frost on April 06, 2004, 09:13:28 AM

Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: Frost on April 06, 2004, 09:13:28 AM
after the bike warms up or been riding for a while...it's very hard to get it into neutral...
anyone know why?
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: Turkina on April 06, 2004, 09:33:24 AM
Do you have a little trouble downshifting as well?  Check your oil level maybe :)
Title: The 91 ...
Post by: The Buddha on April 06, 2004, 11:47:40 AM
My 91 with 7700 miles shifts between gears like butter... beautiful... just nidge it and it shifts with a soft click... the 89 with 45K miles is clunkier... Nudge to shift but more clunk than click... but the 89 gets to neutral easier... than the 91. I think with age they shift to neutral easier... but make for clunkier shifts.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: djplumking on April 06, 2004, 06:30:06 PM
I got the '04 and I think I've hit neutral intentionally once. It seems trickier than my previous bike that seemed to prefer to sit there and not any other gear. Plus, I'm still having problems with 1st, too - I figured out just before my test ride was over that I wasn't starting in 1st, I was going in 2nd (explaining why I stalled so many times), but does anyone know a good way to un-stick it other than just riding to work in the gears? I've put on 25 or so, my dad ended up taking it another 50 and I haven't had a chance to see if they're not so...ohhhhhh...clunky I think is a good word.

Any advice appreciated - thanks!
Sarah
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: Rema1000 on April 06, 2004, 07:56:29 PM
To put it down in first from neutral, I think it helps to press down gently (but firmly ;) ) on the shifter about a half-second after you grab the clutch.  If you wait too long after you grab the clutch, then it won't go into first without a clunk and a grind.  At least, that's how I learned to shift on a scooter, and I didn't notice the GS being any different.

On my '92, it's easier to get to neutral from 2nd than from first.  So I just shift up to 2nd and tap down to neutral.  In fact, it's so easy to get there from second, that sometimes I try to shift down to first, but end-up in neutral :( .
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: aslam on April 07, 2004, 08:36:44 AM
Roll the bike back and forth while you're trying to get it in neutral or first if at a stop.  You really don't want to force the gear if you don't have to.

ASLAM.
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: Cal Price on April 07, 2004, 12:58:06 PM
Or are you just having a problem getting the neutral light?
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: pantablo on April 07, 2004, 02:01:16 PM
if you're having trouble getting into gear from neutral
1) check oil level. bike is affeccted by slightly low oil.
2) check for false neutral (I think thats the term for no neutral light) by slowly letting out the clutch to check.
3) sometimes just letting out the clutch a little sometimes helps get it into gear easier.
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: djplumking on April 12, 2004, 04:50:08 PM
On my '92, it's easier to get to neutral from 2nd than from first.[/i]

Solved the problem yesterday. Just can't quite hit it from 1st, gotta go back up to second and tap it down...now if I could just balance myself stopped and quit falling over...   :lol:
Title: hard to get into neutral...
Post by: Bob Broussard on April 12, 2004, 07:49:59 PM
Try adjusting a little less slack in the clutch cable. The clutch may not be releasing as much as needed to shift easily.