Quote from: AlphaFire X5I usually use engine braking in first and shift to neutral after I stop. I used to experience the difficulty in getting to first from a stop, but if you learn to work the clutch just right it's never an issue. If you can't do it, try squeezing the clutch a few times, then drop it into first.

Another newbie question here, I found the Alpha's answer above but I would like to hear from more of you if don't mind.
As you know, I am a newbie and only was able to put 100miles on my F before it was put away for winterization. Anyway, I remember few times when after comeing to a stop, the gear wouldn't go into first gear with clutch fully pulled either from 2nd gear or neutral. So, I had to start the bike from 2nd gear which was pretty hard to do (panicking) and remember killing the engine once. Of course, the car behind me had to wait for me to restart the bike. :x  
After reading few threads, it seems like a common problem, is that true? Also, when it happened again, I moved the bike back and forth little and it worked. I wonder if I'm having a clutch problem or it's just a common thing that I have to deal with by moving the bike back and forth whenever it happens. Could be because the new bike is not broken in yet? Help anyone?

Yep, normal.  The transmission dogs have to align.

Hold pressure on the shifter while rolling backwards.  Alternatively, release the clutch slightly while putting pressure on the shifter.  

That said, in traffic you should always be in gear.  You don't want to have to fiddle with getting it in first while a gravel truck is screeching in a full blown skid behind you.  

Quote from: GeePAlternatively, release the clutch slightly while putting pressure on the shifter.  

Ditto...I wouldn't suggest rolling backwards.  It's not that there's some odd danger or something most don't forsee, but the majoraty of the "oops" moments I've had were because I was sitting on the bike rolling it backwards.

What I meant was that once you get it into neutral and you're sitting there, pull the clutch in all the way, release all the way, squeeze in all the way, click into first, ride off.

I don't think I was as clear as I could have been. That's one way to do it. Another way is to roll forward a bit and clutch in and shift. It just helps allign the transmission parts better. (I think.)

I've found rolling backwards works great. It's not an great movement, it's very slight backwards motion while pressing and and *click* gears should engage almost immediatley. If you don't want to do it at a stop light give it a try in a parking lot. Works for me everytime.

i dont ever use N its alwasys in gear. i had this problem once before and jus thought it better not to have to fiddle with it, but when i do, and its rare i just click it harder and it goes in. one problem i do have is every now and then i will get a false N from 5th to 6th and it is scarey as hell the first time. not sure what to do but be sure to make the shift more firm or keep following(keep pressure) it till i feel it pass the N and then its in gear.

Check the clutch lever free play. When you pull the clutch it will feel loose at first and then you will feel tension. The loose part is the free play. If you have too much free play then you will not be able to pull the clutch lever anough to open the clutch properly. You can make adjustments were the cable meets the clutch lever and were the cable meets the engine.

If in a higher gear, sometimes I will have to let the clutch out just enough to "bump" the transmission. This will align the gears so it can be dropped into 1st.

If in neutral, letting the clutch out just slightly (about 1/8") will let me be able to get into first. Having the clutch pulled completely against the bar prevents engaging first without forcing it and grinding the gears. Something to do with the sycromesh tranny.

I only have had this issue with the Suzuki bikes I have owned, never with the Kawasaki's.

Try to develope the habit of down shifting into first gear while you are still moving.  This is a safety issue.  You need to able to quickly move out if you need to avoid other traffic.  It also allows you to focus on the traffic, lights, which direction to turn, etc and not the bike.  When you do get stuck in second gear, I like to put some down pressure on the gear lever and slip the clutch just a little.  My bike seems to drop right into first when I do that and then I am ready to go. Enjoy your bike!

I roll forward holding the clutch. works great too.  :mrgreen:

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO:

When you're stopped (like at a light or something) and you are having that same problem...

1. Put your foot on the shifter

2.Pull the clutch in all the way

3.Slowly and gradually  let out the clutch as you apply pressure to the shifter to downshift into neutral/first

4. By time the clutch is about 1/2 way out, the bike should gently shift.  Problem solved


What you are doing (by slowly letting out theis letting the gears mesh together which usually solves this kind of problem

Ok, this is what I am going to add to the FAQ regarding this. Please feel free to add to it, make changes, whatever you think would make it the best possible answer:

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You are stopped at a red light, your transmission is in neutral. The light turned green, and you try to shift into 1st gear. But you can't get it into gear. What's wrong?

This is a fairly common transmission quirk with the GS500 and other Suzuki bikes. The best way to deal with this is to avoid it to begin with. As a safety precaution, you should always be in gear when riding. When stopped, you can use your brake and clutch to avoid the bike from moving. When you disengage the clutch (squeeze the handle), you are effectively in neutral anyway since no power is transfering from the engine through the drive train.

However, if you do find yourself in this situation there is a reactive approach:

1 Disengage the clutch (squeeze the handle..)
2. Roll the bike forward slightly while kick shifting it down into 1st
3. You should hear it go into gear. Engage the clutch (let go of the handle..) slowly and you should be fine.

If you are having other problems similar to this, you may also want to check and adjust your clutch lever and free play.
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Yep, I do the roll forward/backward (less than an inch of roll) while putting pressure on the shifter.  They taught me that in the MSF BRC.

Quote from: GeePYep, normal.  The transmission dogs have to align.

Hold pressure on the shifter while rolling backwards.  Alternatively, release the clutch slightly while putting pressure on the shifter.  

That said, in traffic you should always be in gear.  You don't want to have to fiddle with getting it in first while a gravel truck is screeching in a full blown skid behind you.  

I have a 2005 and I've noticed that no amount of rolling backwards ever helps. Rolling forward a few inches does help, however. Sometimes if you're stuck in say second gear and you're near a stop and it won't shift into first, release the clutch out partially or until you hear a click. Sometimes releasing it completely will cause the bike to stall if you're not moving fast enough.

And +1 for staying in gear in traffic. I've held up traffic before trying to get it into gear (before I knew how to fix this problem every time.) Of course, there are other reasons for staying in gear while in traffic... For example, if you see a possible collision or other reason to move quickly, you don't want to be fiddling with the clutch... you wanna be able to GO GO GO.

I'm guilty of neutralling while at a red light out of laziness, but I try to be in gear before the light changes if it is one of those occasions where I'm in neutral.

When that happens to me at a light I just pop the clutch and pull it back in quickly and pop it into gear and that always works for me.

Thanks guys. Now I know that this is somewhat normal for Suzuki's. I thought my bike was defective...

Quote from: samhkangThanks guys. Now I know that this is somewhat normal for Suzuki's. I thought my bike was defective...

No it's typical of all wet clutch/inline transmission assemblies.

I've had the same problem. I noticed I have to double clutch somtimes to get into first.

I've also noticed that if I'm slowing down and I'm still going over 20mph, I can't shift into first. When I press the shifter, it makes a grinding noise. But it shifts smoothly once I slow down.

Quote from: aqxea2500When that happens to me at a light I just pop the clutch and pull it back in quickly and pop it into gear and that always works for me.

That doesn't always work for me, though. If I'm still rolling and I can't get it into gear then popping the clutch a couple times works. What bike do you have?

I have an 04 F model. I rarely put it in neutral at a light though, I just pull in the clutch and when im about to stop I let out the clutch a bit to check that I am in gear then I just hold the clutch until the light turns green.