Quote from: axexandru on April 25, 2015, 12:12:13 PM
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

Quote from: ragecage23 on May 01, 2015, 08:02:59 PM
Well for the OP, when in neutral I just give the shift lever a moderate slam and it'll go in everytime.

Or you know, you could actually read what people are saying instead of creating a fuss.

Ohhh dear!

Ya got to laugh eh? Ragecage you're quoting your misguided self to try to justify your misguided argument. That takes your breath away doesn't it?
Get the point, we are not discussing whether YOU can "give the shift lever a moderate slam" - don't you get it, it's the OP problem that we are discussing... HE can't get the gear he needs from neutral... (it's not all about you, what you can or can't do!)
Anyway buddy, it seems you just NEED to have the last word, so now go for it.

OK, no need to argue or to SHOUT

When I have this problem, it does not matter if I give the shift lever a moderate, or a hard slam, it simply does not want to go into first. So, is this a mechanical problem ?
I will first try to do a 3 point adjustment on the clutch, see if that helps, if not, I will probably take it to a mechanic.

Thans

Alex

Sorry this topic has got off the point Alex. It's exactly your point I've been trying to get at.
You should be able to get into first easily from neutral, or from 1st or 2nd gear into neutral, with the engine running or without.
That clutch adjustment is the first step, see how you go with that. If that doesn't help I'd do an oil change, perhaps you aren't running the right grade oil? Possible clutch issues are: clutchplates wear, or clutchspring weakening (with consequent over-adjustment -not enough freeplay). There is the possibility of gearbox problems, but unless your bike has been stuffed around by a PO this would be a very rare problem I reckon. IMHO Suzi gearboxes are pretty bullet-proof in my experience. Question #1: Can you get neutral easily when you're in gear? Question #2: When you have the problem getting into gear from neutral, does it make any difference if the motor is running or not? Adjust your chain, that can help. Check that it's not something like your gearshift lever being positioned on the shaft spline such that you don't get full travel.

You may have mechanical issues, but I really think it's learning the technique to smoothly use a sequential transmission (as I said right off, reply #1). As others have said shifting into N just before a stop will make it easier to select 1st, vs stopping in 1st switching to N and then back to 1st. I normally go to N from 2nd when stopping, but not always. I remember having a hard time learning the muscle memory to get into N when I first started riding. It also helps if you shift the bike right after pulling the clutch. It's not like a car, where you can clutch, wait, shift, wait, let out the clutch. It should be a fluid movement, your hand squeezes the clutch lever and by the time the lever is back to the bar you're releasing it again. If this doesn't work then roll a few inches and try shifting.

I think that if this were a mechanical problem it would happen every time you stopped. But, if I recall you said it was very sporadic.

Anytime anybody has shifting issues the first thing that comes to mind is the clutch adjustment, then shifting technique and last would be the correct oil. Clutch plates not releasing or dragging leaves the cogs in the transmission under a preload, this is what causes the bulk of shifting issues when you are having problems either getting into or out of Neutral. 

Next time you change your oil, take your bike out for at least a half an hours ride to get the oil good and hot, as soon as you get back take all the freeplay out at the lever end then zip tie the lever back to the grip over night. This lets oil get in between the clutch plates and might help the situation, it has for me many times throughout the years.

I was trying to use my experience to help him out. I've tried to put in my two cents. I see its not "worthy" around here. So good luck axexandru, you seem to have some masters here helping you out.

I don't want to start a war here, every opinion it's very important to me as it comes from people that have ridden more km then I have. Where I have done a MSF, I learnd that at a stop light you need to put the bike in neutral. I wil see what is the best think for me, what I want to find out now is if this is a mechanical problem or not.

Yes Slack, it does not happen every time, it is sporadic, and I hope you are right and it's not a mechanical issue and I just have to learn how to do this correctly.

Joolstacho, for question #1, yes I can find neutral just fine, that is not a problem, question #2 the problem only appears after a few km, never when I start the bike for the first time. When I have this problem, it helps if I stop the engine and start it again.

Thanks.

Quote from: ragecage23 on May 02, 2015, 10:22:34 AM
I was trying to use my experience to help him out. I've tried to put in my two cents. I see its not "worthy" around here. So good luck axexandru, you seem to have some masters here helping you out.

We value your experience. But, come on now, you have to admit that you yelling at yourself was funny 
All of these comments hold some validity, and it might be that a small bit of all of them are what is needed to solve the problem.

You're all right. My attempt at helping was hilarious.

I understood what you meant rage, also understood what everyone meant..  not saying you didn't! ...

Hopefully the wee wee match is done with and everyone. .. really Everyone! can accept that the neutral/gear thing is up to personal taste. .. and there are relevant safety/danger issues with either!

Now... why isn't it going into gear? .. perhaps mechanical, perhaps user, perhaps oil weight/type? ... op said it was fresh oil so ok, what specific oil? ..

For mechanical issues, is there any Other unusual behavior in the gear/clutch system?, excess chatters, stiff levers/cables? , spongy accel feel? ..

Maybe it has been mentioned.  On tapa/phone at moment and it's a pain to scan back thru

Hy Janx,

The oil is 10w40, fully syntethic, made by Repsol. I did today a 3 step adjusment on the clutch, and it appears to work better now, did not get to do a longer ride on it because of the rain. I don't see any other unusual behavior in clutch - gear system.

Thanks,
Alex

If it's working smooth then its a win! .. good job!

Thanks Slack,

I hope this was it, will take it out for a longer ride to see if it happens again. Got to say that it's a great feeling fixing it yourself

Next, the air filter, i got to change it, it's really dirty, the question is, do I need some kind of oil for the air filter, I have found on the net a lot of products like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/99-5050-K-N-AIR-FILTER-CLEANER-OIL-RECHARGER-KIT-Jays-/290967157959?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43befe7cc7

Thanks,
Alex

Alex in spite of this discussion having got... err.. a bit warmish, I'm sure all our hearts are in the right place. GStwin is a good little brotherhood IMO.
And it's great to see your pride in having fixed your problem, (well, fingers crossed!) - you will get immense satisfaction and save a bundle of money in the future by DIYing, so keep at it. There's a wealth of knowledge and experience here, (including diverse opinions) and it's freely shared.

BUT... Don't get the idea that your problems are over though my friend!!! (I just spent a day and a half tracking down an obscure electrical problem, only to have my mate wander by and pick it up in a couple of seconds. And I've been doing this stuff for getting on for 40 years,  - goes to show that you are never an expert!
(Although the said mate, who is a qualified motorcycle mechanic  and who can spot a missing split-pin from 50 metres comes pretty close!)

in reply to the original thread, I find it strange.
Most of my bikes have shown problems shifting into gear when cold, but not when hot.
Usually when standing still and wanting to shift into gear, only needed to release the clutch a bit.
If you want to get into gear you could either roll it, or let the clutch slip a bit, until it bites 

But I've never really had problems with my GS, other than when it's still cold, and I have to shift it in neutral to open the gate, and shift it back into gear...

Most of the time I have the opposite problem; getting it into neutral. It often shifts from one to 2, or from 2nd to 1st, skipping the neutral gear... Though the GS is ok on that, the Honda Rebel is a lot worse in getting into neutral.