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Shifting issue

13K views 22 replies 13 participants last post by  KOTOR 
#1 ·
Scenario - I will take off into traffic and hit the gears pretty hard. After going into second and beginning to accelerate the bike will shift back to neutral. I can not tell if I am not getting it fully into 2nd or the stress is activating the neutral assist somehow.

Has anyone else had this happen?
 
#2 · (Edited)
I have also had this occur on my bike as well but it is ONLY when under super-hard acceleration (as you have pointed out) and it is ALWAYS due to not completing the shift. Remember that you are shifting quite quickly and if you don't get it "all the way in", it can slip out. I've been able to recreate it by intentionally being "lazy" with the shift into second when shifting quickly and it re-occurs.

If you simply make CERTAIN that you are fully shifted, the problem will go away. By CERTAIN, I mean that you FEEL the "full-stop" rather than "anticipating" completing the shift.

As you stated, this ONLY happens in 2nd and only about once in every 200 or 300 2nd gear shifts (for me) and is becoming less and less as I have come to understand this transmission better
 
#3 ·
Preload the shifter.
 
#5 · (Edited)
WTH is "preloading the shifter"?

Do you mean "clutchless shifts"? If so, then you may be missing the point as doing that could well be CAUSING the problem rather than SOLVING it. The OP (and myself) are experiencing not getting FULLY "into gear" and our short-shifting or clutchless shifting (or failing to fully complete the shift) may be the cause of that. The helical gears "appear" to allow a minor bit of gap where it can fall out of second UNLESS you get it "ALL THE WAY IN THERE" on these '11 and newer bikes.

Found a couple of definitions and at least one appears to verify my point..
http://www.speedzilla.com/forums/ducati-workbench/9980-preloading-shifter.html
http://www.yzf600r.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=61077
 
#6 ·
My understanding of pre loading the shifter is to put pressure on the shifter so that when you pull the clutch in you have a head start on a quick and positive shift. IMHO :)
 
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#15 ·
You win the Cupie Doll! Another advantage to preloading is the shift lever moves into the next gear (up or down) as soon as the clutch disengages. Meaning, the clutch lever doesn't need to be pulled all the way to the grip. You get smoother, quieter shifts. thumb up
 
#7 ·
I think preloading means that you kind of shift once and then again the second time it eliminates the popping out, it comes as second nature after awhile. I find that this eliminates the problem. Kind of like double clutching a tractor trailer.
 
#8 ·
OK, the double shifting is not something I've ever tried to do in 2nd gear on the same clutch pull but it seems to me that would REALLY slow down the shifting. I HAVE done it on a farm tractor before though so I know what you mean!

As the OP stated and I agreed, we are experiencing this on a "quick shift" where we are rev'ing out 1st and "popping" it into second VERY FAST. I can't speak for him but in my case, I have tried "clutchless shifting" and that did (apparently) include "preloading the shifter" with a slight upper pressure prior to throttle backoff. It DOES get the shift executed faster but doesn't "help" it STAY in gear. Rather, I get into 2nd and power DOES go to the rear wheels for about another 20 feet (or so) and then the tranny simply POPs it right back into neutral...almost as if the tranny says "close and I let you THINK you had completed the shift but..nah...here N for ya!.

Of course then the ONLY option is to "properly" shift it into 2nd once more. Granted, you are doing this so fast that nobody around you really knows that you "missed a shift" but it is still a bit un-nerving when it happens and if you were actually racing someone, you would (of course) have lost a LOT of your advantage of the "short shift" attempt if not have lost the entire race due to that early error.
 
#9 ·
When I pre load the shifter for a fast shift I DO NOT let off the throttle. I pull and release the clutch quickly as the shifter grabs second. In the "olden days" we called it power shifting. Worked on cars too. thumb up
 
#11 ·
we called it speed shifting. I dig speed shifting my XR, from first to second I swear my front wheel comes off the ground! That was expected on my dirt bikes way back when, but a 750# bike with a 230# rider? cool beans!!

thumb upcheersthumb up
 
#12 ·
If I miss a gear, then fine, I missed it and I'll shift again.
But I too experience, what the OP and ndabunka are talking about.
When I shift and get the hard thunk, let the clutch out, power hits the wheel, and so you hit the throttle, go a little distance, then it "slips" back into N.

This is extremely annoying. And, is my one major complaint about Victory motorcycles. If, I'm really getting down on the throttle, then I'll redline the engine because of it sliping back down to N.

I think it has something to do with the Neutral Assist. I new this for sure, and could disable neutral assist to solve the issue, I would. I've never had a problem wiggling a bike into neutral...
 
#13 ·
I've had this happen a few times, but only when I'm trying to take off pretty quickly. However, coming from a sport bike to this beast (that I enjoy so much) I've also had the tranny slip from 6th back to 5th. I can only attribute the slip to a "lazy shift".

The tranny on the CR is A LOT larger and heftier than the one on my FZ1. Lol
 
#17 ·
Not be too simple but make sure the shift lever is adjusted low enough you are not having to reach for it. You should have just enough clearance between your boot/shoe and the lever to rest comfortably and it sits close enough that it does not take a lot of movement to shift. It will also make down shifting smoother as your foot has less distance to travel to knock it down a gear. It also makes pre-loading easier.
 
#18 ·
I've had the front on mine off the ground. It is possible.

I was having the same issue with shifting into 2nd. Just have to shift it like you mean it.

I was used to my Triumph and VFR. It was like all I had to do was think about shifting and it was done. No fuss, no nothing.
 
#19 ·
Thanks for all of the responses. I truly believe that this is due to my own occasional "lazy shift". I just have not been able to put a finger (or toe :crzy:) on it. I will make sure that I pay attention to my technique a little more and maybe take a look at the lever position as well.

Thanks again
 
#20 ·
On my last few dirt bikes, I seemed to miss shift when I got accustomed to where the shift lever was. Whenever I started missing a lot of gears, I would just change the position of the shift lever a little bit, problem solved. Until I got re-accustomed to wghere it was again, then back to where it was...

:crzy:cheers:crzy:
 
#22 ·
does anyone know if the shifter / brake lever Bushings that some sell that have tighter tolerances help fix / solve this issue ?

I too have had it go into neutral !

just curious if those that have installed the bushings found it to help with the shifting in general

thx
 
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