Hi, I'm kinda new here, so I apologize if this has been gone over. Does anyone else have issues with 2nd gear? I've only got 90 miles on my Strada, but i've had way too many a) missed 1-2 shifts, and b) 2nd gear popping out around 3k rpm. Did anyone else have issues like this? did break-in/oil change help at all? I guess I was spoiled by my last bike (yamaha wr250) that gearbox shifted smooth as butter. Thanks... --Chris
Yes, this happened to me. I was also having trouble getting the bike into neutral when it was running. I adjusted the clutch cable at the lever by pulling back the rubber boot, turning the inner part about a full turn and then locking it off with the larger locking nut. Been on one ride since but not had any issues since then. When I pulled the rubber boot back, the locking nut wasn't even tight and the adjustable section was almost hard up against it.
there's like, really lots of posts about people that are running the chains to tight, and that's causing the transmissions to act weird. read the manual and stuff and make sure it's super crazy looser than what you think. one post I read today said that the guy almost makes it touch the swing arm when it's on the side stand. then when you get it upright, it's a little less room for it to wiggle, and then when you sit on it, it's even more tight. tight, in this case, is bad. **CHECK ME OUT!!! LIKE I KNOW WHAT I"M TALKING ABOUT!!!** I could not tell you how to make a chain loose or tight to save my life.
LOL! "Dear Abby..today I was out riding my TR and I noticed I was having issues with shifting. When I got home my fiance told me he was leaving me for my twin sister. Does this have any reflect on chain tension?" I doubt quite a few of you young'uns will get that...but the rest of you geezers will be laughing!
Oh, I get it, and I don't consider myself old. It also makes for one of my favorite John Prine songs. View: http://youtu.be/b2ccC4aULow
While down shifting to come to a stop. The bike feels like it is in first gear but finds a false neutral. When I go to take off and the bike just revs...I have to push down on the shift lever again to put it in first. Neutral light never comes on. Pretty funny when you're timing a red light to take off without putting your foot down and the bike just revs. Yet if the bike is in first I have no problem finding neutral and the light does come on...go figure.
While I find it difficult to articulate, my TR650 gearbox was less than perfect - although I never had it pop out of gear. It now has 1400 miles on it, and with every mile it gets more perfect. Think it really started getting better at about 850 miles.
I think that some/all of the issue might be I/O error (Idiot Operator) I rotated the shift lever 1 spline counter-clockwise, and now i am getting much more positive shifts. Last night I added some slack to my chain, but that didn't do anything, and I also checked the clutch adjustment. I noticed last night that it happened more when hot, and I only took a 15 mile ride today, so it still may happen, but I didn't miss 1 shift with the lever in the new position. I have the Strada, with the footpeg rubbers in, and the lever is noticeably lower. Typically, I sit pretty far forward and that changes the angle of my foot on the shifter. I tried sitting back all the way to the step in the seat, and I can still get my foot under the lever without popping a tendon. We'll see how it behaves on a longer ride. maybe tomorrow night. Thanks for all the suggestions. --Chris
Hmm, I've had a few issues similar to what you're describing. I thought it was my rubbish shifting, but it has happened on a few occasions and can be quite disconcerting.. It seems to occur under deceleration when shifting to first and is more frequent when the bike is hot. I will check the chain tension and investigate if that has any effect on this issue. JM.
I dug up this old thread as I'm having a few some gearbox issues. In addition to having quite regular false shifts from 1-2, I am also getting quite a few shift failures into 1st from a standing start. It appears to be getting worse. Today it took 3 attempts to engage 1st at one point (ie. clutch in, shift down, clutch out - nothing x 2 before final engaging on the 3rd attempt). Then on the same journey, it slipped out of 1st into neutral at low-mid revs while accelerating from a standing start. I haven't had a chance to examine the bike but the chain is quite slack and has never been tightened. The bike has only about 4000km on the clock. Any ideas, suggestions would be welcome. Thanks
I'd start with the basics. First, check your cable and make sure it is adjusted properly. Yes, it should be fine after 4000km, but it could easily be the culprit and is the easiest fix. Second, is the control positions. Clutch and shift levers. Have they moved? Are they tight? Have you moved...for instance, changed your seat or different riding boots or pegs. These might seem obvious, but you'd be amazed at how many people complain that their bike is shifting weird after the install a taller seat. Finally, have you changed the oil or have conditions changed? For instance, my Triumph is a little oil sensitive. Run too thin of oil in the summer and the clutch starts slipping.
