I'm just at 1,000 km on my Strada and I have some worries about the longevity of the transmission. I've found it clunky like some but it hasn't been a real issue for me. Chain tension is good and preloading the shift lever before shifting up does just fine. But on two separate instances the bike literally grinded to a halt on me and I've never had that happen to me before on any other bike. The circumstances were the same in both instances: Rolling up to a red light in either 2nd or 3rd. Usually I shift and rev down through the gears but in both times in these cases I simply pulled in the clutch and shifted down as I rolled to a stop. While coasting down and after shifting into 1st the back wheel grabs (with the clutch fully in!?!?) and a bad high-pitched friction/grinding noise comes from the bike The bike stalls out and, once it does, all pull goes away from the back wheel and I'm back to coasting. Clutch in, and bike off. Crazy. Both times I've had enough momentum to let the clutch out and bump start the bike. It takes off after that as if nothing had happened. There are no other symptoms that I know of and there's been no residual effects that I've noticed. I have no idea what would be causing this or what would even be grabbing with the clutch fully in. Clutch cable seems good, but since I'm at 1,000 km I'm going in for my first service this weekend to confirm with the regular service. I'm worried and playing all my cards right to keep this warranty intact in case I need it. Any idea what's going on here? Anyone else experience this?
First thing that comes to mind is that the bike is stalling out. With clutch in, you pop the clutch and it fires up. Hmmm In the other scenario, it sounds as if the engine is performing as the brake. Does this sound about right?
I did the eruption mod and since then I haven't had any leaness stalling happen on me. But I have had it before and this is definitely far from the same thing. When these two incidents occurred I could feel it in the seat and in the bars, something not good was happening somewhere inside. Clutch was fully in both times, there was no engine braking, just coasting, then maybe 1/4 second of the noise and wheel drag (don't think the back wheel locked but it definitely started pulling) and it stalled out.
Hmm, I hesitate to say this, but I would unhook the chain and spin the drive sprocket in all gears with clutch pulled and check for any odd roughness etc. Also check the back wheel. I had back wheel bearings start to go, probably from an over torque of the rear axle. I doubt if that would be so drastic as what you have. I think anything shy of this is going to be an internal issue. Although at times the bike was hard to push. There really is not much in between that can go wrong and cause your symptom. Super tight chain? Be warned, if you cut the chain, it is near impossible to find the correct connector link. I do not know if there is enough room to pull the chain aside to spin the trans countershaft. Hope it is something simple.
I think the issue here is your technique. You shouldn't be downshifting without blipping the throttle to match revs, especially into first gear - even with the clutch in, unless you're travelling very slowly. I think, whatever you're trying to do, you're doing it wrong, and you need to change your technique.
Several possibilities. One it's just doing the TR stalling std problem without the fuelling enrichener ( booster, eruption etc). Solution fit one they work. The grinding sound COULD be the starter clutch being pushed from the wrong direction. Over tight chain is a real possibility and it may even be a screwed counter shaft bearing from same that you can only hear when the engine isn't making a noise. Again because the engine noise isn't there could be screwed wheel bearings . I had to replace mine before it had done 1000km ( chinese crap bearings)
Though it's no morale boost, I hope that's the case. I rarely shift through gears without blipping but I'll be actively avoiding it from here on out. I have a 15T countershaft sprocket on the way so I'll do some looking while I install it but I hope that I'm the only problem here. Thanks
I must have misunderstood the original issue and when and how it occurred. Nick, if you are downshifting from fifth (or other higher gears) to first with the clutch in, rolling at speed, that is a NO NO. Those poor widdle gears will fling apart if you do that. The technique requires the bike to slow down with the downshifting through, not skipping any gear, so the engine braking will help slow the bike down. The blipping helps the gears run to appropriate speed so they do not clunk and grind when downshifting. Like double clutching the old grindomesh trannies of the good ole days. Nick, you might seriously consider changing your oil. Don't matter how many miles are on it. Any metallic particles that may be floating around need to be flushed out. Good insurance.
Luckily I've never been too hard on it. Like I said in the first post, once I was in 2nd and the other time I was in 3rd gear, nothing too high. Light turned red, pulled in the clutch and brake, rpms stayed low as I shifted. Regardless of how it happened, I'm being fully mindful of it and wont travel through gears without working the throttle. I just had my first service done, asked if there were any bits of metal and the answer was no... I'll post up if it happens again.
