Have a brand new SM630 and the only way I can get the bike started is in neutral. Clutch pulled in and in first gear, the bike just keeps turning over and I am noticing a bit of creep/surging as well...anyone else experienced this? Also, finding neutral is a pain in the but...I have been riding for years on numerous different bikes and have never experienced such a small increment to find neutral. Don't know if these issues are connected somehow. thanks Brian
Mine also has a hard time starting in gear even when warmed up. I could imagine you would have trouble finding neutral if you have stiff boots. My boots have great feel so I don't really have a problem with finding neutral.
Yes! We all know that. Compared with other bikes ... the 630 DEFINITELY IS more difficult to start with a gear engaged (sometimes have to in traffic). AND ... it´s difficult to find neutral when the bike is stationary with the engine running. The trick is to stop the engine and then try and find neutral.
Just roll the bike back a little to take the weight off the gears and it will shift to neutral pretty easy. For me it does anyways.
I usually pop it from first to neutral when rolling to a stop at about 5mph, it's easier to find it then as opposed to sitting still. As for hard starting in gear, I've never had a problem and it ALWAYS fires on the third turn, but I do notice a small bit of viscous drag trying to creep forwards...
thanks for the feedback...overall it must be just more difficult to find neutral then my prior bikes (Ducati ST3, KLR650, CBR600 and CR250). As far as always starting in neutral...I guess that is a rule I just have never come across. thanks
I think part of the issue is we are thinking "Street Bike" when we look at the SM. In reality it is more of a "Dirt Bike" engine. I have never had a "Street Bike" that wouldn't start in gear.
New guy here - coming from the sportbike world to SM with the 630. Finding neutral is a bit of a pain right now for me. At a full stop the gear shift is very stiff and tends to go into second. Second to first is touchy also so finding it re-engaging in first.
At the risk of starting WWIII I am going to suggest that you might try Amsoil motorcyle oil. They do have a 20-50 I run in all my bikes. It was the only lubricant in the old GasGas bikes that would let them shift like butter and not slip the clutch. On the owners forum they tried everything under the sun. It always worked the best. I'll bet my bottom dollar it will make for easy in-gear starts and easier to find neutral. It is a class IV/V full synthetic ester based motor oil with a high TBN additive package. As soon as mine hits a thousand miles that's what it will get. I run it in everything I own. And no, I'm not going to try and sell anyone oil. I'll post a follow up after mine gets changed out. Might be a few weeks depending on how much I have a chance to get out and ride.
As previously mentioned while at stand still, roll forward and back teasing it into neutral. Lots of bikes have this problem
My TE630 was a bit hard to get in neutral as was shifting when new but was fine after about 1000 KM. Was never hard starting in gear even at low temperatures. I think part of the problem with clutch drag with the 630s is they lack the springs between the friction and driven plates that you normally see in the Japanese bikes.
I didn't catch your user name at first. Hope you didn't think I was trying to be a jerk. I wasn't. Congrat's on your sweet SM!
The shift into neutral while still rolling has worked best for me so far - I'm tippy toeing so not ultra graceful when trying to move around at a full stop but all tips are helpful so far. Glad to hear that it breaks in some more
yeah i have same issue..2011 TE 630 about 1000 miles on it.... something is hanging up when trying to start in gear sometimes....lurches and starter acts funny.. also i noticed that it is way easier to find neutral when engine is off..i usually coast to stop and hit the kill switch.... another thing i have noticed is a very soft click from the trans when getting neutral..very slight....not as positive as some bikes.. my neutral light has not come on a couple times when i am in neutral..even cycled the key..stayed off...it is almost like the bike did not know it was in neutral...... i wonder if this is a clutch problem or ??...feels like bike wants to take off and start at the same time when trying to start in gear...???
If you forget to un-switch the kill switch the neutal light won't come on. BTDT. Starting in gear as you describe sounds like clutch drag. Any difference hot or cold?
NEWS ALERT ! 610's and 630's have quite abit of clutch drag. Don't go crazy with cable adjustments on the 610, you'll just make worse issues, and DO try to grab neutral before the bike comes to a stop and start IN neurtal, especially when cold. Live by these "rules" and you'll be a much happier 610/630 owner....even if it wasnt passed on.. its always a good rule of thumb to start ANYTHING with a clutch in neutral. Back to regularly scheduled programming .. :-)
have the same problem with new 630 -- very hard to find neutral when the bike is at the stop. Also the clutch lever does not appear to fully dis engage the clutch (so finding neutral to roll on foot is the only option) my method to get to neutral at the light is switch to second and the light tapping down (with about 1 sec interval) till I see green light on N
