I have an XVS1100 (V-Star cruiser), and I'm experiencing the occasional (but
frustrating) problem changing from first to second. Every so often it
refuses to go and I get the inevitable neutral rev-up. Usually more prone
when I'm giving it some stick...
Anyone else experience this? It's only 6 months old, but I'm going back to
the workshop with it soon...

Thanks, Pete.

On Nov 14, 8:39 pm, "Peter Butel" <2ven...@iinet.com.au> wrote:
> "Jordan" <jwprin...@otpusnet.com.au> wrote in message
>
> news:473a16bf$0$6689$(E-Mail Removed) ...
>
> > This can sometimes be dealt with by technique, which becomes automatic and
> > natural after a while. Method: keep pressure on gear lever until after
> > clutch lever is released.
>
> Thanks, I'll try that...
> never thought about doing it that way...

Was taught this during NSW Ls rider training. "Positive Shifting" it
was called.

Phil

Peter Butel wrote:
> I have an XVS1100 (V-Star cruiser), and I'm experiencing the occasional (but
> frustrating) problem changing from first to second. Every so often it
> refuses to go and I get the inevitable neutral rev-up. Usually more prone
> when I'm giving it some stick...
> Anyone else experience this? It's only 6 months old, but I'm going back to
> the workshop with it soon...

It's not a problem with the bike, probably a problem with the way you
change gears. You're probably not applying enough pressure to the
shifter when you change gear. You have to shift it all the way past
neutral. Try consciously giving it a really big kick, and not rushing
it too much, which you tend to do when you're giving it stick.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

Heath Raftery wrote:
> Nev.. <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Peter Butel wrote:
>>> I have an XVS1100 (V-Star cruiser), and I'm experiencing the occasional (but
>>> frustrating) problem changing from first to second. Every so often it
>>> refuses to go and I get the inevitable neutral rev-up. Usually more prone
>>> when I'm giving it some stick...
>>> Anyone else experience this? It's only 6 months old, but I'm going back to
>>> the workshop with it soon...
>> It's not a problem with the bike, probably a problem with the way you
>> change gears. You're probably not applying enough pressure to the
>> shifter when you change gear. You have to shift it all the way past
>> neutral. Try consciously giving it a really big kick, and not rushing
>> it too much, which you tend to do when you're giving it stick.
>
> That said, most (all?) bikes have some accidental-neutral-prevention
> feature don't they?

huh? Never heard of that. Kawasaki have "positive neutral finder"
which only lets you select 1st gear when you're stopped and in neutral,
which is really handy when you're on a slippery surface or it's
bucketing down rain and you'd prefer to take off in 2nd or 3rd gear. It
obviously never rains in the Kawasaki factory.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

"Jordan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:473a16bf$0$6689$(E-Mail Removed) ...
> This can sometimes be dealt with by technique, which becomes automatic and
> natural after a while. Method: keep pressure on gear lever until after
> clutch lever is released.

Thanks, I'll try that...
never thought about doing it that way...

Thanks for the posts guy... I am trying hard to change positively... I've
nearly snapped the lever off sometimes, and still it hit neutral... (sigh).
This is my first cruiser, and the one I test rode (for a week) never did
it... my previous Yams never did it either....

>> > It's not a problem with the bike, probably a problem with the way you
>> > change gears. You're probably not applying enough pressure to the
>> > shifter when you change gear. You have to shift it all the way past
>> > neutral. Try consciously giving it a really big kick, and not rushing
>> > it too much, which you tend to do when you're giving it stick.
>>
>> That said, most (all?) bikes have some accidental-neutral-prevention
>> feature don't they? Or is there something wrong with my XR400, that is
>> very hard to get into neutral when it is running?
>>
>> --
>> *--------------------------------------------------------*
>> | ^Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool^ |
>> | Heath Raftery, HRSoftWorks _\|/_ |
>> *______________________________________m_('.')_m__ _______*
>
> I'm with Nev, I don't think there's such a jigger. Might try
> adjusting your clutch, it could be binding slightly which makes them
> virtually impossible to get into neutral while running.
>

Heath Raftery wrote:

> That said, most (all?) bikes have some accidental-neutral-prevention
> feature don't they? Or is there something wrong with my XR400, that is
> very hard to get into neutral when it is running?

Your clutch is dragging.

Theo

Peter Butel wrote:
> Thanks for the posts guy... I am trying hard to change positively...
> I've nearly snapped the lever off sometimes, and still it hit
> neutral... (sigh). This is my first cruiser, and the one I test rode
> (for a week) never did it... my previous Yams never did it either....

Contrary to what the other guys said, there's no need to 'kick' the lever,
that will probably make it worse. Gentle pressure is all that is required to
get it into the next gear. The trick is to apply to continue to apply light
pressure until you have released the clutch.

Theo

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:33:20 +0900
Theo Bekkers <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Peter Butel wrote:
>> Thanks for the posts guy... I am trying hard to change positively...
>> I've nearly snapped the lever off sometimes, and still it hit
>> neutral... (sigh). This is my first cruiser, and the one I test rode
>> (for a week) never did it... my previous Yams never did it either....
>
> Contrary to what the other guys said, there's no need to 'kick' the lever,
> that will probably make it worse. Gentle pressure is all that is required to
> get it into the next gear. The trick is to apply to continue to apply light
> pressure until you have released the clutch.

On a 5 speed Guzzi box you have to apply pressure, feel the lever go
out of gear, feel it go into the next, then release the clutch.

Zebee

Nev.. wrote:

> huh? Never heard of that. Kawasaki have "positive neutral finder"
> which only lets you select 1st gear when you're stopped and in neutral,
> which is really handy when you're on a slippery surface or it's
> bucketing down rain and you'd prefer to take off in 2nd or 3rd gear. It
> obviously never rains in the Kawasaki factory.
>
> Nev..
> '04 CBR1100XX

huh? My "positive neutral finder" on my Kawasaki (2004) lets me select
first, neutral or second. Your after-market Kawasaki gear selector on
your Honda must be a different release.
--
Cheers

Andrew