Anyone else have this problem?

I went for a ride yesterday on my Kawasaki VN800B Classic. I was less than
two miles from home when I came to a four-way stop. I was still running a
touch of choke. The bike has just over 750 miles on it.

I began pulling away from the stop sign when the bike suddenly locks up,
nearly tossing me over the handlebars. My feet stayed on the footpegs, but
before I could get my foot down, the bike and I fell onto our right side.
The bike was cushioned from the ground by my body, so it wasn't hurt.
Neither was I.

I could swear that the transmission locked up. I realize that it could also
have been a cold engine quitting, but it didn't feel like that, if you know
what I mean. When the bike and I were both upright again, I couldn't get the
transmission into neutral, even when rocking it back and forth with the
clutch out until after a few minutes. Then it finally let me pop it back
into neutral.

I have had transmission problems before, but they gradually went away as I
accumulated miles on the bike. It would occasionally pop out of second gear
and sometimes would give me a hard time when trying to find neutral. As I
accumulated miles, the problem disappeared. Then we had the first oil change
and the problems have begun all over again. This latest trick is something
new and not something that I wish to repeat again.

The bike is out of warranty.

Any thoughts?


Ed Cregger

 

Sounds like a badgered gearbox, doesn't it?

So... fix and keep, fix and sell, or sell without fix. Your call.

 

Come on, Neil, you didn't bite!

"The bike has just over 750 miles on it."

--
Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

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Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I was a bit anxious about buying this bike in the first place, because of
the weakness in my legs from polio/diabetes. I was also considering the
purchase of a Suzuki S40 or the Kawasaki XLR-650 at that time. The XLR-650
was out of stock everywhere that I checked. Why I didn't pursue the much
lighter Suzuki S40 has always puzzled me. I had the feeling that I was
getting in trouble when I bought the VN800B in the first place, but it was
beautiful and it does have that magic loping sound to the exhaust that is
very similar to that of a Harley, for someone that doesn't know Harleys very
well - like me.

While my weak legs did not in any way cause my latest incident, the thought
that the bike might toss me off again on a lonely Georgia back road has
pushed me in the direction of selling it and buying an S40. I don't drive
any bike on the Interstate (too much wind buffeting for comfort) and I only
make local, preferably slow, rides.

I thought about selling the bike direct instead of trading it in, but then I
remembered the unfixed problem with the transmission and am afraid of being
sued by someone experiencing the same thing but with injuries, or possibly
death. The wife and I have too much to lose for just a few hundred dollars
extra profit.

I've had issues with the transmission since new. It feels clunky and crude.
Other than the weight and transmission, I really like everything else about
the VN800B. The ride isn't bad at all, the acceleration is unbelievable and
was not expected at all. Fuel mileage could be better, but the bike is still
low time and that will probably improve over time.

Anyway, I'm fairly certain that I'm going to trade it in. The S40 is the
number one candidate at the moment, but the 650XLR Kawasaki is still in the
running, although I would have to ride one before making the leap. I don't
want to get stuck with another bike that has a transmission feel and
function that I despise.

Thanks again for the replies.


Ed Cregger

 

--------------


Thank you for a very informative response.

Ed Cregger

 

Utter bollocks, but no more than I'd expect from someone with your
inexperience.

Try, for example, a Suzuki transmission - really, really slick. Dunno
why, but Suzuki have (almost always) built really good, sweet, light,
easy-changing gear systems.

Triumph - again, excellent gearboxes.

BMW... Er, well, OK, let's move on swiftly...

 

In that case, unless you are a VERY large person, don't overlook the Suzuki
GZ250. Slightly smaller and lighter than the S40, it's very nimble and
surprisingly spunky for a 250 (especially after you up the front sprocket
one tooth).

crude.

You should have documented those "issues" so that now, if it has really gone
bad, you could have tried to squeeze a warranty repair out of
them.............but that's water over the dam.

Good luck! Sounds like you will be MUCH happier with a smaller bike. I
love my GZ.

 

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Thank you for a super reply.

I used to rebuild auto standard shifts and worked as an auto mechanic many
years ago, plus built my cars/engines, but I was always just a motorcycle
rider, except for points, valve adjustments, etc. on my bike many years ago.
I have never had a bike engine apart nor the transmission. You are correct,
I was assuming the existence of synchronizers in the transmission.

I was a bit hesitant to put my query on this group, but now I'm truly glad
that I did. I couldn't have found a better answer. Thanks again.

Ed Cregger

 

I've owned one - if it's the same as the GN250 single they sold here.
Lovely soft sweet little engine.

 

Bad idea
After starting and a 30 second run, you dont need to choke it
"Choke" is only for starting.

 

You would have to wait twenty minutes to a half an hour before being able to
ride if you didn't use partial choke. This one is really, really set lean.

Ed Cregger

 

Sorry, not on some bikes, no.

 

I'm having trouble following this arithmetic. Is there an approximate
formula for deriving 1/4 from 2.5? (Being maybe too crude about it, I
would have guessed an approximate number of turns for the bigger jet of
2.5/1.44 = about 1 3/4 turns.)

cheers,
p