Shifting question for 1967 Honda CL90

Hi Everyone,
I just got my 1967 Honda CL90 running and on the road, and I have a
question. My understanding is that the shift pattern is 1 down, and 3
up, but I'm having a hard time finding neutral. Is there some trick
other than shifting down to neutral, or shifting to 1 and back 1 to
neutral. I am a rank beginner as well, with a brand new learner's permit
if that tells you anything. It is possible that the transmission has a
few problems, but otherwise the bike rides great.

Looking for any helpful advice.

Thanks a lot,

Steve.

 

You aren't the only one who has ever had a hard time finding neutral. I
can't find a parts fiche on this bike, but it probably has a spring
loaded detent stopper ball that drops into a notch on the shifter drum.
Problem a lot of riders have is that they move their foot too far and
wind up shifting down into first whenthey try for neutral. The shifter
pedal has to move further going from first to second than from second
to third, etc, in order to have the same pedal movement for the upper
three gears...

So riders either wind up in unwanted neutral while shifting up, or
can't get into neutral going down because they can't remember there's a
difference in how far they're supposed to move their foot...

If the engine idles a little too fast, you'll have a harder time
finding neutral, too, so set the idle speed screw (NOT the idle mixture
screw!) as low as you can to m ake the engine idle down...

 

Krusty,
I don't think the idle is too high, it just about ticks over when warm.
I went to a parking lot to fool around shifting up and down, and found
out that if I started in first, 2 clicks with my heel put me in 3rd. I
then went out for a little ride and simply ignored neutral, and did ok,
except when I had to find neutral to restart.

So if I understand you correctly, if I depress the heel pedal to the
stop I will go from 1 to 2, 2 to 3, etc., but I need to just slightly
depress the pedal out of 1st to stop at neutral (and the opposite on the
way down). I will work on this on my way to work tomorrow (a nice 6 mile
residential commute with little traffic).

It's a neat little bike however. I can't imagine trying to learn how to
ride on a 400 pound bike.

Thank you very much for the advice.

Sincerely,

Steve.

 

It can be done Steve. I learned how to ride on my '79 GS750, a 550+ lb hunk
of steel

 

Those heel-and-toe shifters are hard to work with the heel. I haven't
even seen one in so long I'd forgotten they existed. You might want to
try just toe-shifting if you can move your toe under the front part
pedal for upshifting and move your toe on top of the front part of the
pedal for downshifting...

 

Hi Everyone,
After some more research on the net It's all starting to fall into
place. I have a clymer manual on the late 60's Honda's and I spent a few
minutes studying the transmission section, and it's obvious now why it's
so hard to get squared away when I'm stopped. When it stops raining I'll
try down shifting to 1st before I stop and find neutral from there.

I did find an extra neutral between 3rd and 4th, but I didn't know it
and spent 5 minutes starting and stalling before I figured out something
was wrong. I knew I wasn't in 1st, but I didn't know why. I must have
looked pretty silly out there in the high school parking lot.

The heel shifter doesn't bother me. I have really big feet, and have no
trouble covering both levers.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice, it's really helped me out a lot.

Sincerely,

Steve.

 

I seem to recall an old('67, or before) stamped frame
Honda 90, as having an all down shift pattern. IOW,
neutral top, 1,2,3,4 down.

I didn't own one of these, but had a few friends as
owners. Is this wrong?

Gary

 

I have the Honda manual from a trail 90 (don't quite know the year, but
it looks like it was printed in 66)and it shows 4 down with an automatic
clutch. The only proof I have that this is a 67 CL90 is an old
registration.

Steve.