[rastaman]

This fairly new to me 2001 with 1500 miles is very hard to shift, when stationary, It shifts fine when riding, however it seems the hotter it gets the harder it is to shift when stationary, Especially 1st, so much pressure has to be applied that it makes it almost impossible to find neutral...and it shifts real clunky. even with the motor off,,its still clunky. I have checked the spring an it is correctly in place.

Any Ideas????

 

[RodneyReed]

Never shift while stationary, except when going from neutral to first. Never shift with the engine not running, unless you have to. To go from first to neutral, gently roll the bike a couple of inches while simultaneously pulling up gently on the shifter. Once you get the hang of it, you'll see how easy it is.



Make sure you're clutch is in good shape and adjusted properly, and you're using good quality oil.



If you find yourself in, let's say, 3rd gear with the engine off, after a tip over or something. Pull in the clutch, gently roll the bike back and forth, and gently click down one gear at a time to first. Then back to neutral as described above, and restart the engine.

 

[rastaman]

Never shift while stationary, except when going from neutral to first. Never shift with the engine not running, unless you have to. To go from first to neutral, gently roll the bike a couple of inches while simultaneously pulling up gently on the shifter. Once you get the hang of it, you'll see how easy it is.



Make sure you're clutch is in good shape and adjusted properly, and you're using good quality oil.



If you find yourself in, let's say, 3rd gear with the engine off, after a tip over or something. Pull in the clutch, gently roll the bike back and forth, and gently click down one gear at a time to first. Then back to neutral as described above, and restart the engine.

Are you saying that this is typical of these bikes? ...hummm

Thanks for the info.

 

[lizrdbrth]

These bikes become increasingly more difficult to shift with old, incorrect or poor quality oil in the crank case or when the chain is out of adjustment.



Almost all bikes do, but when you only got a quart of oil to begin with...

 

[rm_hm]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...gc.r_pw.&fp=44eb8ccc40613db6&biw=1067&bih=644



http://www.google.co...iw=1067&bih=644

 

[uktw125]

Has the shifting got worse than when you first got the bike? Have you recently changed the oil?

If the clutch and chain are adjusted correctly as per the manual it should shift fine, but as said before rock the bike back and forth or feather the clutch (release the lever very slightly and then pull it back in) to help find neutral.



I don't really understand this about TW's having bad gear changes, I've ridden hundreds of bikes and the TW is not the best but neither is it the worst by a long way, well mine isn't anyway.



Have you got access to another bike to compare?

 

[srs713]

Shifting the motorcycle transmission is moving some of the gears in it sideways to engage with different gears. In order to do this smoothly a transmission is designed with a synchronization system that needs to be turning in order to work.



Shifting while sitting still will often shove the teeth of the gears into each other sideways with the teeth out of alignment. What you are feeling when you shift while sitting still is the sides of the gears hitting each other. Repeatedly stomping on the shift lever may rotate the gears enough to finally get the transmission to shift into the next gear, but it's not the right way to do it.



Rider courses teach you to down shift while coming to a stop, not after. Slightly rolling the bike while shifting works because it rotates/uses the syncro system, lining up the teeth for the shift.

 

[qwerty]

It really doesn't take much of a roll to line up the cogs and synchros. I always park my bikes in first to prevent rolling if bumped. I start in neutral. I've found it much easier to back the bike out of the garage before starting, in gear, just pull in the clutch. I don all gear except helmet and gloves before starting. To find neutral before starting I just rock the bike gently back and forth, right foot on the ground, left foot applying steady but gentle pressure to the shifter. Since at the same time I'm putting on my helmet, the clutch is not pulled back. Every motorcycle I've ever owned has been easy to find neutral this way. I touch the magic button and the bike starts, simple as that. I then put on gloves, and ride gently away. I do keep the rpm and throttle position very conservative for the first mile or so as the engine warms, and I don't see it necessary to let the bike idle until running temperature is reached. Just don't dog it when cold.

 

[RodneyReed]

Are you saying that this is typical of these bikes? ...hummm

Thanks for the info.

I agree with uktw125. This bike is around middle-of-the-road shifting wise. The advice given by all so far works for all bikes.

 

[rastaman]

Has the shifting got worse than when you first got the bike? Have you recently changed the oil?

If the clutch and chain are adjusted correctly as per the manual it should shift fine, but as said before rock the bike back and forth or feather the clutch (release the lever very slightly and then pull it back in) to help find neutral.



I don't really understand this about TW's having bad gear changes, I've ridden hundreds of bikes and the TW is not the best but neither is it the worst by a long way, well mine isn't anyway.



Have you got access to another bike to compare?

This is just the second time I took it for a ride and the longest...3 miles..hadnt really noticed anything strange before....just that when I stopped I just couldnt get the bike in neutral..dont remember if I tried rocking it, but it was very clunky....I own two other bikes, a vstrom and a virago, this bike is by far the roughest shifting,so it caught me by off guard. I thought the trany was defective. I plan on changing the oil tomorrow...and will try all the tips given....Thanks guys, at least I am not now worried, I will just my riding to suit it, actually this bike is for my wife to learn to ride on..she will have to learn the tips too

 

[qwerty]

Neutral is not used while riding. When stopped at a light or in traffic the bike should be in 1st and the rider watching the rear view for cars coming from behind. Nothing unusual for a cager to run right in to the back a motorcycle stopped in traffic. In gear allows accelerating up beside the car in front if someone comes up from behind too close too fast. I've done this 3 times in 600,000+ miles of riding, and all 3 times the cage behind hit the cage in front. I'd have been squished.



Tdub's neutral is easier to find with the engine running by shifting to 2nd and tapping the lever down.

 

[birdmove]

It could also be a clutch adjustment problem. As in the clutch isn't releasing all the way. You could try a little less freeplay at the clutch lever.Very easy to do. It should show in your owners manual.



jon

 

[NVarmr1]

Try down shifting from second to first while climbing a rocky hill. Can find neutral very easily then......

 

[qwerty]

Try down shifting from second to first while climbing a rocky hill. Can find neutral very easily then......

True.

 

[rastaman]

This is just an update to my original post.

I took the T dub for a 20 mile ride yesterday, first ride since I posted about having shifting problems, Well having been convinced by all the responses I got, that there was nothing wrong with the tranny. I have to report that I have finally learn the shifting trick... I can do that "soft touch" to get her in neural from 2nd. And I just ignore the clunkyness....Although it was a street/city ride....it was fun



Thanks for all the responses...great help and reassurance.