Putting the Bike into Neutral

Off-topic
1

Ive had some problems recently where the neutral light doesn’t come on but it doesnt bother me too much as i know where neutral is, I took it to the garage one day and they couldnt find a problem with it since its intermittent and worked fine for the guy who took it out for a spin.

however, ive now started to notice that it seems like its a bit stiff recently when trying to put it into neutral. i rode to work today and it was fine, at traffic lights it went into neutral fine but when i parked up at work i couldnt for the life of me get it into neutral. it either stayed in first or skipped neutral (the light came on for a change and then off) and went into second no matter how i tried to do it.

in the end i gave up and turned the engine off in first gear.

any suggestions as to what the problem might be here???

2

Is the chain adjusted properly?

3

do you know what, i havent checked it this week :rolleyes: doh! :laugh:

4

Avoid the issue by knocking it into neutral just as you come to a stop…

5

This happens to me alot as well.

I find that if I am stopped and can’t get the bike into neutral, give the throttle a quick rev whilst at the same time pushing up slightly.

For some reason it works and my bike easily slips into neutral.

6

yeah usually if i have problems thats exactly what i do but for some reason this time it wasnt having any of it!

came back to the bike in the evening and before i started it i gently put my foot down on it and the light came on! checked the chain and it seemed really loose so i’ll sort that out soon

7

most bikes do this, i think its ummit to do with 1st having to go past neutral to get into second?

8

oh - I didn’t know that until a mate told me last week :stuck_out_tongue:

9

yeah, mine does the same. I always put it down to how the gearbox synchromesh thingumyjig, letting the clutch tickle for a second usually sorts it for me.

EDIT: mate’s mum said it did it lots when her bike was warmed up. the bike shop tightened her clutch the next service. not sure if that’s BS though

10

I’ve had similar experiences before that have been a sign that it was time for an oil change.

Also a TDR250 that simply wouldn’t go into neutral at all with the engine running !

11

if you can find neutral easy the clutch is most likely worn or badly adjusted.

its binding slightly making it hard to select neutral.

as pat says try an oil change and check clutch adjustment.

12

Good post. I didn’t know bikes had neutral lights. Now I know, they’re quite handy aint they?

I seem to have got by for the last while workin down to 1st and then easing up a half notch.