ninjette.org - View Single Post - PSA: check your shifter bolt once in a while

namdamyo · March 27th, 2013, 11:27 AM

So this Sunday, as I was riding back to campus, barely a mile from the parking lot, I go to downshift, and I miss the shifter. Confused, I think that I moved my foot wrong and try again. Still no shifter. I look down and see that it looks bent, which is weird since it was fine for the past hour of the ride... So now I'm stuck in 5th or 6th gear, so if I stop, I'll be stuck. Thankfully, there's a campus parking lot nearby (not the one I usually park in) where I manage to pull over safely. Pull in clutch, shut off the engine, get off and remove my helmet to see what's up.

Turns out the bolt for my shifter fell out, and now it's just hanging there...

Anyway, I later pushed/rode my bike to the motorcycle parking (turns out feathering the clutch enough will get you going in any gear, but I can't imagine it's good for the clutch... hah), before ordering a replacement. Until it arrives, no riding for me...

So yeah, if I had checked it even once in the past couple months this probably wouldn't have happened.

March 27th, 2013, 11:27 AM	#35
namdamyo ninjette.org member Name: Nick Location: West Chester PA or Bucks County PA Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250r SE green/black Posts: 40	PSA: check your shifter bolt once in a while So this Sunday, as I was riding back to campus, barely a mile from the parking lot, I go to downshift, and I miss the shifter. Confused, I think that I moved my foot wrong and try again. Still no shifter. I look down and see that it looks bent, which is weird since it was fine for the past hour of the ride... So now I'm stuck in 5th or 6th gear, so if I stop, I'll be stuck. Thankfully, there's a campus parking lot nearby (not the one I usually park in) where I manage to pull over safely. Pull in clutch, shut off the engine, get off and remove my helmet to see what's up. Turns out the bolt for my shifter fell out, and now it's just hanging there... Anyway, I later pushed/rode my bike to the motorcycle parking (turns out feathering the clutch enough will get you going in any gear, but I can't imagine it's good for the clutch... hah), before ordering a replacement. Until it arrives, no riding for me... So yeah, if I had checked it even once in the past couple months this probably wouldn't have happened.