Ninja 500R problem, but maybe you can help?

KawiKid860 · October 19th, 2011, 08:04 PM

I posted this on the 500R forum but you guys are generally way quicker to reply and have better information, so I'll give it a shot since the design of the 500s and pregens are pretty similar. Basically what happens is when I go to shift to 2nd gear from 1st, my bike will go into neutral and I'll have to shift again to get 2nd. This usually only happens when I take off fast, but it can't be good... If I apply more pressure to the shifter it will go straight to 2nd but will sound and feel horrible like I'm breaking stuff :x... when I'm doing a WOT run it never does this irregardless of whether I clutchless shift or use the clutch. Sometimes it will also go from 2nd to neutral when I'm trying to shift down to 1st. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Possibly the transmission is just clunky and I shift too lightly so it could be more my own error? Also this doesn't happen for any other gear and I've only put it into a false neutral once or twice, the bike has under 8200 miles 1700 put on it by me.

Alex · October 19th, 2011, 08:11 PM

Check out this thread.

shifting problem/question

KawiKid860 · October 19th, 2011, 08:48 PM

Thanks! Time to go rip apart my bike! xD noooo but if I can't get this sorted out I'll mention it to the mechanic when I have it taken in for its 7500 mile service (its already 700 overdue :/)

GeorgeRYoung · October 20th, 2011, 06:42 AM

There's a swell Kawasaki feature called Positive Neutral Finder. It's meant to make it easy to get into neutral from 1st when the bike is stopped. It actually prevents you from getting into 2nd.

However, it makes the shift from 1st to 2nd grittier, especially when the bike is going slow.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of transmission disassembly work to get rid of it.

KawiKid860 · October 20th, 2011, 12:07 PM

A guy over at ex-500.com mentioned that too, honestly I thought that the PNF was awesomely beginner friendly until I realized how easy it is to hit neutral. I didn't realize it could effect the shifting while the bike is moving, but that explains it!

Alex · October 20th, 2011, 12:36 PM

I'm not sure it does; if the bike is moving at more than a walking speed, the PNF shouldn't be affecting the shift to 2nd in any way. It certainly shouldn't come into play at high rpm shifts from 1st, as described in your OP. My money is still on shift lever adjustment, clutch freeplay adjustment, and making sure to both shift firmly, as well as making sure to let the shift lever spring all the way back to center after each shift.

KawiKid860 · October 20th, 2011, 06:04 PM

Can you explain to me what freeplay is? Or maybe I should just google it lol, I checked my shifter last night and its absolutely perfect by going off the diagram in the link you posted. The bike has shifted pretty great today, some of the guys at www.ex-500.com said it may be because I might be due for an oil change (part of the 7500 mile service, but I've no idea what the PO did in terms of oil but if he put fresh stuff in at the start of the season it should still have decent oil.)

Alex · October 20th, 2011, 08:36 PM

Clutch freeplay is how much the clutch lever moves before it starts to pull the cable, measured right where the lever connects to the bike. You want some freeplay there (at least 1mm to 2mm), for the clutch to work properly and not wear quickly / behave strangely. You can adjust it just by turning the knob right on the cable.

http://www.ehow.com/video_4956942_ch...free-play.html

hal9089 · October 20th, 2011, 10:29 PM

not extremely relevant.. but any rumors of a new gen 500?

edit :: scratch that. just did a little research and learned that they killed them off after 09. sad story.. really wish they would come back with a new body style like the 250.. im small and dont feel very comfortable on a 600

KawiKid860 · October 21st, 2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

not extremely relevant.. but any rumors of a new gen 500?

edit :: scratch that. just did a little research and learned that they killed them off after 09. sad story.. really wish they would come back with a new body style like the 250.. im small and dont feel very comfortable on a 600

Yeah I think kawi decided that the 500 and 650 don't have enough space in between their engine sizes to justify having both. It is sad though it's truly an awesome bike, nice bump up in power if you don't want a supersport but want to upgrade from the 250, most people seemed turned off by its looks though.

JLinde1339 · November 2nd, 2011, 01:25 PM

500's make for some cool looking 'fighters, tho. As far as the PNF, mine went into neutral from 1st going into 2nd once. It wasn't a WOT kind of take off, but a stop turning onto a 45mph road, so you gotta accel pretty quick. Boy, was that a surprise as I almost fell over the handlebars... XD
Posted via Mobile Device

October 19th, 2011, 08:04 PM	#1
KawiKid860 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Murphey Location: Eastern Washington Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.	Ninja 500R problem, but maybe you can help? I posted this on the 500R forum but you guys are generally way quicker to reply and have better information, so I'll give it a shot since the design of the 500s and pregens are pretty similar. Basically what happens is when I go to shift to 2nd gear from 1st, my bike will go into neutral and I'll have to shift again to get 2nd. This usually only happens when I take off fast, but it can't be good... If I apply more pressure to the shifter it will go straight to 2nd but will sound and feel horrible like I'm breaking stuff :x... when I'm doing a WOT run it never does this irregardless of whether I clutchless shift or use the clutch. Sometimes it will also go from 2nd to neutral when I'm trying to shift down to 1st. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Possibly the transmission is just clunky and I shift too lightly so it could be more my own error? Also this doesn't happen for any other gear and I've only put it into a false neutral once or twice, the bike has under 8200 miles 1700 put on it by me.

October 19th, 2011, 08:11 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Check out this thread. shifting problem/question __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 20th, 2011, 06:42 AM	#4
GeorgeRYoung ninjette.org member Name: George Location: Ottawa, Canada Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): EX250, C10 Concours Posts: 109	Positive neutral finder There's a swell Kawasaki feature called Positive Neutral Finder. It's meant to make it easy to get into neutral from 1st when the bike is stopped. It actually prevents you from getting into 2nd. However, it makes the shift from 1st to 2nd grittier, especially when the bike is going slow. Unfortunately, there's a lot of transmission disassembly work to get rid of it.

October 20th, 2011, 12:36 PM	#6
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	I'm not sure it does; if the bike is moving at more than a walking speed, the PNF shouldn't be affecting the shift to 2nd in any way. It certainly shouldn't come into play at high rpm shifts from 1st, as described in your OP. My money is still on shift lever adjustment, clutch freeplay adjustment, and making sure to both shift firmly, as well as making sure to let the shift lever spring all the way back to center after each shift. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 20th, 2011, 08:36 PM	#8
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Clutch freeplay is how much the clutch lever moves before it starts to pull the cable, measured right where the lever connects to the bike. You want some freeplay there (at least 1mm to 2mm), for the clutch to work properly and not wear quickly / behave strangely. You can adjust it just by turning the knob right on the cable. http://www.ehow.com/video_4956942_ch...free-play.html __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 19th, 2011, 08:48 PM	#3
KawiKid860 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Murphey Location: Eastern Washington Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.	Thanks! Time to go rip apart my bike! xD noooo but if I can't get this sorted out I'll mention it to the mechanic when I have it taken in for its 7500 mile service (its already 700 overdue :/)

October 20th, 2011, 12:07 PM	#5
KawiKid860 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Murphey Location: Eastern Washington Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.	A guy over at ex-500.com mentioned that too, honestly I thought that the PNF was awesomely beginner friendly until I realized how easy it is to hit neutral. I didn't realize it could effect the shifting while the bike is moving, but that explains it!

October 20th, 2011, 06:04 PM	#7
KawiKid860 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Murphey Location: Eastern Washington Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.	Can you explain to me what freeplay is? Or maybe I should just google it lol, I checked my shifter last night and its absolutely perfect by going off the diagram in the link you posted. The bike has shifted pretty great today, some of the guys at www.ex-500.com said it may be because I might be due for an oil change (part of the 7500 mile service, but I've no idea what the PO did in terms of oil but if he put fresh stuff in at the start of the season it should still have decent oil.)

October 20th, 2011, 10:29 PM	#9
hal9089 ninjette.org member Name: Haley Location: Kingsport, TN Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r Candy Plasma Blue Posts: 43	not extremely relevant.. but any rumors of a new gen 500? edit :: scratch that. just did a little research and learned that they killed them off after 09. sad story.. really wish they would come back with a new body style like the 250.. im small and dont feel very comfortable on a 600 __________________________________________________ fear nothing <3

November 2nd, 2011, 01:25 PM	#11
JLinde1339 Fighterer in Training Name: Joshua Location: Schenectady, NY Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250R Posts: 316	500's make for some cool looking 'fighters, tho. As far as the PNF, mine went into neutral from 1st going into 2nd once. It wasn't a WOT kind of take off, but a stop turning onto a 45mph road, so you gotta accel pretty quick. Boy, was that a surprise as I almost fell over the handlebars... XD Posted via Mobile Device

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