false neutral.

BOH · July 20th, 2012, 04:29 AM

Its my first week riding my 2010 ninja 250. I bought a second hand one with 5000 k's on it. So far im really happy with it. Since I have never driven a manual car i think i was a quite abusive to the transmission and the clutch during my first days and recently i found out that sometimes i can put it my bike into the neutral while im between 2nd and 3rd gears (found out accidently when came to a stop and thought i was in first gear though i was in second. I pushed the shift lever half way up. Then i released the clutch and the bike didnt stall and i only realised what i did when the neutral light didnt came up.) im just wondering if something can be wrong with my transmission since as far as i know i shouldnt be getting this kind of false neutrals. Or i am just paranoid?

Thanks.

akcalhoun · July 20th, 2012, 04:56 AM

these bikes come with a positive neutral finder, when the bike is at a stop u just have to go up half gear and ur in neutral.

BOH · July 20th, 2012, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akcalhoun

these bikes come with a positive neutral finder, when the bike is at a stop u just have to go up half gear and ur in neutral.

yeah but the problem is that i somehow managed to find neutral between 2nd and 3rd gear

and the indicator didnt light up.

csmith12 · July 20th, 2012, 05:17 AM

It happens, even on other bikes. All you can do is shift harder and completely.

pomartin · July 20th, 2012, 05:24 AM

there is neutral between every gear on every bike. But only between 1st and 2nd gear is made that way it is a little harder to shift past neutral.
Actually it is preety logical... Engine cannot be in two gears at same time... This would seriousli dammaged it... So there is a little space between each gear

and welcome to the forum

choneofakind · July 20th, 2012, 05:25 AM

Ftr, when you get a false neutral, pull the clutch in and get it in a gear asap, then go about you riding like normal. False neutrals can sometimes fall into gear and if the engine is revving at all for whatever reason, that can be bad when it suddenly grabs a gear.
Posted via Mobile Device

dirty nasty · July 20th, 2012, 02:11 PM

It happens. Nothing is wrong with the bike. Not to sound like a dick, but you just need more practice shifting I think. You'll get the hang of it. If it makes you feel any better I've been on motorcycles for 14 years and I still screw up my shifting more often than I'd like to admit. We all do it.

alex.s · July 20th, 2012, 02:20 PM

the shift pattern star at the end of the shift control drum in these bikes (most street bikes, to be honest) is rather round and while making it easy to shift, makes it easy to get stuck between gears. they make aftermarket stars that have a steeper slope and make it harder to get stuck between gears, but it also makes it require more pressure to shift.

though, you can overcome most shifting problems by correcting technique or adjusting the shift lever.

Motofool · July 20th, 2012, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Ftr, when you get a false neutral, pull the clutch in and get it in a gear asap, then go about you riding like normal. False neutrals can sometimes fall into gear and if the engine is revving at all for whatever reason, that can be bad when it suddenly grabs a gear.
Posted via Mobile Device

Very true.

Practice shifting using your ears and exact timing to match gears inside the engine.
Try not to learn wrong practices that you will need to erase just to re-learn the proper way (if you are serious about riding).

Manipulate the shifter and the clutch with resolution and all the way.
While upshiting, give the driving gear a little time to slow down and match the speed of the next step up.
When downshifting, blip the throttle in order to speed up the driving gear and match the speed of the next step down.

Downshifting on a curve has a caveat: keep the rpm's correct (higher than in upper gear) to accept the lower gear.
The sudden resistance to rolling, may make the rear tire skid sideways, unless you clutch-out slowly enough to harmonize rpm's.
Unless the engine's rpm's are intentionally increased, the inertia will make the rear wheel slowdown (while trying to speed up the engine).

Some helpful threads:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...t=downshifting

Firehorse · July 21st, 2012, 10:02 PM

Wow.
That just happened to me today. It went into neural with no light between second and third. You guys explained it perfectly. Thank you, I was two days away from worrying enough to take it in.

Life is good again.

choneofakind · July 23rd, 2012, 08:50 AM

Nah you're good.

All bikes do it. All riders do it. Makes you happy no one can see your face under your helmet because it always makes you

Posted via Mobile Device

July 20th, 2012, 04:29 AM	#1
BOH ninjette.org newbie Name: Paul Location: Sydney Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 ninja 250r Posts: 3	false neutral. Its my first week riding my 2010 ninja 250. I bought a second hand one with 5000 k's on it. So far im really happy with it. Since I have never driven a manual car i think i was a quite abusive to the transmission and the clutch during my first days and recently i found out that sometimes i can put it my bike into the neutral while im between 2nd and 3rd gears (found out accidently when came to a stop and thought i was in first gear though i was in second. I pushed the shift lever half way up. Then i released the clutch and the bike didnt stall and i only realised what i did when the neutral light didnt came up.) im just wondering if something can be wrong with my transmission since as far as i know i shouldnt be getting this kind of false neutrals. Or i am just paranoid? Thanks.

July 20th, 2012, 05:17 AM	#4
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	It happens, even on other bikes. All you can do is shift harder and completely. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

July 20th, 2012, 02:20 PM	#8
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	the shift pattern star at the end of the shift control drum in these bikes (most street bikes, to be honest) is rather round and while making it easy to shift, makes it easy to get stuck between gears. they make aftermarket stars that have a steeper slope and make it harder to get stuck between gears, but it also makes it require more pressure to shift. though, you can overcome most shifting problems by correcting technique or adjusting the shift lever. __________________________________________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Shifting problem - False shifts from 2-3	s2kenny	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	6	March 26th, 2013 11:05 AM
False Neutral Recovery - What did I break?	setasai	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	15	June 11th, 2012 12:03 PM
Clutch slipping - False Neutral....?	sopranos	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	6	November 16th, 2011 04:31 PM
[crash.net - WSBK] - WSS: False neutral caused Crutchlow lead fall.	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	September 29th, 2009 02:31 AM
False neutral	SteveL	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	6	March 26th, 2009 09:14 AM

July 20th, 2012, 04:56 AM	#2
akcalhoun ninjette.org member Name: aaron Location: east texas Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 honda shadow phantom Posts: 170	these bikes come with a positive neutral finder, when the bike is at a stop u just have to go up half gear and ur in neutral.

July 20th, 2012, 05:24 AM	#5
pomartin ninjette.org member Name: Martin Location: Slovenia Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250R (FI) Posts: 169	there is neutral between every gear on every bike. But only between 1st and 2nd gear is made that way it is a little harder to shift past neutral. Actually it is preety logical... Engine cannot be in two gears at same time... This would seriousli dammaged it... So there is a little space between each gear and welcome to the forum

July 20th, 2012, 05:25 AM	#6
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Ftr, when you get a false neutral, pull the clutch in and get it in a gear asap, then go about you riding like normal. False neutrals can sometimes fall into gear and if the engine is revving at all for whatever reason, that can be bad when it suddenly grabs a gear. Posted via Mobile Device

July 20th, 2012, 02:11 PM	#7
dirty nasty ninjette.org sage Name: Karl Location: MA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2000 Kwak Ninja 250 and 1998 Yamaha YZ400F Posts: 534	It happens. Nothing is wrong with the bike. Not to sound like a dick, but you just need more practice shifting I think. You'll get the hang of it. If it makes you feel any better I've been on motorcycles for 14 years and I still screw up my shifting more often than I'd like to admit. We all do it.

July 21st, 2012, 10:02 PM	#10
Firehorse ninjette.org sage Name: Ms.T, Queen of the Night Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250 Posts: 938	Wow. That just happened to me today. It went into neural with no light between second and third. You guys explained it perfectly. Thank you, I was two days away from worrying enough to take it in. Life is good again.

July 23rd, 2012, 08:50 AM	#11
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Nah you're good. All bikes do it. All riders do it. Makes you happy no one can see your face under your helmet because it always makes you Posted via Mobile Device