tips to avoid shifting into neutral please

[OCMagnum]

Let me preface this by saying I read a lot of the "shift" threads but did not find anything specific to my situation. I would appreciate any hints/tricks, or links to relevant threads if I missed them....

Some quick background: Took the MSF in late July as pretty much a complete newbie to motorcycles, bought gear the week after and a used 2012 Ninja 250shortly thereafter. The first week was pretty much just parking lot practice, followed by a week on 35mph neighborhood roads with lots of roundabouts. Have since started to commute regularly and go on 1 to 2 hour rides on weekend mornings. Have taken the bike to about 65mph (many roads around here are 55mph limit), but have yet to go on the Freeway. Have put about 800 miles on the bike so far and, while I had some rider induced moments in the first few weeks (no drops luckily), definitaly start to feel more comfortable on, and confident in the bike.

That said, one issue I continue to have on a somewhat regular basis (maybe once or twice a day) is hitting neutral when shifting from 1st to 2nd. I have been really trying to focus on that, but it still happens and it does so under different circumstances (e.g accelerating fast yesterday merging from the gas station onto a main road yesterday, slowly moving through an intersection this morning). I also noticed that it not always goes straight into neutral, but sometimes actually appears to engage second (revs drop, no light), to only fall into neutral a second later (revs through the roof, N light comes on).

It can obviously be corrected pretty easily when it happens, but I would like to pick the brain of the experts here to see if there are any specific techniques/exercises I can deploy to improve and hopefully avoid the issue in the future.

Thanks for reading this long post and your insight on how to improve my skills.

Cheers!

[lgk]

what kind of boots are you wearing?

how are you placing your foot, in relationship to the shift lever?

[diablos991]

This used to get me a lot.

I just practiced pushing up further when going from first to second.
Depending on your foot size, you could look at it as a lift with the toes, or a push with the heel.

When I transitioned to riding boots, the push with the heel method solved it quickly as the sole and instep are very stiff.

[OCMagnum]

Thanks Jason!

I have Sidi Way boots (touring/street boots) and normally try to have ball of foot on peg. That said, I need to pay attention if I position it different right after taking the foot off the ground.

[OCMagnum]

Originally Posted by diablos991

This used to get me a lot.

I just practiced pushing up further when going from first to second.
Depending on your foot size, you could look at it as a lift with the toes, or a push with the heel.

When I transitioned to riding boots, the push with the heel method solved it quickly as the sole and instep are very stiff.

Wow you guys are fast!!!! Thanks!

Happy to hear there is hope

[lgk]

Originally Posted by OCMagnum

Thanks Jason!

I have Sidi Way boots and normally try to have ball of foot on peg. That said, I need to pay attention if I position my different right after taking it off the ground.

make sure its not you first.


then as a last ditch effort.

you can adjust the shift angle and throw on the stock shifter.
there is a bar the threaded on both ends to adjust the height and a splined piece that connects to the actual shifter on the transmission.

[Motofool]

OC,

It is also important to adjust the position of the shifting lever respect to your foot, so you don't have to make more effort in one direction than the other.

With proper timing and a firm input, the gears should switch without engaging neutral.

Normally, engaging neutral on purpose takes a more delicate and precise input.

During sequential shifting, try keeping the arc of the foot on the peg.
Retract the foot to rest on the ball only after you are done with shifting.

[CC Cowboy]

Adjust and shift with authority, meaning don't be shy, use some force.

[Jiggles]

Lower Dat shifter

[Jono]

GP shift yo! Swap that shifter around. It will make a big difference. I used to hit neutral every now and then like you before I swapped. Haven't made that mistake since. On the pregens it is a super easy process. I think on the newgens you have to mod the front sprocket cover. Don't quote me on that.

[cuong-nutz]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Adjust and shift with authority, meaning don't be shy, use some force.

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Lower Dat shifter

Originally Posted by Jono

GP shift yo! Swap that shifter around. It will make a big difference. I used to hit neutral every now and then like you before I swapped. Haven't made that mistake since. On the pregens it is a super easy process. I think on the newgens you have to mod the front sprocket cover. Don't quote me on that.

What they said.

[OCMagnum]

Thanks all; very much appreciate the input. Off to the DIY section to look into adjusting the lever.

Thanks again guys

[flynjay]

+1 on adjusting the shifter.

[Alex]

relevant thread:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...st+shift+lever

[dirty nasty]

Try adjusting your lever. Press firmer.

It still happens to the best of us. I get false neutrals on my bike (even with GP shift) some of the time because I'm not perfect, but nobody is.

Since you're a new rider I wouldn't recommend going to GP shift. If you had learned with GP shifting it would be different, since that would have been all you know. However, you just began riding. You don't need the added confusion of remembering that pressing down up shifts and pressing up down shifts. All motorcycles currently sold in the USA (and maybe around the world) follow the "1 down X-amount up" pattern when they roll off the factory floor. Buyers/owners choose to have them changed over.

It is very simple to swap shift patterns on the pre-gen Ninja 250 though. All you need to do is loosen one bolt and rotate the shift lever. It's so easy when I was out riding with a friend he wanted to try my bike. Nobody I know knows what GP shifting is and I didn't want him to be all confused and ****ed up about my shift pattern. So I pulled over and changed it in less than 2 minutes. Not all bikes are that easy or cheap. Some require that your purchase parts.

[JELY1990]

I had that issue a few times. If you put pressure on the shifter before pulling the clutch in you should avoid hitting false neutrals. I made that adjustment and haven't hit any more false neutrals.

[OCMagnum]

Thanks everyone again for the tips and the link to the other thread.

Happy report I did not have the problem on my ride back home yesterday, or today.....the bad news is I did not have it today because I have a bad head cold and decided to take the car instead

[rabies]

lots of riding. adjust the shifter. kick hard

[dcx4610]

I was told when I first started that you couldn't shift into neutral while the bike was moving. So....5 times later, it doesn't freak me out as much.

Basically as others have mentioned, just kicker up harder. Every time I've ever shifted into neutral trying to get to 2nd was from just shifting too softly. Kick like you mean it.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by dirty nasty

Try adjusting your lever. Press firmer.

It still happens to the best of us. I get false neutrals on my bike (even with GP shift) some of the time because I'm not perfect, but nobody is.

Curious statements. You say you're not perfect but imply you are part of the best of us.

I took a vote of the best of us (who are perfect) and both of us think we are perfect and you're not one of the best of us. Sorry!

[toua70]

I used to shift into neutral all the time. I remembered thinking, "God, this bike loves to be in neutral" got some boots and never shifted into neutral again

[Asspire]

1. Adjust the shifter
2. ?????
3. PROFIT!!!!!


Also shift at redline.

[dirty nasty]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Curious statements. You say you're not perfect but imply you are part of the best of us.

I took a vote of the best of us (who are perfect) and both of us think we are perfect and you're not one of the best of us. Sorry!

Take your implication and stick it up your ass.

Did you read the part where I said not everyone is perfect? You fall under that category. Sorry!

[Felipe the Ant]

Originally Posted by dirty nasty

Take your implication and stick it up your ass.

Did you read the part where I said not everyone is perfect? You fall under that category. Sorry!

But he is not everyone... O.o

[dirty nasty]

Originally Posted by Felipe the Ant

But he is not everyone... O.o

He's part of it.

[subxero]

forget hitting neutral, I feel like i have to bang of the shifter to get it out of neutral into first at stop lights. Almost like my bike has a half neutral between neutral and first. 2 down 4 up

[lgk]

you need to adjust your shifter.

the neutral range is too wide.

rotate the spline thing until its vertical, then adjust your pedal for comfort.

if that don't work you got issues...

[subxero]

its only at stops, sure you have to give it the typical jiggle but sometimes it just seems like i need to jiggle a little to much, the bike goes into first no problem otherwise

[lgk]

Originally Posted by subxero

its only at stops, sure you have to give it the typical jiggle but sometimes it just seems like i need to jiggle a little to much, the bike goes into first no problem otherwise

yeah i would experiment with the shifter.

mine was like that until got wood crafts and adjusted them.

now it shifts smoothly at any gear.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by lgk

yeah i would experiment with the shifter.

mine was like that until got wood crafts and adjusted them.

now it shifts smoothly at any gear.

thanks, ill definitely look into it.

[Minikin_Jo]

That happens to me, too. I have to *always* double check I'm in first when I come to a complete stop because often I'm in neutral (no dummy light) and I always push my foot all the way down to first gear before I stop. It's super embarrassing trying to take off when you're still in neutral and don't realize it. It takes a couple 'clutch out, clutch in, roll the tire forward and back' movements before it will 'pop' and go into first.

I did have it happen to me two or three times (one of the times I actually got on camera) where I'm in 2nd gear but then while accelerating, it will suddenly go into neutral (and the light comes on.)

And on more occasions I can count, I shift to second gear but for some reason it's not hard enough for it to engage and I'm rolling in neutral. I think I shift with the same pressure all the time but it seems there are times it wants me to do it harder.

I have to say these issues I mentioned above are the most frequent, most often, and most annoying that I experience with my bike.

[lgk]

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

That happens to me, too. I have to *always* double check I'm in first when I come to a complete stop because often I'm in neutral (no dummy light) and I always push my foot all the way down to first gear before I stop. It's super embarrassing trying to take off when you're still in neutral and don't realize it. It takes a couple 'clutch out, clutch in, roll the tire forward and back' movements before it will 'pop' and go into first.

I did have it happen to me two or three times (one of the times I actually got on camera) where I'm in 2nd gear but then while accelerating, it will suddenly go into neutral (and the light comes on.)

And on more occasions I can count, I shift to second gear but for some reason it's not hard enough for it to engage and I'm rolling in neutral. I think I shift with the same pressure all the time but it seems there are times it wants me to do it harder.

I have to say these issues I mentioned above are the most frequent, most often, and most annoying that I experience with my bike.

happened to me too.
it quit once i adjusted the lever.

if you have a rear stand get your homeboy to adjust it while you try to shift.
once it feels good lock it down.

[alex.s]

in the transmission there is a drum that has grooves in it which control the shift forks which control which gear you are in. one of the areas in that shift drum is neutral. on the end of the shift drum there is a metal gear thing. it looks like a star with one of the tips cut off. the tip that has been cut off is neutral. you can replace the star with one that has a smaller zone for neutral, or one that is missing the neutral zone all together. there is a nub with a spring behind it screwed into the top of the crank case above the output shaft. this nub is what pushes on the star pattern. you can replace the spring with a stronger spring to help reduce possibility of getting stuck in between gears. however poor shifting and not completing the shift motion will typically land you in a bad spot at one point or another regardless of any modifications you've made

[mustang5.0]

just hit it like a man.. normal i cant find neutral cause i hit to hard

[alex.s]

shouldn't be "hitting it". just apply smooth even pressure all the way through the stroke of the shift lever.

[Minikin_Jo]

Guess we can make those adjustments to my bike when we are installing the SHOGUN FRAME SLIDERS I won in the Motolist.com giveaway!