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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Gears grinding when down shifting...
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Message started by IN-S40 on 08/04/11 at 07:45:15

Title: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by IN-S40 on 08/04/11 at 07:45:15

I have noticed lately when down shifting (comming to a stop) my bike now will sometimes try to grind the gears between the 2 - 1 shift. I'm assuming its because neutral is in between but I dont remember it doing this when I first got the bike. I really have not had the chance to really take a look at it but up shifting is fine. If it does grind the gears and its in neutral Ihave found if I let the clutch out and then pull the clutch in and down shift yo 1 it usually goes into 1 fine. Is this common or do I have some work ahead of me?

Thanks!

Darren

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by Angie on 08/04/11 at 08:21:09

I have had this happen when my clutch cable needs to be adjusted a bit. I fiddled with the adjustment circle/wheel thingy (Im very technically minded, hope I didnt just lose you) thats right by by the clutch lever and it took care of the problem.

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by runrun on 08/04/11 at 09:30:04

like angie says, sounds like the clutch just needs to be adjusted a bit. upshifting works fine without the clutch, but downshifting will be difficult/noisy/grinding if the clutch is not fully disengaging when you pull the clutch lever in.

if you have the owners manual or a clymer manual, the adjustment process is easy. if not, plenty of people here can help.

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by Serowbot on 08/04/11 at 09:47:02

... and, that it is only in the 2nd to 1st downshift is a clue...

Perhaps your riding style is evolving... are you going from 2 to 1 at a little higher speed?...
That lowest gearshift is smoothest at walking speed...

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by IN-S40 on 08/04/11 at 10:07:34

3A2C3B263E2B263D490 wrote:

That could very well be.... I'll take a look at the adjustment tonight, otherwise i'll keep an eye out as to how fast i'm going when i do the last down shift.

Thanks all!!

Darren

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by ralfyguy on 08/04/11 at 10:41:11

Mine does exactly what serowbot said.

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by Howitzer on 08/04/11 at 17:55:16

6F796E736B7E73681C0 wrote:

This exactly describes my situation also. I "solved" the problem by waiting longer to downshift, <15mph now, whereas I upshift around 20mph. Is this still caused by the misadjusted clutch cable, when it only affects 2-1 downshifting?

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by Serowbot on 08/04/11 at 18:27:45

486F7769747A6572000 wrote:

Is this still caused by the misadjusted clutch cable, when it only affects 2-1 downshifting?

Nope... it's just the nature of the beast... ... most motorcycles actually...
;)...

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/06/11 at 05:07:16

I havent tred this, but this is what Id try if I wanted to D/S into 1st at higher speed. Hand off the clutch, drop out of 2nd into N,goose it lightly in neutral, then see how it acts when it drops into 1st.

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by AZSGT on 08/06/11 at 14:44:32

Mine is an '06. It is the same way. If I am running too high RPM's it hates going from second to first.

Title: Re: Gears grinding when down shifting...
Post by Gyrobob on 08/07/11 at 04:01:56

With any bike that has the standard shift pattern with neutral between 1 and 2, the shift will be smoothest if you shift to first just before you put your feet down when coming to a stop. The idea is to put it into first while the gears are still turning (but slowly) and the clutch drag is minimal.