Shifting to N or 1 problems

[stevesnj]

So I have this issue and don't know if it's just me or what. Anyway when I am in let's say 5th or even 3rd or 2nd and stop. I disengage to clutch to shift to N or 1 and I can't do so unless I slightly engage the clutch lever and shift to go to N I have to do this for very gear at a stop, for example: slight engage to 3rd, slight engage to 2nd etc. until I reach N.

 

[CMHrider]

I had a similar issue the other day when slowing from highway speeds. I came to a stop and shifted into what I thought was 1st but found out after stalling that I was in 2nd. This was the first time I had noticed this though.

 

[Botch]

It's not you. It's the nature of the FZ transmission (maybe all bikes?). When I start my bike up to warm up in the morning, I can only squeeze the clutch and shift once; if I wasn't in 2nd or 1st, I have to rock the bike (move the rear tire/trannie) before I can shift more than once to get it to Neutral.
To avoid this, I always try to downshift all the way down when coming to a stop, whether it be at a stoplight or my driveway.

:mike: <==this has nothing to do with this thread, but MikeBike looks so cute in his bike shorts!

 

[mglowe]

...I have to do this for very gear at a stop, for example: slight engage to 3rd, slight engage to 2nd etc. until I reach N.

Sometimes, but not often, I have to engage the clutch to move gears. It sounds like your flying up to your stop and have not given yourself time to shift down through the gears at the recommended shift points.

 

[dankatz]

I think it is normal operation. You don't need to rock the bike - just engage the clutch lever slightly.

 

[tolgatt]

do you mean when you are in complete stop and if you are in a higher gear than 2,,you cannot shift down to 2nd and down to N...if thats the case that happens time to time because the transmission has to be on the move to function properly...by disengaging the clutch a little bit you are letting the gears to turn with the engine and it lets you to down shift..
if you know that you are going to stop ahead , you should start downshifting as you slow down and let the clutch go every time you downshift...thats what i do every time :thumbup:

 

[dynamo-acl]

If I was having problems getting any gear whilst riding the first thing i would do is check the chain tension

but this is at a halt, but it could maybe coz a pressure in the transmision which stops u changing gears

u never know:Sport:

 

[rottenkid]

Why would you not be in N or 1st while you are stopped, or even more confusing when you start your bike???? The FZ6 and the bikes I previously owned ( EX-500 and CBR600F2) all did this. If for some odd reason I was not in N or 1st, I would have to engafe the clutch a little to change gears.

 

[stevesnj]

Why would you not be in N or 1st while you are stopped, or even more confusing when you start your bike????

Please read my post more carefully. :innocent:

 

[acim]

Sometimes, but not often, I have to engage the clutch to move gears. It sounds like your flying up to your stop and have not given yourself time to shift down through the gears at the recommended shift points.

Same here, so it must be with all FZ6.

 

[rottenkid]

I did read your post, Why are you stopping in 5th, 3rd, or 2nd? It sounds like you are not downshifting. I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding you. Are you having trouble downshifting while you are moving, or are you stopping completely, then trying to go down through the gears?

 

[stevesnj]

I did read your post, Why are you stopping in 5th, 3rd, or 2nd? It sounds like you are not downshifting. I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding you. Are you having trouble downshifting while you are moving, or are you stopping completely, then trying to go down through the gears?

if sometimes im in 3rd 4th or whatever, and i need to stop quicker than is humanly possible to downshift i have no choice than to come to a stop and disengage the clutch. Have you never had to stop while in a gear like 4th or 3rd?

 

[GConn]

It's normal. Sometimes when I downsfift more than one gear, the FZ wont let me downshift again. So you need to slightly relese the lever and pull again. Then it's ok. Pretty normal I think. Don't worry about it

 

[bluenova]

if sometimes im in 3rd 4th or whatever, and i need to stop quicker than is humanly possible to downshift i have no choice than to come to a stop and disengage the clutch. Have you never had to stop while in a gear like 4th or 3rd?

Nope, even when doing an emergency stop I come to a stop in 1st, without skipping gears. I guess it comes from being taught to downshift when learning to drive a car all those years ago. If you practice doing it every time, you will find after a few weeks you can change in a split second without any jerkyness.

The best method I find on a bike is:

Step 1 - Pressure on the gear lever
Step 2 - Clutch in, throttle off (at the same time) the gear will auto engage from the pressure applied in step 1
Step 3 - throttle on, clutch in (at the same time).

At first you will be slow but after a few weeks of getting the timing right and RPM's right it'll be super fast and smooth as silk.

After a couple of months getting that perfected try changing up 2>3 3>4 4>5 5>6 through the gears without using the clutch by applying pressure to the gear lever, and then just letting the throttle off a little and straight back on. It's even faster and even smoother. Don't do this between 1st and 2nd though and don't do it down through the gears only up.

 

[Doorag]

I'll agree with everyone else. It's normal. It happens to both my FZ and my TM offroad bike.

 

[stevesnj]

Nope, even when doing an emergency stop I come to a stop in 1st, without skipping gears.

man your a quick shifter...lol

thanks for the tips all :Sport:

 

[bluenova]

man your a quick shifter...lol

thanks for the tips all :Sport:

Yep, you can make it really instant, something I forgot to say in my earlier post... when coming down through the gears and stopping very quickly, I don't really pull the clutch all the way in, but just sort of slip it as I give pressure to the gear lever. It's really difficult to explain how to do it quick and smooth you just sort of have to get a feel for it.

 

[jamesfz6]

The bike needs to be moving when downshifting. DOnt wait till you are stopped to start shifting.

 

[Nelly]

if sometimes im in 3rd 4th or whatever, and i need to stop quicker than is humanly possible to downshift i have no choice than to come to a stop and disengage the clutch. Have you never had to stop while in a gear like 4th or 3rd?

I know what you are saying I had to do an emergency stop the other day and I only got to second gear before I was completely stopped.
It is good practice when doing the emergency stop to have the clutch disengaged as little as possible to increase engine braking.
Tolgatt has already offered a good explanation for why it is somtimes difficult to shift down whilst at a standstill. This is definately a Yamaha trait. I dont think that rocking or pulling the clutch a little are any different from each other. Use which method you need to get it back in gear.

Nelly

 

[Denver_FZ6]

Was also having problems finding first gear, typically occurred when coming to a stop after having been in 4th or 5th and seemed worse once bike was warmed up.

Previously I wasn't beginning to downshift until speed had dropped below 20 mph as recommended in the owners manual. At this time I was trying to downshift all the way to 1st, keeping the clutch pulled the entire time.

I've since learned to begin downshifting at higher speed, releasing the clutch either a little or completely to engage each gear, blipping the throttle as I go to keep the engine speed sync'd with the lower gear. No problems finding 1st using this technique.

Haven't practiced this technique enough to do it during a panic stop, but at least I know that slipping the clutch a bit will get things spinning in the tranny allowing me to find 1st.