So, I am not sure If this is possible or not, but here it goes. I just got new boots. Icon field armor, in case you were wondering. My question is, can the shift lever be adjusted so that it is easier for me to get my boot under it to shift? I have huge feet, and that is not helping either.
Shift lever adjustment
- Thread starter Rabbitman109
- Start date
. Look down at the linkage where the shifter connects to the shaft. You will see a hex head bolt. Loosen that all the way and you can slide the shifter off of the shaft. Rotate it a bit to your liking and put it back on.The stock height of the shift lever was excrutiating to upshift. I have lowered the pitch twice now and dialed it in perfectly. I am new to the forum and debated offering this fix for many of the members who were complaining about shifting problems (not wanting to go into certain gears). Until I got the shift lever adjusted properly, I was missing shifts, and occasionally couldn't get it to engage. Certainly this isn't likely to be the case with every bike out there, but I was pretty quick to blame the bike for having a quirky gearbox, when a pretty aggressive adjustment to the pitch of the shift lever has solved all issues. I have not had any issues since, and also relieved alot of shin pain from trying to flex so high to change gears. I love riding this bike!!
This makes complete since. If you're struggling to get your foot to flex far enough, you may not be able to put enough pressure onto the lever to get it to engage into the next gear. I can imagine this may not only cause missed shifts and shin pain, but possibly damage to the gear box from not fully engaging the next gears.
Related but different issue
Hi I am new to the forum, and I have a new (to me) FZ6r.
I found this thread in a search on shifting issues.
I also have trouble getting my foot under the gear for up-shifts, but I am more concerned about some times the bike not wanting to go into the next gear (typically 3rd or higher gears) while at speed.
Has anybody encountered this where when you try to upshift you reach a stop, but no click into gear and no associated desired gear change occurs either?
I have tried a real hard upshift, but when this happens (doesn't happen every time) I am just pressing and it feels like when you are in 6th gear, but think you are in 5th and try to upshift into a hard stop on the mechanical linkage.
Typically I drop the speed and then I can upshift on a second or third attempt, but this is certainly not ideal.
Would adjusting the shifter linkage help, or is it something else?
FYI, this bike has 500 miles on it, so it is still getting the break-in treatment.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
osprey
Hi I am new to the forum, and I have a new (to me) FZ6r.
I found this thread in a search on shifting issues.
I also have trouble getting my foot under the gear for up-shifts, but I am more concerned about some times the bike not wanting to go into the next gear (typically 3rd or higher gears) while at speed.
Has anybody encountered this where when you try to upshift you reach a stop, but no click into gear and no associated desired gear change occurs either?
I have tried a real hard upshift, but when this happens (doesn't happen every time) I am just pressing and it feels like when you are in 6th gear, but think you are in 5th and try to upshift into a hard stop on the mechanical linkage.
Typically I drop the speed and then I can upshift on a second or third attempt, but this is certainly not ideal.
Would adjusting the shifter linkage help, or is it something else?
FYI, this bike has 500 miles on it, so it is still getting the break-in treatment.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
osprey
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How much freeplay is in your clutch lever?
Looks like it is in tolerance (10-15mm), but not exactly sure if I am measuring it correctly. The clutch action feels OK.
I have not had any problems going into 1st or 2nd, but clicking into 3rd or 4th under moderate to hard acceleration is when I encounter the issue.
I do know how to shift a motorcycle, so I don't think the technique I am using is wrong unless this bike is peculiar.
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I responded to your new post. I had same thing happen to me. Still do from time to time but for the most part I corrected it. Check it out.
The shift mechanism is like a ratchet. After your toe pulls the lever up to engage the next gear, you must let it go back down as far as it wants in order to grab the next gear on the next pull up.
If your toe is inadvertantly holding it up a bit, it will not reset and will not grab the next gear.
If your toe is inadvertantly holding it up a bit, it will not reset and will not grab the next gear.
Glad I'm not the only one with shifting issues. I didn't want to say anything, because I thought it was just me, but I'm having an issue shifting up from 1st to 2nd gear, in certain RPM ranges. It keeps getting put in to neutral both on the high end of the RPM band (9-10K) and the low end (4-5K).
On the low end it's not a big deal but on the high end it's a huge issue, becuase I think I'm in second gear and lay back on the throtle causing the engine to over rev past 11,500 RPM. Not good. I'll try moving my shift lever down a bit and see if that solves my problem.
Oh and it's not as big of a problem when I'm wearing my Shift Fuel shoes, but my Sidi Strada's aren't as bulky in the toe area as the Shifts are, which I think accounts for some of my issues.
Thanks for the info guys.
On the low end it's not a big deal but on the high end it's a huge issue, becuase I think I'm in second gear and lay back on the throtle causing the engine to over rev past 11,500 RPM. Not good. I'll try moving my shift lever down a bit and see if that solves my problem.
Oh and it's not as big of a problem when I'm wearing my Shift Fuel shoes, but my Sidi Strada's aren't as bulky in the toe area as the Shifts are, which I think accounts for some of my issues.
Thanks for the info guys.
Awesome post! was having the same problem with not being able to fit my boot under, and having unwanted pressure on the shifter.
Anyways was wondering if anyone knows the limit of adjustment? As in how many splines on the shaft from stock is it okay to adjust the shifter...?
I went three and had to adjust the rod connection as well. result was raising the shifter 1". but the bolt on the rod just touches the plastic front sprocket cover, however not enough to stop the shift but still leaves a mark.
was also wondering if anyone has notched out this cover to avoid this or if there is aftermarket guards available.
Anyways was wondering if anyone knows the limit of adjustment? As in how many splines on the shaft from stock is it okay to adjust the shifter...?
I went three and had to adjust the rod connection as well. result was raising the shifter 1". but the bolt on the rod just touches the plastic front sprocket cover, however not enough to stop the shift but still leaves a mark.
was also wondering if anyone has notched out this cover to avoid this or if there is aftermarket guards available.
Deathdiesel
New Member
This is somewhat of possibly the same issue I may be having. Not nessecarily bad shifting, but if I try to shift up into second, after ive already shifted into neutral in an attempt to slow down(example: see red light ahead, slow down get to neutral, light turns green while still moving so need to get into 3-6 gear), it doesnt feel good at all.
When I do shift back up it feels like im grinding, even though I have the clutch in, and am shifting at an average-quick speed. Any ideas? This has happened twice atleast. Let me know if ive just confused anyone.
When I do shift back up it feels like im grinding, even though I have the clutch in, and am shifting at an average-quick speed. Any ideas? This has happened twice atleast. Let me know if ive just confused anyone.
Not that I know of as far as aftermarket guards or someone notching it out. I wouldn't see how it would hurt anything. Basically when you are adjusting, with the bike off, try to shift into second, and if it hits, you have to adjust it down. The rod can come out during adjustment if you go too far....don't ask how I know.
First thing...you are clearly in a bad habit of putting the bike into neutral waaaay to early...in fact, when I am riding, I rarely go into neutral. Coasting in neutral means that you are not prepared to take any kind of evasive action. Take for example, you are drifting to a red light (in neutral, and a car comes up on you really fast, because he doesn't see you. You will want to be in gear so that you can evade being hit. If it is in neutral, you most likely will not have enough time to react. The bike will actually slow easier if it remains in gear, since there will be some engine resistance (engine braking). Taking all power away from your wheel when moving is not a safe practice. Slowly downshift as you come to a light, and when you are completely stopped, if you want to, then put it in neutral. Doing so before hand is a somewhat dangerous practice for a handful of reasons.
Very bad! Very, very bad!
yep, can't stress it enough... don't "shift" into neutral while riding, don't coast to a stop sign. Just don't do it.. period.
You have experienced a miss matched engine speed vs wheel speed, that's why it gives you fits, if you blip the throttle, it will get into gear.
But again, break that habit, break that habit now!
You have experienced a miss matched engine speed vs wheel speed, that's why it gives you fits, if you blip the throttle, it will get into gear.
But again, break that habit, break that habit now!
ajskillz13
New Member
My guess is the simple answer that fixed my issue. Make sure you are fully releasing the shift lever after each shift. If you are holding it up slightly with your toe, it will not let you shift again until it drops far enough to reset.
I realized that I did this with the pair of boots I ride with sometimes. Just try fully removing your toe after each shift to see if that's the issue. Then practice the full release or adjust your shift lever up to give you room to do so easier.
EDIT: I really need to read all posts. ScottM has you covered!
I frequently rev it in neutral as well. Let me know how this works for you