Neutral
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 78
Likes: 37
From: Roseville,CA & Grangeville,ID
Neutral
Just picked up a new (2023) Fat Boy, riding it home from the dealer I could never find neutral at stops, even when off and pushing it into the garage it took some time.
Any tricks to help me out?
FYI: Been riding sports bikes since 1974 without issue.
Any tricks to help me out?
FYI: Been riding sports bikes since 1974 without issue.
Last edited by Husky44; Mar 2, 2023 at 06:05 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,142
From: Las Vegas
It will get better once everything breaks in. By 5k miles it should be better but it will never operate perfectly. With that said, you could check your primary oil to see if it was over filled. That will make neutral hard to find.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 4,798
Likes: 5,889
From: Knoxville
Try slight inward pressure while pulling up with front of foot/boot/shoe/flip flops
works on every bike I ever had. Also prior to starting or moving, I just reach down and put in neutral.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,423
Likes: 30,643
From: Pennsylvania
Put/find Neutral before coming to a full stop. Finding neutral while stopped can be challenging if you are not used to Harley gear shifters.
Or at stops, just keep the clutch pulled in after dropping it in to first.
Or at stops, just keep the clutch pulled in after dropping it in to first.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 3,070
From: South of Boston, MA
I have a 2019 & also a problem finding neutral, still under 3k miles, bought in June 2022
Usually pulling into my driveway I will try to shift into neutral
Then coast as a I do a U-turn to back it into the garage
Traffic light I may shift into neutral as I coast to the light
Before I get to the light I am usually back in gear again
All depends upon traffic/light
Usually pulling into my driveway I will try to shift into neutral
Then coast as a I do a U-turn to back it into the garage
Traffic light I may shift into neutral as I coast to the light
Before I get to the light I am usually back in gear again
All depends upon traffic/light
HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 3,391
From: Seattle
Yeah it can be a pain in the ***. Mostly you need to adjust the clutch properly.
But like said above, if you "Toe In" and pull up and towards the engine at the same time, it falls into Neutral easier.
But like said above, if you "Toe In" and pull up and towards the engine at the same time, it falls into Neutral easier.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 728
From: Pennsylvania
Unfortunately it's a thing. I had a 21 Heritage rental for a long weekend. It had about 3k miles. I was ok with neutral for about the first 10 minutes each startup - warm or cold. But after that there was no way. I tried shifting easy, rough. Down from second. Up from first. Same result. It was a 200 mile trip to the beach. Worse of all, the entire trip coming home was stop & go traffic for the first 2 hours. Only had neutral four times. Twice in the first few blocks, once for breakfast and the last time for a gas stop. It was BRUTAL. 
6 months later I purchased a 19 Heritage with 6k miles. I was worried about the neutral thing, but it was ok and I have not had any issues with that bike. With neutral anyway. Reading all the posts I could find on here, the most common suggestion was to be patient and usually within 5k or 6k miles it will break in and work itself out.
My wife purchased a 21 Heritage new. She had some issues with neutral at first, but practiced and she was able to find the sweet spot. After a few thousand miles, she got a heel-toe shifter and it seems to be even easier now for her.
No real point here, just sharing our findings....
6 months later I purchased a 19 Heritage with 6k miles. I was worried about the neutral thing, but it was ok and I have not had any issues with that bike. With neutral anyway. Reading all the posts I could find on here, the most common suggestion was to be patient and usually within 5k or 6k miles it will break in and work itself out.
My wife purchased a 21 Heritage new. She had some issues with neutral at first, but practiced and she was able to find the sweet spot. After a few thousand miles, she got a heel-toe shifter and it seems to be even easier now for her.
No real point here, just sharing our findings....