Finding Neutral
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 158
Likes: 57
From: Sh*tty of Lost Angels
BTW
.you shouldnt be putting the bike in neutral at a stop light. It reduced your escape from out of control idiot ability. When fractions of a second count, you dont want to have to live your left foot off the ground, while shifting weight to the right, to jam down the shifter pm before accelerating out of harms way.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,027
From: Carlsbad, CA
I only seek out neutral after a car or two behind me has come already to a complete stop. I also will tend to be in a "lane filtering" position, or have already lane filtered to the stop light / limit line at a red light, before puttng it in neutral. Usually to shake out my hand or exercise for blood circulation in my left hand.
Yup, Ive done that too. One time I got rear ended, I had no place to go. There was construction. Lanes were compressed. Traffic came to an abrupt stop. So, I didnt have the ability to leave a buffer in front of me then "crunch". It was to my 2 month old Road King. I kept it up, and wasnt hurt. But, both bags, rear fender and light were replaced.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,437
From: SW WA.
After break in I switched to Amsoil synthetic primary fluid,also use Amsoil in the engine and trans.
The first thing I noticed was smoother shifts and easier to get neutral,I still tend to snick it into neutral while still rolling out of habit.
The older bikes were always a PITA to get neutral if not moving a little,always had clutch drag unless everything was fresh and perfectly adjusted which never lasted very long.
The first thing I noticed was smoother shifts and easier to get neutral,I still tend to snick it into neutral while still rolling out of habit.
The older bikes were always a PITA to get neutral if not moving a little,always had clutch drag unless everything was fresh and perfectly adjusted which never lasted very long.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 78
Likes: 37
From: Roseville,CA & Grangeville,ID
I even put the auto's in my truck and cars in neutral at stops (mainly due to watching trans temps while in drive). Motorcycles are always in neutral at stops, never been rear ended in 50+years.
But until this Harley always had high hp sport bikes and always aware of my surroundings.
But until this Harley always had high hp sport bikes and always aware of my surroundings.
Advanced
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 75
Likes: 17
From: Mountain Md.
I've been having trouble getting my 19 SGS into neutral. Plus all the all the loud banging noises when putting into gear and changing gears. So i just picked up couple bottles of the Formula+ to try in the transmission and primary. Hope this helps.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 158
Likes: 57
From: Sh*tty of Lost Angels
Things I've noticed help my first shift of the bike cold be smooth.
1. put the bike in 1st gear and rock the bike back and forth with the clutch released out fully. Find the distance exactly 1/2 way, then place in neutral.
2. Grab the front brake so you don't move at all, for or aft.
3. Start up the bike with the clutch fully pulled in. Keep it pulled all the way in.
4. Let bike come to an idle. My M8 Sport Glide usually idles down to 1350 rpm on a cold motor.
5. Put the bike in 1st gear.
6. Release the front brake, then start engaging clutch to take off.
9x out of 10, I get a very smooth snick into 1st gear doing it this way. The fore and aft in gear and getting dead nuts half way in between seems to line things up so it goes into gear nice and quiet.
Try it and let me know your results. YMMV, it seems to work regularly on my 2018 Sport Glide.
Last edited by Astro Glide; May 23, 2023 at 03:20 PM.
Advanced
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 75
Likes: 17
From: Mountain Md.
From the little test ride i did, i still got some noise when putting in 1st gear, and some while changing gears. Maybe after a couple more rides it will quite down some more. Fingers crossed.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 2,261
From: Ft. Wayne IN
Finding neutral on my 2022 Heritage is a bit easier than on my 2018 Heritage. It's about the same with Amsoil primary and transmission lube as it was with the "break-in" oil. Don't know if they made changes from 2018 to 2022. I think there are just differences from bike to bike.
