Is There Such A Thing As "False" Neutral?
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From: Londonderry, NH
Is There Such A Thing As "False" Neutral?
Riding my 1985 FXRS-SP, I hit "neutral" a few times going from either 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th. Maybe both. Brand new clutch installed a week ago. Is this common?
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From: Ontario
This has never happened to me.
When I used to ride a Kawi 900VN I would sometimes hit Neutral coming from first to second, but rarely and I think it had something to do with their 'positive neutral finder'.
When I used to ride a Kawi 900VN I would sometimes hit Neutral coming from first to second, but rarely and I think it had something to do with their 'positive neutral finder'.
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From: Bedford UK
It varies a lot between brands and models, although less common these days. Have you moved your gear lever slightly? A small difference, especially if you do a lot of riding, may fool your foot into not making a complete change. Even a heavier or lighter boot than you usually wear. I have several bikes and it sometimes takes me quite a while to fully adapt when swapping over. One problem I know I occasionally do is not let the gear-lever fully return to 'rest' between changes.
So two suggestions. Carry on riding, but make sure you make each gear change fully. If that doesn't work, give your new clutch plenty of miles and use, then re-adjust it.
Hope it works out!
So two suggestions. Carry on riding, but make sure you make each gear change fully. If that doesn't work, give your new clutch plenty of miles and use, then re-adjust it.
Hope it works out!
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From: NC USA
It varies a lot between brands and models, although less common these days. Have you moved your gear lever slightly? A small difference, especially if you do a lot of riding, may fool your foot into not making a complete change. Even a heavier or lighter boot than you usually wear. I have several bikes and it sometimes takes me quite a while to fully adapt when swapping over. One problem I know I occasionally do is not let the gear-lever fully return to 'rest' between changes.
So two suggestions. Carry on riding, but make sure you make each gear change fully. If that doesn't work, give your new clutch plenty of miles and use, then re-adjust it.
Hope it works out!
So two suggestions. Carry on riding, but make sure you make each gear change fully. If that doesn't work, give your new clutch plenty of miles and use, then re-adjust it.
Hope it works out!
GBrown mentioned something which I'd forgotten - boots. I generally wear the same kicks when riding regardless of weather, but when I get on with different work boots or buy new boots (like I always use) or even had them re-soled, even after shifting this same ride for 20 years, I shift like an amatuer all over again for a few hours.
Again, and I'm guilty too, but it's usually the rider...
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From: Londonderry, NH
Weird, it seems to be when shifting from 3rd to 4th. I give it some throttle and it is as if I am in neutral. But is also seems like an overshift - like I somehow made it to a spot between 4th and 5th - because when I kick it up into gear, I am in too high a gear and have to downshift.
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From: Londonderry, NH
I found a few things on the false neutral. It happens to other bikes anyways. Apparently it is more common than I thought. Here is another forum thread. One on Triumphs...
Hopefully, I am just not being assertive enough while shifting because this doesn't sound too promising... I will start by not pussyfooting the shifting. Here is a excerpt from a Google hit from an article about the FXRS that I posted on my own site.
"A long throw requires that heal and toe become involved in shifting the five-speed transmission, and the upshift into high gear occasionally produced a false neutral with our FXRS. The ratios are optimum for most riding, however, and the new box has virtually eliminated the grinding clunk which often accompanied spirited gear selection on previous Harleys."
I feel better now.
Hopefully, I am just not being assertive enough while shifting because this doesn't sound too promising... I will start by not pussyfooting the shifting. Here is a excerpt from a Google hit from an article about the FXRS that I posted on my own site.
"A long throw requires that heal and toe become involved in shifting the five-speed transmission, and the upshift into high gear occasionally produced a false neutral with our FXRS. The ratios are optimum for most riding, however, and the new box has virtually eliminated the grinding clunk which often accompanied spirited gear selection on previous Harleys."
I feel better now.
Last edited by Rick5150; Apr 4, 2009 at 05:28 AM. Reason: More information added.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Windham,Maine
I have done it,like you have read only because not doing a full throw of the shifter.For years now have built my own machines,the shift drum is designed with detents,a false neutral puts the detent pin at the point between 2 gears,it could go either way.It's a having it apart and understanding how it works thing.Now I always make sure I take a full throw when shifting.Have fun!
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From: Bedford UK
So your guess is probably right, the diagnosis being as above! Best of luck and let us know how we all did!