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Pretty common, going back a LONG time. It is more of a clutch issue than a transmission issue. Drop it into 1st, then very easy up on the shifter. Make sure your clutch is adjusted properly, if it is dragging at all, it will be very hard to get neutral with the motor running and the bike stopped.
15yrs local 657 here gonna get my levers changed out this weekend will get clutch checked/adjusted then thanks for pointing me in the right direction
Chabuya
Mine is a pain too - impossible to find on a downshift. Have to go to first and then back up. Real gentle like. But, that is what gives it character. Wouldn't it be a shame of just everything worked right all the time? What would we have to post about?
Common problem. Adjust clutch so that you have a little more release on the plates. Maybe a 1/4 turn more than normal. If its just an adjustment and not a worn clucth pak then it should slide into neutral with a click. Also, this worked for me, use automatic tranny fluid in the primary. The Mobil1 syn worked great for me. Its a little lighter than the 30 that is called for, but it is good for wet clutches. AT's are wet clutch systems. Oil in tranny just keeps clutch pack wet and cools system.
On early Evos you can only find neutral from first gear. I don't know when they changed it so you can also get it from second. When turning into a tight uphill hairpin, fully loaded, that change down into first with no neutral is a god-send!
My technique for getting neutral (having owned my 1990 bike from new) is to snick it in while rolling. With practice you can do it in the last few feet before stopping.
On early Evos you can only find neutral from first gear. I don't know when they changed it so you can also get it from second. When turning into a tight uphill hairpin, fully loaded, that change down into first with no neutral is a god-send!
I don't know that they ever did change (or that they didn't)
Originally Posted by grbrown
My technique for getting neutral (having owned my 1990 bike from new) is to snick it in while rolling. With practice you can do it in the last few feet before stopping.
I've been doing that for years also... got in that habit back in the kick-start days.
It's a good thing to practice when you get it down to a habit. Beats sitting at a "long light" with the clutch arm getting tired... but always make sure traffic behind you is stopping too
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