What's up with finding neutral?
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 104
Likes: 34
What's up with finding neutral?
I've ridden Kawasakis most of my life. When I was younger, speed was my thing.
As I've aged I've begun to appreciate a more relaxed riding experience.
Kawasaki has what they call a POSITIVE NEUTRAL FINDER feature. Where if you come to a stop. Place the bike in first gear, yanking up on the shifter soft or hard pops it into neutral. It works every time. And it's a beautiful thing.
my last Harley was a Dyna Switchback. That SOB would never go into neutral when I wanted it to. And then found neutral when I was accelerating and shifting into 2nd pretty regularly.
I just test drove what may be my next bike...A Soft tail Sport gluide. It's super smooth with that M8 107 engine. Had ample power, etc. But twice, at a light, I was unable to engage neutral at all. And a few other times I was able to find it after a few tries.
The dealership says what they always say: "THEY ALL DO THAT".
My question is why?
over 100 years of perfecting this bike and this is as good as it gets?
Any insight?
As I've aged I've begun to appreciate a more relaxed riding experience.
Kawasaki has what they call a POSITIVE NEUTRAL FINDER feature. Where if you come to a stop. Place the bike in first gear, yanking up on the shifter soft or hard pops it into neutral. It works every time. And it's a beautiful thing.
my last Harley was a Dyna Switchback. That SOB would never go into neutral when I wanted it to. And then found neutral when I was accelerating and shifting into 2nd pretty regularly.
I just test drove what may be my next bike...A Soft tail Sport gluide. It's super smooth with that M8 107 engine. Had ample power, etc. But twice, at a light, I was unable to engage neutral at all. And a few other times I was able to find it after a few tries.
The dealership says what they always say: "THEY ALL DO THAT".
My question is why?
over 100 years of perfecting this bike and this is as good as it gets?
Any insight?
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 1,283
From: Texas Hill Country
Proper adjustment really helps a lot.
As in the adjustment of your riding style.
Like sitting at a stop light in neutral....really bad mojo.
Coasting up to a parking spot with the clutch lever pulled in and your other booger hook squeezing the brake lever.
The bike comes to a stop and now you can't find neutral?
See, this syndrome is the Spit Daddy of all that throttle racking you hear today.
They don't know why they are ripping the throttle...other than to sound cool.
The trick is to blip the throttle, double clutch as the RPM drops and the bike is still rolling.
In the meantime you lifting your left toe.
Once you learn this.....oh man, then you can put the rear brake into the mix to help.
That way you got both feet and both hands actively controlling the motorcycle. If you ain't controlling it then it's controlling you.
Always keep the rear tire under load, either throttle and brake and clutch or get yourself stuck in first with a bike that's way to heavy to push.
That's how I do it anyway and I'm doing it with a dry primary set up on a belt drive.
Here is another little secret....
Back in the day of steam engines on the rail, different Engineers could be identified by their whistle blow, each unique.
Back in the day of telegraph operators or CW operators on the ham bands, each had his own "key".
These sounds were as distinctive as a man's voice. No mistake.
You get this little Harley riding trick under your belt and you will have a signature sound.
As in the adjustment of your riding style.
Like sitting at a stop light in neutral....really bad mojo.
Coasting up to a parking spot with the clutch lever pulled in and your other booger hook squeezing the brake lever.
The bike comes to a stop and now you can't find neutral?
See, this syndrome is the Spit Daddy of all that throttle racking you hear today.
They don't know why they are ripping the throttle...other than to sound cool.
The trick is to blip the throttle, double clutch as the RPM drops and the bike is still rolling.
In the meantime you lifting your left toe.
Once you learn this.....oh man, then you can put the rear brake into the mix to help.
That way you got both feet and both hands actively controlling the motorcycle. If you ain't controlling it then it's controlling you.
Always keep the rear tire under load, either throttle and brake and clutch or get yourself stuck in first with a bike that's way to heavy to push.
That's how I do it anyway and I'm doing it with a dry primary set up on a belt drive.
Here is another little secret....
Back in the day of steam engines on the rail, different Engineers could be identified by their whistle blow, each unique.
Back in the day of telegraph operators or CW operators on the ham bands, each had his own "key".
These sounds were as distinctive as a man's voice. No mistake.
You get this little Harley riding trick under your belt and you will have a signature sound.
Last edited by Ingramite; Mar 31, 2021 at 06:33 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,592
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Be sure clutch is adjusted correctly at the derby cover with back off and the cable free play. Make sure primary oil is correct (formal + works best) and it's to correct level with bike level. Just to bottom edge of diaphragm spring. You do not go by amount.
Always from first gear. Lever upward. You need shift lever set in correct position to lever it. Most do not realize the shift lever position is adjustable. Use combination of spline and shift rod both ends.
Unlike a metric, both ends are right had thread, so rod needs to come off.
If you change spline, be sure to re-torque and use Loctite on threads and you fine tune it.
Always from first gear. Lever upward. You need shift lever set in correct position to lever it. Most do not realize the shift lever position is adjustable. Use combination of spline and shift rod both ends.
Unlike a metric, both ends are right had thread, so rod needs to come off.
If you change spline, be sure to re-torque and use Loctite on threads and you fine tune it.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Mar 31, 2021 at 06:30 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
Make sure your clutch is adjusted properly, your primary fluid is not too heavy or overfilled.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 4,245
From: U.S.A. Upstate N. Y.
Finding Neutral
Change your primary chain adjuster to a Hayden M-6. Use Spectro Platinum full synthetic transmission oil, or Red Line with shockproof. You'll find neutral, easily..
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,255
Likes: 4,947
From: England
My 2017 Sportster must be the exception. I find it very easy to get neutral either stopped or rolling. No blipping no double declutching.
I ride up my drive to the garage in 1st gear and come to a stop. Clutch in, lift lever, neutral first go, first time every time.
I ride up my drive to the garage in 1st gear and come to a stop. Clutch in, lift lever, neutral first go, first time every time.
