Ok, new to this, don't know all the terms.

Bikes got forward controls and the long extension/linkage rod is bent. Would this cause it to be harder to shift into gear and/or cause hard shifting like bam! type hard shifting, lol? I wouldn't put it past my father to upgrade the insides, but i can't tell. I have nothing to compare to as this is my first bike.

Oh, it's a 1980 Low Rider

 

If it's bent, then yes as it changes the geometry of the total linkage

 

Straighten the rod out.