I agree with most. It's an overblown issue. It can take a couple of tries every so often to find it but I almost never have missed a shift with the Harley transmissions unlike the Italian and Japanese bikes I have owned. They shifted with less effort but they would also put you into a false neutral every so often. The Harley transmissions do vary quite a bit from bike to bike though. My ex's SG would clank so loud I could hear her shift behind me.
I have used Red-Line primary oil for years, but I doubt this actually makes any difference; I am almost certain it makes no difference even though, of course, there is much discussion here on oils--and I do NOT want to induce any rants about oils here. Any observations other than those about your favorite primary oils are welcome.
My personal experience is contradictory to your assertion. I bought my 2018 in April. As I approached the 1000mi service, I did a lot of oil research. I decided to use Redline in the transmission and primary. During those first 1000mi, it was difficult to get it into neutral. The fine motor skills of the foot just aren't that fine. When I would push the shifter hard enough to move, once it started, I had enough pressure it would go all the way past neutral. It was a brutal balancing act. After I did the first service using Redline, that immediately went away. It takes very little pressure to move the shifter and neutral is just a smooth press of the lever.
Neutral is easiest to find during hard acceleration while showing off and shifting to second gear...
Proper break in, oil level and adjustments have always help me the most.
Neutral is easiest to find during hard acceleration while showing off and shifting to second gear...
Proper break in, oil level and adjustments have always help me the most.
Finding neutral on this bike is a pain, at least to me. I'll give the Redline a try this summer and see what happens. It has gotten better, but it ain't no positive thing!
If you have a hard time getting into neutral, adjust your clutch (the proper way) and be done with it.
Write a couple of more pages of posts but the best answer is ADJUST YOUR CLUTCH. For most of you that means have someone competent adjust your clutch.
If you have a hard time getting into neutral, adjust your clutch (the proper way) and be done with it.
Write a couple of more pages of posts but the best answer is ADJUST YOUR CLUTCH. For most of you that means have someone competent adjust your clutch.
In addition, check the adjustment on your shifter pawl.
Normally, if I miss neutral coming from first gear, hitting it from second gear is easy. (I do not use the heel shifter. I removed it from my other Ultra so that I could use the whole floorboard on long rides. I'm keeping it on this bike for now.)
01-31-2019, 12:46 PM
