I rode about 10 miles and stopped for gas. After I filled up I started the bike, shifted into 1st and parked in front of the store. I thought I shifted into neutral before I shut it off (I always do). Spent about 10 minutes in store. Came out got on bike turned ignition on and noticed the neutral light wasn't on. Here's where it got strange.

Tried to shift into neutral from what I assumed was 1st and shift lever would not move. Tried to shift into first and only took up the slack in the transmission. It just felt wrong. There was no real spring tension on the shift lever.

I reached down and tried shifting using the heel shifter with my left hand. Wouldn't go. Rocked the bike a bit and kept wiggling the shifter and it suddenly shifted into 2nd. Shifted by hand to 3-4-5 and back to 1st. Popped it into neutral. Started bike and rode home. Shifted fine.

First thing I checked was transmission fluid. Amsoil 75/90 synthetic. With 13,000 miles on it, it is still too clean to see on the chrome dipstick. I have to lay it on a rag to see the wet spot.

Clutch and primary chain were adjusted 3k miles ago.

I rode it another 125 miles and it is shifting fine. I was gentle at first but then decided that if it was going to break... break it near the house... so I romped it for a while.

Any ideas? Or did I just find a freak spot when I "partially" shifted to neutral and it's a 1 time deal? Or is it like the old 3 speeds on the column?

Specs: 2005 Ultra, 88CI, 5 speed xmsn, 43,600 miles.

 

I think you found it,s Freaky spot..if it is working ride it..

 

That happens to me at times, especially if I am parked on a slight uphill or downhill grade. I just as you say rock the bike either forward or back just a C hair and then it allows me to shift into neutral without an issue. Never thought it to be a problem though.

 

Black or Red ?

 

Keep on riding and see if it repeats itself and I bet you will be fine.

 

Red of course :-D

 

That's what I want to believe. But know from experience that crap like this normally bites you in the ***... miles from home.. in the dark... on a back road... in the rain... no cell phone service.... and banjos in the background .

But the way the shift forks work I don't see how it could get completely locked up without something breaking. So if it works now it's not broken.

I'll go with that... till it breaks.

 

What you're talking about is normal. The shift lever had a much different feel to it. It felt "dead" if that makes any sense.

 

If you left off the 'miles from home' part, your description means mine would break pretty close to the house!!!

 

Mine does that sometime when I leave the house and the bike is cold. Shift into first and it doesn't want to come out and go into 2nd so I slow down a little and pull the clutch in a couple times while keeping tension on the shifter. It always comes out of 1st and into neutral or 2nd.

I figure it's just normal wear and tear of the trans. It doesn't do this when warm or hot.