Neutral on my bike is more elusive than a G-Spot!

AussieHard · Jun 1, 2011

The XS doesn't seem to have a real 'click' or tactile feel when going into neutral the way the gears do. On my ZZR you could hear and feel it go in, not the same as a gear but still quite distinctive and you knew yo were there.

Meeting a few of the local XS guys over the weekend for the first time. Will have them take a look over the bike, and maybe a spin round the block. I will see what they think, as a comparison.

Funnily enough both guys also ride Harleys........ They guy I bought my XS's off also had a Harley. So much for Harley riders look down on XS.............If one diss'us you on the road ask to look in his shed! :wink2:

MB-Ian · Jun 1, 2011

I ride my 75B daily and have to admit finding neutral can be a bit hit-or-miss, esp. if you are new to the bike and not that used to its nuances. Evey bike is a bit different. For me I try to be mindful when gearing down when I'm in 2nd and then within the last 5m or so before the lights give the gear lever a 1/2 press and it will almost always find neutral. Its much easier if the bike is still moving.

If i have to make a quick stop and don't have the time for all that I usually just tap down down down etc. until i'm in first (see brief flash of the neutral light on the way through), usually its hard to do a half-lift out of first so I then do a full lift into 2nd and a half-press down into neutral.

One other thing I have noticed happens occasionally, say you are slowing down for a red light and are doing walking-speed or less in neutral, but haven't let out the clutch, sometimes it can be a bitach to put into first without stopping, so momentarily release the clutch in neutral then try to select first before coming to a complete stop.

I.

AussieHard · Jun 1, 2011

MB-Ian said:
I ride my 75B daily and have to admit finding neutral can be a bit hit-or-miss, esp. if you are new to the bike and not that used to its nuances. Evey bike is a bit different. For me I try to be mindful when gearing down when I'm in 2nd and then within the last 5m or so before the lights give the gear lever a 1/2 press and it will almost always find neutral. Its much easier if the bike is still moving.

If i have to make a quick stop and don't have the time for all that I usually just tap down down down etc. until i'm in first (see brief flash of the neutral light on the way through), usually its hard to do a half-lift out of first so I then do a full lift into 2nd and a half-press down into neutral.

One other thing I have noticed happens occasionally, say you are slowing down for a red light and are doing walking-speed or less in neutral, but haven't let out the clutch, sometimes it can be a bitach to put into first without stopping, so momentarily release the clutch in neutral then try to select first before coming to a complete stop.

I.

My bike doesn't have an instrument cluster anymore came with just a custom speedo. I wish I had a neutral light so I would have some clues to finding it! Sometimes I think I am in it and let the clutch out to find I am not and stall.

Thanks for the advice, it seems to be a common practice to slip into neutral before stopping.

AussieHard · Jun 2, 2011

Been out with the bike trying to polish of the rust, pitting on the chrome.

Any way the bike won't roll, it will only rock forwards and back about a foot.
If I pull the clutch I rolls but very heavy.

:doh:

So I am guessing she is in gear and I can't get to neutral even when she is off.

Also she make a terrible rattling sound and coughs once or twice but won't start again.
I don't get it some times she fire straight off others she rattles and coughs till she does nothing.:banged:

I feel defeated.........Just no smart enough to win this girl over.

hooktool · Jun 2, 2011

The clutch has nothing to do with it going into neutral when its not running. Bikes generally won't roll easily in gear with the clutch pulled in, particularly when cold.

John

XSLeo · Jun 7, 2011

If you pull out the neutral detent spring and stretch it out some, I used a set of diagonal cutters, squeeze them between the coils. This makes the detent catch in the notch tighter.
This will help find neutral because the detent catches better.
Properly adjusting the clutch and cable helps, lubing the cable helps too.
Leo

Neutral on my bike is more elusive than a G-Spot!

AussieHard

AussieHardTail

MB-Ian

Melbourne, Australia

AussieHard

AussieHardTail

AussieHard

AussieHardTail

hooktool

XS650 Junkie

XSLeo

XS650 Guru

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