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False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:18 am
by xfon123
Bike keeps hitting a false neutral which can be a little scary at 80 mph when changing up. All I hear is a loud clunking as it hits the gears. Always then crap myself and have to slow down til I have the balls to put it in to gear as feels like its going to kick me off.
Is there any reason why this might be happening?
Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:05 am
by RedexRobB
Is qute normal mate, i had a couple while i was out yesterday while changing gear, but that was only cos im lazy at gear shifts. I find that adjusting the gear lever helps the most, its possibly set too high for you which means your not using the full lever travel to put it into the next gear, and instead is only going half way and not engaging properly.
Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:49 am
by cargo
Or.................
You could have a knackered gearbox and or selector mechinism.........................?
Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:59 am
by RedexRobB
thats a point, how many miles has the bike done?
Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:40 pm
by xfon123
Bike has done a touch under 8000 miles. Will have a go at adjusting the lever sounds like the likely culprit - I hope!
Thanks for your help guys.
Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:11 pm
by RedexRobB
ive heard low mileage engines are prone to a lot of false neutrals but get better with mileage. See how you go

Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:17 pm
by xfon123
Just one more question when I do hit a false at speed is it ok just to put it in to gear? Wont cause any problems or anything?
Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:34 pm
by RedexRobB
what i do is pull the clutch in and let it sort itself out, i know it makes that clunking noise which is pretty horrible to listen to but i dont think theres alot you can do about it. When its sorted itself out i knock it up a gear and carry on as usuall.
Re: False neutral
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:35 pm
by cargo
I'd be very surprised to find serious wear on a 8000 mile gearbox.......................
I'd be curious to know more about the bike............year, model, service history, change of speedo ?
It is possible that your just not hitting the lever correctly or maybe it's just the way your changing gear ?
Certainly I'd slow down a bit before trying to re-engage a gear.............trying to force it into gear from a false netural will not do the gearbox any favours.
Note.................I had gearbox problems this year at the Manx.................the bike I rode jumped out of gear under power NOT as I tried to change gear......................it dd it once..................I parked it...................cost me thousands for a race that didn't even get to the end of lap one.
But I'm still here and standing
