Going from neutral to first gear

16979 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by harisund, Apr 10, 2012

harisund

Discussion Starter · Mar 27, 2012

Just a short while ago, I bought a 2012 (new) Ninja 250R. And I have a question regarding going from neutral to first gear.

Ever so often, I end up at a signal that I know is going to keep me waiting for a while. So I come to a complete stop on first gear, and shift up slightly for neutral. The positive neutral finder light comes on.

When the time comes, I push the shifter down. The neutral light goes off, but the bike doesn't seem to be in first gear. And I put it back to neutral, push it back down, still no one. After I move the bike slightly forward and try it again harder, it clicks to one ... (but in the meanwhile the cars behind me are starting to get pissed

)

What am I doing wrong?

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Zandit

· #2 · Mar 27, 2012

You're not doing anything wrong mate, unfortunately this is a characteristic of the motorcycle. Not just the 250R, but many other bikes as well.
I personally don't experience this problem very often since here in Tasmania the lights change pretty quickly(We don't have the population proplem many others have!) so I normally leave the bike in first gear and hold in the clutch.
What you have done is spot on by moving the bike slightly to the syncros match up nicely for the selector.

BTW, take the time to introduce yourself in the new members section, we would love to hear more about you and your ride!

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Navy Ninja

· #3 · Mar 27, 2012

I usually pop it into neutral while coming to a stop. I've never had any issues getting it back into 1st either.

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holycrosscv

· #4 · Mar 27, 2012

My 250CBR used to do this all the time. Pumping the clutch a couple times would line up the splines in the transmission and it would slide in. Fortunately my 2012 650 does not do this.

I feel for you, California traffic can be so impatient at times

Blessings,
--Mark

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Fry1024

· #5 · Mar 27, 2012

That's the key, rock the bike forward and back a little or do what Navy does and coast the last few feet and everything will be lined up when you're ready to go. On a side note however, keeping your bike in gear allows for a quick get-away if the person coming up behind you doesn't see you.

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harisund

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 28, 2012 (Edited)

zandit said:
You're not doing anything wrong mate, unfortunately this is a characteristic of the motorcycle. Not just the 250R, but many other bikes as well.

Actually I did more research after posting this and apparently the reason is the way the gears are set up in a motorcycle .. And this happens especially if hold the clutch in while I shift down multiple gears (typically when I stop at a signal .. I hold the clutch and go 6-5-4-3-2-1 ...) ... and here are some of the things that can be done --

(1) Rock the bike a little front and back
(2) Pump the clutch once or twice and then go N->1
(3) Ease the clutch out gently while holding the shifter down till the gear "clicks" into 1.
(4) While going down, instead of going Clutch in -> 6-5-4-3-2-1 -> Clutch out, I should go Clutch in - 6->5 - Clutch out ; Clutch in - 5->4 - Clutch out; etc , as in release the clutch slightly after every downshift, then clutch in and downshift again ..

And to quote others, yes for the most part I just hold the clutch in and stay in 1, ready to start when needed, but occasionally I "know" the signal is going to stay in red for atleast 2 minutes or more, or if I am behind a railway crossing !!

zandit said:
BTW, take the time to introduce yourself in the new members section, we would love to hear more about you and your ride!

Oh yes, apologies for my rudeness! I will definitely do so .

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BlackBoar

· #7 · Mar 28, 2012

I encountered this when I started riding. I have always had a standard 5 speed car and in the city will often clutch in from third gear, coast to a stop, then shift into neutral. Works in a car, but - you are right - not so much on a linear MC transmission.

Just one of those habits I needed to change. The 250 is awesome for learning to shift - up and down - so make use of that. Part of riding is finding that optimum gear for the power you want in the moment.

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spooph

· #8 · Apr 2, 2012

There is some good information and some bad information in this thread. Maybe I'm just getting knit picky about the specifics, but I just want to make sure everybody gets this... It's not a very complicated matter.

When the clutch is pulled in the linkage between the engine and transmission is broken. The only way to turn the transmission at this point, is by physically moving the bike, rotating the rear wheel, and therefor rotating the transmission...

Easy fix: If you're sitting at the stop light with the bike in neutral, there is no reason to keep the clutch pulled in... Let the clutch out, watch the lights, and as soon as the light you're waiting on is going to turn green, pull in the clutch, wait 2-3 seconds and comfortably shift into 1st.... You don't HAVE to wait 2-3 second, but if you're too quick, or you're idle is a bit high, you might crunch the gears - also not a big deal unless you do it for every shift from now until doomsday....

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Gherks

· #9 · Apr 10, 2012

I purchased a ninja 250 about 2 weeks ago and had the same problem for the first day or two.. I thought something had to be wrong, but after calling the dealership I was told to "move the bike" as I put it into first gear.
It sounded like a bit if a pain but after a few days I've got the hang of it.
When I'm at the lights and want to rest my clutch hand I just put it in neutral and role the bike back only an inch or so then when I engage first, i role the bike back with my right foot. (again only slightly) and every time you do that you can feel it "clunk" into gear, no more embarrassing revving and kicking away like a chimp to get it in gear!
It sounds like a lot but you get used to it real quick. I still love my ninja!

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harisund

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 10, 2012

Gherks said:
and every time you do that you can feel it "clunk" into gear, no more embarrassing revving and kicking away like a chimp to get it in gear!

Yep, the "clunking" into gear like you have mentioned feels good. You know the first gear has been engaged.

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