Trouble Getting Into Neutral

[RJ]

My '82 1100E has a hard time getting into neutral after the bike is fully warmed up. I have no problems until that point. The shifter will overshoot neutral from second and then it's pretty much impossible to get into neutral (or second) from first gear. Once the bike is rolling again, even at a crawl, no problems with shifting. I would normally think that it's maybe the shift forks or something but it only acts up in this one instance. Any ideas?

[chef1366]

I had a similar problem when I first got my bike. It seemed to go away after I put on a new clutch cable.

By the way I already chewed up that rear tire and went back to my stock rim. Got a good season out of it. Thanks again.:-D

[RJ]

Glad to hear the tire died a respectable death! Already got a new clutch cable on the thing and it is adjusted properly. I was hoping maybe a different oil or something would be the ticket. I really don't want to have to go and split the cases just to be able to get the thing into neutral. Good to hear from you Chef.

[fgh]

If its an aftermarket you may have to live with it. What kind of oil are you using?

[RJ]

Clutch cable is genuine Suzuki. Oil is Rotella 15W40 non-synthetic.

[bakalorz]

My '82 1100E has a hard time getting into neutral after the bike is fully warmed up. I have no problems until that point. The shifter will overshoot neutral from second and then it's pretty much impossible to get into neutral (or second) from first gear. Once the bike is rolling again, even at a crawl, no problems with shifting. I would normally think that it's maybe the shift forks or something but it only acts up in this one instance. Any ideas?

What sometimes works for me when the bike doesn't want to shift when it's stopped is to let the clutch out just a little (whatever gear I'm in). You don't even need to add any throttle, you just let it out enough for for the rpms to drop the tiniest bit. This will move the gears around enough that it will now drop into another gear. If I pull a brainfart and come to a stop in 5th, I may have to repeat dragging the clutch for a couple of shifts on the way to 1st or neutral

[andrewclaycomb]

Add this problem to the several that I'm having. Its almost impossible for someone who hasn't ridden my bike before to get the bike in nuetral when it running. Works fine when the bike is off. The only way I can get it in nuetral and not the next gear is to put it in second and lightly bounce my foot off the shifter. I think I'm going to have a huge party for myself when all the problems with my bike are fixed.

[49er]

Add this problem to the several that I'm having. Its almost impossible for someone who hasn't ridden my bike before to get the bike in nuetral when it running. Works fine when the bike is off. The only way I can get it in nuetral and not the next gear is to put it in second and lightly bounce my foot off the shifter. I think I'm going to have a huge party for myself when all the problems with my bike are fixed.

My 79 850 does the same. It's probably common to the early 750/850 gearboxes. I think we will have to live with it.
My clutch drags too when the engine is cold and it is impossible to shift back from 1st to neutral or 2nd, until the engine is warm. The only quick cure when cold is to let the bike run for a couple of minutes before riding it. Then when in 2nd gear, with the throttle slightly open, repeatedly pull the clutch in and out until you hear it slip on the plates. It doesn't usually drag from then on.