08 shifting ease?

[cctxfjr]

anybody with an 08A how does the trans shift does it clunk into first and between gears? can you downshift through gears when stopped in fifth. I understand they modified trans to improve shifting in 08 also did they improve low speed throttle application and control

 

[Barabus]

I would be suspicious of a "modified transmission" that hardly anybody has complained of. My 06 shifts like butter. Just thinking about downshifting form 2nd to neutral at a stop light makes it happen. After 20K miles it shifts better than any other bike I've owned. I will reserve judgement until the 08 owners sound off.

 

[Good2Go]

No clunk on mine. It just clicks into 1st and between gears. It's on par with my Goldwing's shifter, maybe a bit better. Come to think of it, the '06 I rented was pretty smooth too, no clunks. Like Barabus says...buttah.

I had a Harley Night Train a few years ago...talk about clunk!

I'll have to try 5th to 1st while stopped...never thought of that, I'm always in 1st by the time I stop.

This is my first FJR, so take the above FWIW.

 

[KnuckleHead]

anybody with an 08A how does the trans shift does it clunk into first and between gears? can you downshift through gears when stopped in fifth. I understand they modified trans to improve shifting in 08 also did they improve low speed throttle application and control

Well, I am not sure I am the right guy to answer this as I havent ridden anything but the 08, but it is worlds apart from my VTX. It does clunk a little into first, but other then that is really is like butter. It certainly doenst clunk between gears...more of a click.

Keep in mind that I picked mine up just today and only got about 50 miles on it...

 

[cctxfjr]

I would be suspicious of a "modified transmission" that hardly anybody has complained of. My 06 shifts like butter. Just thinking about downshifting form 2nd to neutral at a stop light makes it happen. After 20K miles it shifts better than any other bike I've owned. I will reserve judgement until the 08 owners sound off.

Quite a bit of discussion here and other forums about some of the 06-07 bikes shifting rougher and clunking between gears more than the owners thought they should-one of the UK or Aussie members quoted their Yammie website as stating a needle bearing addition and improved transmission oiling was a feature of the 08 creating smooth shifting.

 

[mike25]

"can you downshift through gears when stopped in fifth"

Only if the stars (or dogs) are aligned.

 

[krashdragon]

I would be suspicious of a "modified transmission" that hardly anybody has complained of. My 06 shifts like butter. Just thinking about downshifting form 2nd to neutral at a stop light makes it happen. After 20K miles it shifts better than any other bike I've owned. I will reserve judgement until the 08 owners sound off.

Quite a bit of discussion here and other forums about some of the 06-07 bikes shifting rougher and clunking between gears more than the owners thought they should-one of the UK or Aussie members quoted their Yammie website as stating a needle bearing addition and improved transmission oiling was a feature of the 08 creating smooth shifting.

Awww...sport-touring riders are so spoiled!

Try shifting a Harley...if it don't clunk, you're doing something wrong!

And as for clutch pull.. try about an 02 or 03 Road King.... I rented an 03, it new at the time...had blisters on both hands after one day.... of course we ended up the day riding thru downtown Vegas in "rush" hour traffic... but I still had blisters! <LOL>

I thot my FJR was a dream to ride... so easy...

just hell to park, especially off-camber in the rain! <G>

mary

 

[EasyRider]

anybody with an 08A how does the trans shift does it clunk into first and between gears? can you downshift through gears when stopped in fifth. I understand they modified trans to improve shifting in 08 also did they improve low speed throttle application and control

My 07A FJR clunks into first and between gears. And once in a while, when I forget to shift all the way down to 1st before stopping, the transmission will fight me shifting it down. My clunking transmission is, very old truck like, if you ask me. It’s not what I expected from an otherwise great bike. But I guess all bikes will have something that they don’t do as well as another bike.

All in all though, I do really love the bike allot . It’s been four weeks since I last rode before the first snow in Connecticut. I put 5,500 miles on my FJR in my first year of riding it :yahoo: . It’s such a bummer to see it sitting in the garage and not be able to take it out.

 

[dhalen32]

I think what might actually have been improved is the oil supply to the upper reaches of the transmission ... right where that sticking clutch resides that seems to get fixed when it is disassembled and has it's plates soaked in oil for an extended time.

 

[cctxfjr]

I think what might actually have been improved is the oil supply to the upper reaches of the transmission ... right where that sticking clutch resides that seems to get fixed when it is disassembled and has it's plates soaked in oil for an extended time.

I believe thats what the international member quoted his website as saying an additional oil supply gally had been added to the transmission oiling system (sticking clutches would sure cause rough shifting) he also mentioned an needle roller bearing being added to the trans? I guess as the 08 gets out we will more on the subject

 

[TejasFJR]

I only had time for a quick 20 minutes tonight when I got it home, but compared to my '06 I do think the shift to first is smoother. Of course it's been a few months since they hauled away my '06 so might be better to have someone with an '06 or '07 take it for a spin to compare.

 

[madmike2]

Some difficult shifting between gears is technique-based. MY FJR doesn't like being shifted like a cruiser, i.e., 2-2500 rpms and shift slowly. Rather run the engine to 3500 rpms and shift positively into the next gear.

AND, I've heard and always believed it was bad to stop in top gear and then ratchet down through the gearbox while stopped. The besst technique is to shift down while coming to a stop so that the final drive is rotating the transmission.

 

[tstaff]

can you downshift through gears when stopped in fifth.

Why would one do that? :dntknw:

 

[YooperDick]

I had a Harley Night Train a few years ago...talk about clunk!

You should try one of the BMW RT's. I haven't seen one personally, but rumor has it some towns have added a supplement to the 'quiet zone' sign post prohibiting BMWs from shifting between 10PM and 6AM.

 

[jeremybhm]

I read an article in Bike magazine(a british mag I think) talking about smooth shifting technique. He suggested never rolling to a stop in a high gear or changing multiple gears without letting out the clutch in between preferrably while moving. He also didn't care for the clutchless shifting technique on street bikes. As far as upshifts, he said to pre-load the shifter just a bit then give it a firm shift as you pull the clutch in, don't stab at the shifter...

 

[cctxfjr]

can you downshift through gears when stopped in fifth.

Why would one do that? :dntknw:

not something I would normally do either however sometime I have been stopped several gears up and didnt think the bike shifted down as easily as other bikes I have owned. I have a sporster that easily shifts down from 5th to 1 at a dead stop with out rocking the bike. I love the FJR just hoping they improve the trans. a little and the low speed throttle control on a stock bike. I like to spend money on farkles but dont think money should be spent on driveability issues on a new bike that the oem could correct from the get go.

 

[Wolfhound]

Sounds like a 1 in a million sportster . . . . . How can "shifter dogs" align when gears aren't moving ? Just a fluke sometimes but not on a regular basis I would guess . . . . :dntknw:

 

[Shadow]

I think what might actually have been improved is the oil supply to the upper reaches of the transmission

That from what I know is correct.

The FJR has a stacked trans so the lower row of gears are running in oil.

The upper row are relying on splash, and at lower speeds there is less splash.

An extra gallery which force feeds oil to the upper row has been added to the 08 to help smooth the shift.

I know my 06 trans has a smoother shift at higher revs compared to lower revs so the splash theory makes sense.

 

[Shadow]

he also mentioned an needle roller bearing being added to the trans?

You mean this.

Gearshift shaft features a needle-roller bearing to reduce friction for silky-smooth shifting.

That is on to 06 & 07 models as well.