Gear Clanking on 08 Something to live with or learn to ride around it!

[Greb]

My 08 shifts like butter, no complaints here. Snickety-snick compared to some of the bikes I have owned over the years. It is all relative I guess.

 

[ShawnKing]

Gear Clanking: If you are talking about the shift from neutral into first, the ALL do it.

My gearing issue comes under hard acceleration from 1st to 2nd. When clicked up, the bike *always* goes into N. I have to click *twice* to get the bike to go into 2nd gear.

Under normal acceleration, N gets skipped as it should.

Also, If I come to a stop with the bike in any gear other than 1st, it's *very* difficult to get the bike to go to 1st. The clutch must be let out a little (an audible "click" is heard) before the bike will switch to the next lower gear.

For whatever reason, the FJR seems to like to be shifted above 3500 RPMs rather than shifting @ 2500 like a cruiser. At least mine is much easier to shift in the 4,000 RPM raNGE.

I didn't know that. I'll give it a try and see if it makes any difference to my first issue.

 

[Greb]

ShawnKing,

Not to upset you, but something is wrong with your particular bike, my 08 shifts perfectly. I would get it checked out for warranty work.

 

[MotownJJG]

Your avitar comment says it all......LOL
Sorry, no time to read every post.............and unwilling to do a search before I comment.

+1, from one FNG to another!

Plus if we never posted, just read old stuff, we'd never get over being a FNG.... :dribble:

 

[mike25]

Also, If I come to a stop with the bike in any gear other than 1st, it's *very* difficult to get the bike to go to 1st. The clutch must be let out a little (an audible "click" is heard) before the bike will switch to the next lower gear.

Always get your downshifting done before the bike comes to a stop.

 

[ShawnKing]

Always get your downshifting done before the bike comes to a stop.

Yes, I know that. It's not always possible though.

ShawnKing,
Not to upset you, but something is wrong with your particular bike, my 08 shifts perfectly. I would get it checked out for warranty work.

Not upset at all.

I have to take it in for the 4K maintenance. I'll have them look at the issues.

 

[Rayzor61]

Thanks guys. I'll try not to take anything personal as the new guy! No offence to the other Ray......

Just hit the 600 mile mark today. I can't stay out of the traffic though. Living in suburban Philadelphia, it's almost impossible to avoid. Today, I got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on a 6 lane roadway that was blistering with heat. The temp gauge went to 3 arrows above middle with the fan running constantly. I had no problems with the engine. Call it new found confidence I guess. I'll look on the bright side; maybe my legs will toast to a nice tan with the heat.

I have taken it on some 60 to 100 mph runs and find myself extending my knee out into the air every once in a while to cool off the legs. I can live with it though. I have too.....lol. It will be a grat bonus in the winter!

What oil should I run at 600 miles. Is it too early for Synthetic Mobil 1? Has anyone ever tried that Blue Ice Coolant or is that just a marketing hype product?

Ray

 

[Rayzor61]

Gear Clanking: If you are talking about the shift from neutral into first, the ALL do it.

My gearing issue comes under hard acceleration from 1st to 2nd. When clicked up, the bike *always* goes into N. I have to click *twice* to get the bike to go into 2nd gear.

Under normal acceleration, N gets skipped as it should.

Also, If I come to a stop with the bike in any gear other than 1st, it's *very* difficult to get the bike to go to 1st. The clutch must be let out a little (an audible "click" is heard) before the bike will switch to the next lower gear.

For whatever reason, the FJR seems to like to be shifted above 3500 RPMs rather than shifting @ 2500 like a cruiser. At least mine is much easier to shift in the 4,000 RPM raNGE.

I didn't know that. I'll give it a try and see if it makes any difference to my first issue.

I get the "Difficult to downshift at a stop" also. But thats on almost every bike I've ever owned. If I stop in 3rd, it will go down to 2nd but you can't go down to first without letting out some clutch in second gear first.

On hard acceleration for me, thats the best shifting the bike does. Your right though, you can't always be on the throttle hard when shifting.

 

[DonRed7]

I get the "Difficult to downshift at a stop" also. But thats on almost every bike I've ever owned. If I stop in 3rd, it will go down to 2nd but you can't go down to first without letting out some clutch in second gear first.

On hard acceleration for me, thats the best shifting the bike does. Your right though, you can't always be on the throttle hard when shifting.

I expect you realize that sitting at a stop (no forward movement) is always a more difficult and less tranny friendly way to shift,... So just stop doing it (try to get you'r gears down relative to you'r speed as you slow down. Maybe a bit more work and paying attention to what you'r doing but it might be the recipe (sorry tough love). About a year ago i was new here and bitched about the double click thing when up shifting,.. MadMike made me realize that despite the torque the bike has IT just does not like to change cogs at less than 3500 rpm.

BTW...Tried the Mobil one synth last fall and while it worked great in my 03' 600R it did not impress me in the FJR tranny. Just put in the Rot T 15-40 dyno and after 50 miles i am quite impressed. And yes,... i know that new oil always feels better but the MB 1 seemed to be to.......Ummmmm ,....Clanky right from the start.

-Don

 

[CRMH Eagle]

I miss the shifting on my toyota mr2....smooth as silk on a baby's bottom.

 

[fattymoon]

My 08 shifted fine, up until yesterday and today when upshifting from third to fourth and fourth to fifth. I shift normally from third to fourth (or fourth to fifth) but... nothing. I'm still in third (or fourth). Try a second or third time and it shifts normally. This is happening about once every 20-25 shifts. And it's happened a couple times on the downshift from fourth to third. All this is happening with the bike fully warmed up.

Got 550 miles on it - taking it in tomorrow for the 600 mile service. I'm going to mention it to the shop and see what they say. I'm inclined to wait till I bring it back at 2,000 for another oil/filter before I ask them to take a look, but maybe I should ask them to check it out tomorrow.

I'm loving the bike!

 

[fattymoon]

I took the bike out after the 600 mile service... they adjusted the clutch lever free play... for some reason it shifted fine all day, but next day (and continuing now with 1200 miles on it) the tranny was back to its old crankyself. And yesterday there was a new problem, a strange clattering/shuddering sound while clutch is being engaged in first gear. I'm going to adjust the clutch free play myself and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Subcritical]

My experiences regarding the heat issue on the FJR - it does throw quite a bit of heat off. Much more than a cruiser because obviously a cruiser doesn't have fairings. As compared to other sport bikes that I've owned (several CBR 9xx's, FZ) it concentrates the heat down by feet for some reason. But it isn't so far out of norm. Nothing to get worried about IMHO. It is a big motor afterall.

Shifting: Every streetbike I've ever owned has had some bizarre shifting anomolies. Honda's are clunky 1st-2nd. My 954 was a little sloppy once in a while too. The FJR also can occasionally get sloppy too, but most of the time it is very smooth. When coming to a stop, downshift prior to the compete stop. If you do come to a complete stop prior to getting to 1st, just feather the clutch slightly between each shift until you get to 1st. This will add a little pressure to the drive and make it easier.

My gripes are thusly (and minor in nature): throttle spring pull is too much. Kickstand and center stand springs are too weak. I can feel them bouncing around as I go down our beautifully paved N.E. backroads. Apparently our excise tax isn't enough for road repairs....

Bike is HEAVY and can be difficult to manage when moving the bike around. Can anyone actually get this bike on its centerstand by themselves? I guess I'm a weakling!

My only other ****** is the throttle body sync. Rough after 300mi........still waiting for my Carbtune to arrive from the UK.

Other than that, this bike is lots of fun. A few tweaks and it will be perfect...

 

[kid41]

I have read a post , cant seem to find it but anyway i too have all the same issues on shifting. The post was saying to blip the throttle, so when i shift and noticed some extra pressure is needed to shift i blip the throttle , the tranny changes gear no problem.

My 2c !!

 

[Mackeroni]

What oil should I run at 600 miles. Is it too early for Synthetic Mobil 1? Has anyone ever tried that Blue Ice Coolant or is that just a marketing hype product?
Ray

1,200 miles on my 08. I had an occasional problem getting from N to 1 before the first oil change. Now... no problem with that or any other gear. Snickety-snickety-snickety. Running Yamalube 20W50 non-synthetic.