2nd gear

[Steel]

Do the C109s seem to have the same 2nd gear issues as the M109s?

[cbxer55]

What second gear problem? My 06 M109R has almost 18,000 miles without any gear problems. I know there are some folks whop have had the issue. But typically, you hear more from the folks who have a problem than the flks who have no problems. Percentage wise I bet is a smaller number than you think.

[Ogre691]

sure do I have a bent shift fork and lost 2nd gear. Getting parts and fixing it over the winter. Dealership wanted 5k to fix it in Canada, no thanks.

[Steel]

That sux. I was hoping they would have made the shift forks better after seeing the M109s were having issues.

[msmitch459]

What second gear problem? My 06 M109R has almost 18,000 miles without any gear problems. I know there are some folks whop have had the issue. But typically, you hear more from the folks who have a problem than the flks who have no problems. Percentage wise I bet is a smaller number than you think.

Looks like you ride about 3000 miles a year. This issue doesn't pop up till 30,000 and up. You have 3 or 4 more years.

[Gold5th]

Good to know... next on my mod list.. shift star...

[cbxer55]

Looks like you ride about 3000 miles a year. This issue doesn't pop up till 30,000 and up. You have 3 or 4 more years.

Weather and the roads here suck azz. When I lived in California I used to ride 1000 miles a month, pretty much year round. Also had four bikes, so that mileage got divided up between them. At this time I also have an 06 M50, so that absorbs some mileage. This year I've ridden more since the winter is so mild. Looks like I'll be riding it to work for at least the next two weeks according to the long range forecast. But that is only 14 miles round trip, so yeah, I do not ride as much as I used to. Gas prices figure into that as well. Not burning $3.50 gas unnecessarily.

I've also seen several posters who have 40,000+ miles with no issues. So we'll see. I am not losing sleep over the issue, my bike shifts perfectly, better than it did when new. The graunchy first-to-second is gone, or I am just shifting it right without any thought.

[Torque Junkie]

Do the C109s seem to have the same 2nd gear issues as the M109s?

Aren't many C-109's in my neck-of-the-woods, but ever since returning from my first test ride from the dealership I had come to the conclusion that this bike was not going to be one that would shift quickly. My first impressions were that I was driving a semi truck and shifting smoothly was going to take some getting used to! After discussing the shifting differences between the C-109R and the VS-1400 I was trading in, the dealer told me that Suzuki had to make a straighter cut on the gears of the 9 in order for the tranny to handle the added torque, and that was the reason they shifted the way they do. My gut feeling is to take your time when shifting and 2nd gear won't become a problem. I let the old saying ("Machines don't make mistakes, people do. Machines simply operate by the laws of physics.") apply here and figure my transmission will shift when it is ready too, without forcing it.

[ace4aday]

I think a lot of people try to shift into 2nd with their rpms too high. I literally use 1st to get rolling and then hop into 2nd while I'm still around 5mph. Shifts like butter. Any faster than that and it's noisy and hard to slip it into gear. It makes me think a lot of these 2nd gear issues are riding style induced.

[Dommy]

I think a lot of people try to shift into 2nd with their rpms too high.

And besides, the smoother the acceleration in 1st gear, the smaller the wear on the rear tyre, the longer its life

[GMan]

That sux. I was hoping they would have made the shift forks better after seeing the M109s were having issues.

My C109RT was one of the first to land in the states, has never been to a dealer(go it direct from Suzuki America for testing and such). It has been ridden hard, pushed hard, is 27% more powerful than stock and has been for most of it's 28,000 miles. I have had the front tire off the ground more times than I can remember. I have broke floor boards, scraped exhaust, side stand brackets and usually have the bike weighted down with a passenger and luggage and have not had a clutch or transmission issue. Is mine different, no. Do I ride gentle, not often. What's my secret, don't have one. I only stated the above to show that being gentle isn't necessarily the problem. I propose that what we experience on these forums is a specific segment of the riding population that are members and tend to be vocal. That's not a put down. I ride with many that never go on forums. Most of us came to forums to get advise and/or help for an issue, problem, etc so we hear about those things at a higher frequency than someone using it for a daily commuter that simply rides the tires off the bike once or twice a year, replaces them and keeps riding.

The shifter fork onthe C is different form the one on the M and they are not interchangeable. I have heard of very few issues with shifting on the C, except the comment it shifts like a semi. I would expect it to shift firm since it has a bunch of power it's pushing, so that's not a problem for me. The clunkiest shifting bike I have ever ridden, besides the Pre-Production Victroy Vision a few years back was the HD Ultra Classic. Talk about a clunk in each gear. It made the C feel like I was shifting a C50.

[Torque Junkie]

I believe G-man Industries sells a bronze bushing of some type for the C109 models that aids in smoother shifting of the bike. Must just be an issue with some 109's? I've been through the clutch adjustment procedure bulletin supplied to the dealer by Suzuki Inc., the pushpin mod. to get rid of clutch shudder, replaced worn motor mounts with the harder ones to reduce cable pull, etc. and still the same slow shifting tranny. Smooth, yes if you take your time but quick and smooth, no way, not my "C".

[GMan]

I believe G-man Industries sells a bronze bushing of some type for the C109 models that aids in smoother shifting of the bike. Must just be an issue with some 109's? I've been through the clutch adjustment procedure bulletin supplied to the dealer by Suzuki Inc., the pushpin mod. to get rid of clutch shudder, replaced worn motor mounts with the harder ones to reduce cable pull, etc. and still the same slow shifting tranny. Smooth, yes if you take your time but quick and smooth, no way, not my "C".

They don't shift like a soort bike, but how many sport bikes have over 100ft lbs of torque at the rear tire and weigh over 900lbs?
Unless you have an oddity with your C109R they still shift fast enough to loose traction in 2nd gear if you want.

All the other fixes sound pretty expensive. Have you tried the GBushing? It costs less than $30 and will reduce drag on the shift linkage pivot point, which could help.

[Torque Junkie]

They don't shift like a soort bike, but how many sport bikes have over 100ft lbs of torque at the rear tire and weigh over 900lbs?
Unless you have an oddity with your C109R they still shift fast enough to loose traction in 2nd gear if you want.

All the other fixes sound pretty expensive. Have you tried the GBushing? It costs less than $30 and will reduce drag on the shift linkage pivot point, which could help.

If you have clutch shudder you will do about anything to get rid of it. Don't know if you've experienced it or not but it is due to the clutch not oiling enough and having a tendancy to grab when engaged. While the exhaust was off I replaced the worn front motor mounts and eliminated the engine from rocking back and forth. This prevents the free-play in the clutch cable from disappearing upon acceleration. Makes me wonder if this is the reason so many M109 owners are popping the ends off their cables? Haven't tried the G-bushing and have no desire to ride my C109 like a sportbike. Love the torque, can live with the shifting, engine knock has to go yet, and would love to see some of these bikes go 250,000+ miles like some Goldwings have. I rode MX for years and when an adrenaline rush is in store I still have to resort back to an old CR-500, go throw rooster-tails and dig some trenches with the rear wheel on it.

[GMan]

If you have clutch shudder you will do about anything to get rid of it. Don't know if you've experienced it or not but it is due to the clutch not oiling enough and having a tendancy to grab when engaged. .........................Love the torque, can live with the shifting, engine knock has to go yet, and would love to see some of these bikes go 250,000+ miles like some Goldwings have. ..................

Never experienced the clutch shudder with my C109RT, but have on other bikes. Mine has just short of 30k on the clock, and it runs like new. I think part of that clutch issue is oil type and I have been using Amsoil, do in all my vehicles.
As to the engine knock. If yours is bone stock you need to add a controller that can add a touch of fuel at idle to low rpm as she is simply running too lean from the factory. It was a fix we helped many a dealer with early on. Took our Bully and plugged it into a bone stock bike and zeroed out all but idle circuit. Also delayed transition into accelerate fuel mode and raised mpg's while cruising. Then when pipes, intake or both are added it's simply a 30 second button pushing session (buttons are on face of the controller and is where they can be seen and reached) so no expense, no downloads, nothing but pushing of 3 buttons which comes with colored diagrams.

250k may be a reach, but if they have the same longevity of their older brother the C90, they will jump into the 150k range without issue.