clunky shifting trans...?

I do find mine loud, especially between 1st and 2nd, but I just figured that's because there's that pesky "N" in between there.

Believe it or not, and some may call me crazy, this is my first bike ever. I've been a passenger on bikes when I was a kid with my Dad, but I just loved this bike from the moment I saw it online. So I really have nothing to compare the shifting sound to. It just seems "clunky" like you said, Tray....

I noticed that too. I dont have any explanation though.

Same here. Sometimes nuetral to first, sometimes first to second. Other times smooth. Third to fourth, and fourth to fifth seem smoother.

I plan on switching to full synthetic and that should help quiet it down. It did on my other bike.

I think it's just a Suzuki thang! My 1400 shifted the same way ;D

It does seem clunky from first to second. And that it seems to get less as you climb up in the gears. But I only have 400 miles on her.

Mine's like a barn door slamming after my 1600 Mean Streak.
Hopefully better after the oil is changed.
I love this bike but I miss the "neutral finder" system on the Mean Streak.

The only problem I have had is that my foot seems to find the arm of the shift lever rather than the rubber peg. Makes it a little harder to shift as the leverage is less.

It definitely takes a healthy yank to get from 1st to 2nd. I've already gotten rid of the original dealer oil and it didn't help.

I've found that 1st is very short. What I usually do is either start in 2nd or shift very quick from 1st to 2nd after the bike starts moving. Give it a try & it's just as smooth as the other gears. I've owned nothing but Suz's so I have nothing to compare this to. It does feel like my old TLR1000 in the lower gears.

Thats one complaint I have too, the loud bang every time I shift especially in the lower gears . Makes ya feel like a beginner shifter lol. My mean streak never had that problem at all,nor my other bikes but they were'nt Suzuki's so........Hope it don't knock the tranny out! One time it grinded shifting from 1st to 2nd & then finally went in! yikes so now I just nail it hard & letter bang. Don't want that to happen again, but I noticed shifting early from first does help a little bit. lol try shifting later once if you really want to hear a bang, the whole bike will jump........ that sucks! Other wise everything else is really good, hope they come up with a fix for that. I've changed oil & that did'nt help & dought if sinthetic will either. Even my buddies riding next to me laugh when it bangs, sorta imbarrassing when it happens lol. So I let them ride & the same thing happened to them but even worse lol! Gregster

It must have something to do with the 'semi-dry' sump system they are using. I've had other Suzukis. They all had wet sumps, and this did not happen. It's not too big a deal, really. Just gotta remember not to get lazy on the 1st to 2nd, that's all.

Even my buddies riding next to me laugh when it bangs,

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Ever notice how people joke about things they don't have but want? I don't joke about any of the other cruisers... then again, I've got what I want!

I hammer it up into second, my buddy here's her shift when he's cruising in front of me (not just beside or behind)...

Every now and then mine doesn't want to go from neutral to first. It seems to happen only when there's a line of cars behind me at the light. When this happens, the shift into first makes the bike jump . And whats funnier is how other times it shifts so smoothly you can barely feel it.

Yep, 400 miles and mine clunks just all the rest. I've been winding it out a little more and the performance is great. I get about 31 mpg now. JOHN

VZR1800 said:

Every now and then mine doesn't want to go from neutral to first. It seems to happen only when there's a line of cars behind me at the light. When this happens, the shift into first makes the bike jump . And whats funnier is how other times it shifts so smoothly you can barely feel it.

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I've had that same issue also with it not wanting to go into first from neutral after coming to a stop at a light and putting it in neutral. I finde that if I roll the bike backwards a few inches it goes into 1st easier. Hopefully, all these little quirks will work themselves out over time and mileage. But I'll be mentioning this, the rough shifting and the STILL small amounts ouf oil spray coming out on the left side, to the dealer this week when I bring it in for it's post-breakin service. I think it's just got to be leftover oil in the air cleaner housing. At least that's what I hope.

yep. mine's clunky going from 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd at times. I also have the problem of not wanting to go into first from nuetral at times. i just put it in 2nd when that happens, it's got plenty of power for it.

Like the Vtx, the going from neutral to first problem is quickily resolved by letting the clutch out and then reengaging it and shifting.
The other concern i'd have though is the idea of shifting into neutral at stops and lights.  It's far safer to leave it in gear in case you have to get out of Dodge in a hurry.  Like when you look in your mirror and see the person behind you isn't slowing down.  I don't want to be someones hood ornament because  it's a shift or die situation.
Jerbear

jerbear said:

Like the Vtx, the going from neutral to first problem is quickily resolved by letting the clutch out and then reengaging it and shifting.
The other concern i'd have though is the idea of shifting into neutral at stops and lights. It's far safer to leave it in gear in case you have to get out of Dodge in a hurry. Like when you look in your mirror and see the person behind you isn't slowing down. I don't want to be someones hood ornament because it's a shift or die situation.
Jerbear

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Very true, but we have 5 minute traffic lights. And keeping your arm stretched and clutch pulled in that long isn't at all practical. Mainly due to the bars.

On this bike, unlike the VTX, or most other bikes, the disengage and re-engaging of the clutch, and even rolling the bike a little doesn't always solve it. It can take several attempts. But I agree, usually it takes care of that.