The appeal of motorcycles has increased greatly due to their low running costs, the ability to navigate through various traffic conditions and the very feeling of freedom that accompanies a long motorcycle ride. With this, the sales of motorcycles have greatly increased in the past few years as well. However, as a bike owner, it is essential to know certain basic maintenance tips yourself. There are various issues that can arise with the motorcycle even apart from issues from the engine. One of this is poor shifting.
While the poor shift may be caused by the way you operate your motorcycle, there are various other reasons that may also contribute to a poor shift. You should always check them as before agreeing with anyone prescribed cause and solution
#1. Shift Pedal
Most problems with poor shifting may actually be caused by factors that are outside the engine. For example, it could be a problem with the external linkage caused by any recent change. When people adjust the height of the shift pedal to suit their ankles, the linkage may end up getting cramped against itself. Due to this, when you finally make the shift, you cannot fully engage the gear since the shift claw is prevented from being pushed far enough. Therefore, if you’ve made any recent changes, it is best to first check the external linkage if you begin experiencing poor shifting.
#2. Clutch Drag
There may be cases where the shift lever becomes hard and shifting the bike into gear becomes difficult. This is generally seen when the bike is cold. The cause is the clutch cable here. You need to readjust it by loosening the locking adjustment and then working the clutch lever a few times. After swinging the handlebars to full lock in both the directions, you can go ahead and re-engage the locking mechanism. The main aim here is to add around ¼ cm to the play of your clutch handle. After making this change, there will be a noticeable difference.
#3. Size of the Rider
You will not be able to operate the controls of the motorcycle properly if you are trying to ride a motorcycle that isn’t of a size that fits you. If it is either too small or too big for your own size, then it becomes difficult to effectively engage the controls. Even not bringing in the clutch lever properly will ultimately result in shifting problems for you. Therefore, to avoid such shifting problems, ensure that your motorcycle fits your personal size.
#4. Clutch Lever
In order to ensure that the spines on your gearbox blend seamlessly together, you need to make sure that you release the clutch lever slowly. By doing this, you can create a smooth shift. This ensures that there is no risk of locking your back wheel. Moreover, you can also avoid any noticeable drag. To make this easier, you can blip the throttle. You get a much smoother shift through this since it helps the engine revs match up with the road speed.
#5. Gearbox
If your clutch cannot be adjusted, then this may mean that you need to replace it completely. It is possible that your clutch may have gotten worn out. This causes you to slip when changing the gears and results in poor shifting. There is also another possible cause. Multiple bad shifts or general wear and tear may have resulted in your gearbox getting damaged. In this case, you need to replace or rebuild the gearbox itself.
#6. Cable Tension and Limit Setting
One of the most common things that go out of adjustment is the cable tension. There is a lack of shifting precision that is caused when there is wear and tear or stretching present in the cable systems. Sluggish behavior on the upshifts is due to a lack of cable tension and in downshifts is due to more tension than required.
#7. Drag Due to Cables
For better shifting, it is always best to replace your cables with the best quality at regular intervals. They can end up hindering and causing poor shifting if the cables are old, rusted, of poor quality or kinked. It is generally best to use a good quality steel inner cable without coatings. For a better effect, when you replace the inner cable, replace the sheathing that the cable runs through as well.
#8. Human Experience
It cannot be denied that sometimes, poor shifting is caused merely by the inexperience on the side of the rider. Once learned shifting of gears ultimately becomes part of muscle memory and can cause a satisfying riding experience. However, it should be understood that the clutch is ultimately a method to refine control over their motorcycle and having perfectly timed shifts can help enrich the riding experience. Ensure that you spend time on refining your shifting skill so that you do not end up compromising on either traction or control through lurching and abrupt gear transitions.
