hi guys just bought a 2016 1200s dvt with 8k miles and loving the bike but find every now and then its tricky finding neutral, it literally jumps from 1-2 and 2-1 also at speed once I went from 5th to 6th and it was between gears grinding until I gently coaxed it in! gear linkage is all free with no stiffness or play. any suggestions, maybe worth a clutch bleed although I feel like a click from inside gearbox up through my lever too when pulling the clutch in? worth swapping for an oberon, it doesn't feel like clutch needs a bleed though.
thanks for replying buddy, ive bled he back brake up tonight as that was on the floor and adjusted the play in it too but still doesn't bite too hard but thats another issue to sort, might have to put better brake pads in! I'll jump on the clutch tomorrow for bleeding, what fluid do they take?
Try adjusting the gear lever downwards. This should give you a more positive gear change than the stock position. Try it in small increments.
It’s a well known problem. They call finding neutral ‘finding Nemo’. Clutch pressure has tight tolerances which I had sorted under warranty which made it better but it is what it is. Similar to poor back brake. It’s part of the ‘character’
Good practice is to snick it into neutral as you slow down just before you stop. Or rock the bike if you are already at standstill
As above, I lowered the gear lever so that I get a more positive up-shift but also the chain tension is pretty important on these engines I find. A false neutral between 5th and 6th seems to happen when the chain is a little slack, it may only be a few millimeters out of tolerance but, when it's right, the change is a lot slicker and less agricultural.
DOT4 for clutch. Bleeding does help. My 1098 is a bugger for finding neutral when running. I’ve found tapping down from 2nd as opposed to up from first works better but is not always successful.
Watch just the way it is channel on YT and follow his instructions . Your brakes will be good as new.
This I also find it easier to go down to first whilst rolling and click it up into neutral It’s become a habit now
Your experience is actually quite common and as has been already said, finding neutral before you come to a stop is often a way to get around it. The neutral between 5th and 6th can sometimes be a less than an optimum pressure on the lever. I also found my Multistrada gear selection was sensitive to slack chain tension. As many do, I learned to live with it. Andy
Good riding practice would be to leave in gear until you are stationary in case something happens that means you need drive in a hurry. Good Multistrada practice is to knock it into neutral from 2nd whilst coming to a halt as it is much easier to find, rather than sitting at a standstill bouncing it between 1st & 2nd until it's time to move again. The 950 also leaves the factory without a rear brake and as @Android853sp says of the 1200, is also sensitive to chain tension when shifting.
