I took my bike out for its first ride today. In the dark, on damp roads, like you do... It's going to take some getting used to. I have already found some niggles... So what do you lot think about the gear box? I had a 1098 which was a false neutral fest. I have also ridden Hondas which have slick gear boxes, and my last bike was a RSV4 with a gear box on a par with the Hondas i.e. false neutrals rarer than hens' teeth. Straight away on the new bike I am getting neutrals where they shouldn't be, or I am in the same gear after attempting to change. The throw on the gear lever seems to be massive, and the lever action seems mushy; I can't feel whether or not I have engaged the gear. Do you find the lever throw to be large compared to other bikes? Can the throw be reduced (press harder with less movement)? I would like to try adjusting the lever's position as per the manual, but I saw on one of the American forums a post that claimed that contrary to the manual you have to disassemble the rose in order to change the length of the rod. Surely this can't be true, or can it? At the end of my ride I tried to put the side stand down with my foot. Fail! The sticky-out bit on the end of the stand seems to be positioned perfectly under and behind the peg to prevent me from being able to lower it with the heel of my boot, like I have done on every previous bike I have owned. Do you find this? I had to use my toe from behind the peg, which feels really un-natural. When I am out riding with my so-called friends, we like to take the piss out of anyone in the group who leaves an indicator on for miles and miles after a junction. To this end I am in the habit of pressing the button to cancel an indication more than once, just to be sure. With this bike that launches the dash into the mode change menu, which is REALLY annoying. On the RSV the mode change was on the engine start button, something you NEVER press during a ride other than to change the mode. I shall be diligently reading the manual to find out if there's a way to exit from mode selection other than doing nothing and waiting for the menu to time-out and return the dash to normal. Now let me tell you about the bits that I like. The engine, followed by the engine, and then the engine. It's a peach, even at restricted RPM. I missed the low-down grunt on the RSV4. The headlights are SO much better than the Aprilia's. I love the whiteness of the light, and the fact that the main-beam is strong-enough to actually see where you are going on unlit roads. The ergonomics seem to suit me fine, and the steering feels like it's on a par with the Aprilia, which is probably the best handling bike I have ridden up to this point. It is nimbler than the 1098, that's for sure. Wheeling the bike from the drive to the garage I managed to trigger the motion sensor on the tracker, so there followed a chat with a very nice man from the Special Operations Centre. So I can at least confirm that big brother is watching over the bike (and me).
I can't comment on most things since I have the little brother bike, but I did find that I got a lot of false neutrals when I was running the bike in because I was using the QS at around 6k or below. This seems to be fine up to fourth gear but after that I was having fairly regular issues. Since the first service I've found that it rarely happens and I don't tend to use it in the lower revs because I can use more of the range now. On the track I never had a single false neutral, probably because I wasn't using the QS until I saw the shift lights basically. So I guess just bear with it until the first service (up to 1000 miles really, I'd say) and see how it is after that...
Oh right, that sounds like a completely different kettle of fish then! Have you had a word with the dealer to see if there's anything they'd recommend?
Did you take it out on a test ride before buying it? That would have thrown up a few of the niggles you've mentioned. I have a 1199, not a 12, but my gear box is perfect, never get false neutrals, but then I normally always use the quick shifter, so perhaps that's the difference? I don't know about adjusting the lever unfortunately. With regards to the indicator cancel button bringing up the menu, yes it happens. Unfortunately you just have to get used to it. I used to spam the cancel button on previous bikes I've had, but now I press it once and hey presto, cancelled indicator and no menu! The side stand one is just a change to your habits, as you've said, you need to use your toe instead of your heel, problem solved. You'll get used to it. I have no issue getting the side-stand down now I've re-learnt how to do it for my Panigale. Glad you're liking the engine anyway and I also have the same issue with my tracker, I've been cleaning it whilst it's been sat on paddock stands and I received a phone call! Crazy (but good, I guess) sensitivity on these trackers!
Your post describes exactly how my 350 mile old bike is. Many false neutrals, hard to find neutral, and the side stand problem. Side stand I just get on with it, whilst complaining every time. Neutral issue is shit, reminds me of a Yamaha gearbox. Doesn't really bother me though. I didn't but it for its precision engineering or refinement. I bought it because it makes me look like a cool bastard when I drive up the high street and for those Sunday knee down sessions which it's been great for already. It also helps that when I open my garage door my penis shudders with excitement when I lay eyes upon the beast.
Well now, thanks for all of the replies. I think I have already identified the issue with the gearbox. There's nothing wrong per-se, it's just that the throw on the lever is large. I have measured it at 35mm for an up-change and 32 for a down. On my previous bike it was 25mm up and 23 down. I just don't like the length of the throw, which doesn't suit my little feet (size 7). I think it will be better if I can find a way of shortening the throw. So far I have found out that the DP rear-sets will shorten the throw, but at a substantial cost. So now I am on the lookout for either a replacement lever where the distance between the pivot centre and the rose centre is larger or rear-sets with the same property, but cheaper than £860! So if any of you are using after-market rear-sets and would care to measure your lever-throw, I would be pleased to hear from you! Finding neutral when you want it is not a problem. You get well practiced at it after riding a bike with a feather-light gear selector like on an RSV4.
I think with time you'll get used to the travel and it'll be ok. Just gotta allow time to adapt. I wouldn't do any tinkering until you've covered a thousand miles or so.
Done about 1800mls on mine now. One false neutral in all those miles under quickshifter. Sheer bliss after the 1198 which was about 1 per mile, normally just as you were going into a corner. The shift is 'soft' compared to other bikes (including Ducati's) but not really a problem after first few miles to adjust. I now find others feel clunky in comparison. Indicator cancel is fine...press it once, job done.
Mine is a 899, all I can say is 'yes, all Ducati's have a longer throw on the gearbox than some others' especially jap bikes, with Triumph being somewhere in the middle. Actually my 675 gearbox was like chocolate, used to feel horrid tbh but was okay with the quickshifter. Interestingly the big gaps between gears seem to give the quickshifter a hard time, I get maybe a missed shift every other time I go out. The gearbox tbh though still rates as one of the best I have ever used though, it's just that the ratios are far apart and there is a lot of torque going through them.
My monster 1200 has several false neutrals in the first 600 miles, but very few after. I think it is a combination of the gearbox bedding in and you getting used to the action of the bike. I'll see how it goes on my new 1299 when I get her out.
Worth noting, that people that have done big mileage on these bikes seem to say they take an age to bed in and loosen up, some say 4-5k miles!!! Personally mine after 1800 miles still feels quite new
I've had false neutrals on my 899, but it's usually me being lazy on the shifter. The stand is a pain in the arse, I use my hand to put it down now lol, I've given up with my size 13 feet. All character though
The demo 1299 felt even smoother after it had its first service. My 899 felt like a different bike after 4900 miles. Not shitting you it just all of a sudden felt more whole and relaxed. Just one day i took it to work and then on the way home it suddenly started to feel different. Different better!
No chance of that! The RSV4 did 23,000 miles in four summers. I can't see this bike doing much less than that...
Yo Razz My 1299 has done only 550 miles so far, and I have never hit a false neutral. Then on my 1199 after doing 5000 miles, only hitting 1 once. Only problem with the 12 is when cold I find it hard to get into neutral. Going from 1st to 2nd, then back to 1st trying to find it . Yep a little annoying, but nowt to get excited about. The clutch on my 1299 is very noisy on tick over, but quiet when the clutch is pulled in. Think will mention this when it gets its first service.
