downshifting to 1st gear trouble...

[VermilionX]

sometimes when im slowing down to stop... my shift to 1st gear is messed up. i get the horrible crunching sound.

im sure im holding the clutch bec i just downshifted from a higher gear than 2nd for when i don't have time to downshift each step and catch the engine each time w/ a quick blip.

im also sure it's not bec im still going too fast since my 1st gear can reach above 90mph.

anyway... you think my clutch is messed up?

i know it's not bec i reversed my shift pattern bec it also happened a few times before i got it done.

[Relsek]

To downshift into first, pull the clutch in, push down from second gently until it just slips into first. (while still moving)

[VermilionX]

To downshift into first, pull the clutch in, push down from second gently until it just slips into first. (while still moving)

yeah, that's the problem, im doing that.

like i said, it doesn't happen all the time, only sometimes. so im confused.

oh wait, do you mean for shifting to 1st gear i should always fully apply the clutch instead of just ½ or ¼ like i normally do?

[flynrider]

im also sure it's not bec im still going too fast since my 1st gear can reach above 90mph.

Just because your 1st gear is capable of taking your bike up to 90 mph, does not mean you can shift into first gear at any speed. Transmissions don't work that way.

I'm not sure what the inside of your tranny looks like, but historically, 1st gear on bikes was not synchronized. That means you have to be going fairly slow with the clutch completely disengaged, to get a clean shift into first.

[ZooTech]

im also sure it's not bec im still going too fast since my 1st gear can reach above 90mph.

Just because your 1st gear is capable of taking your bike up to 90 mph, does not mean you can shift into first gear at any speed. Transmissions don't work that way.

I'm not sure what the inside of your tranny looks like, but historically, 1st gear on bikes was not synchronized. That means you have to be going fairly slow with the clutch completely disengaged, to get a clean shift into first.

+1

[earwig]

I don't know what your bike is like... but on mine I have to stomp it FAST into first or it grinds... this might just be a buell thing though. Shifting without using the clutch is completly out of the question.

[Mag7C]

I get that sometimes, just slow down more before you shift.

[ninja79]

what does "not synchronized" mean?

btw, I am getting the same thing. What is that grinding sound?

[VermilionX]

fully engage instead of just ½ and make sure to slow down really slow before going to 1st.

thanks guys that actually answers my problem!

[Kal]

oh wait, do you mean for shifting to 1st gear i should always fully apply the clutch instead of just ½ or ¼ like i normally do?

My first instinct was to be mean to you Verm and I apologise.

Do you know where the Bite point is on your bike?

You should be the other side of the bite point before changing gear and then smoothly rolling back into the bite point and pouring the power on.

Otherwise your clutch plates will be in contact and so under power. This can lead to unpleasant noises, jerky performance and increased maintainence costs.