neutral instead of second gear ???...

[illzomb]

sometimes when i'm shifting i guess i won't press hard enough and instead of shifting into second i shift into neutral. has anyone else had this problem as a beginner ? should i just move the placement of my foot or always consiously shift harder????

[dieziege]

Don't pussyfoot around with it.

[Phat_J]

make sure you have the clutch lever pulled in the whole way and hit it in gear.

[jmillheiser]

and dont be timid with that shifter, pull up on it firmly.

[Mintbread]

What do you ride?

Some bikes just have dodo gearboxes filled with false neutrals. After all these years some manufacturers just haven't figured out how to build good ones yet.

[sharpmagna]

As a new rider I used to do it more than I'd care to admit. Now that I've been riding for a while, it doesn't happen. Just jam the shifter no need to baby it.

[bok]

one thing they teach here is to hold your foot up through the shift from first to second, this helps to avoid false neutrals.

[Lion_Lady]

I still do it after 20K+ miles.. especially if I've been on the highway for a bit, then come to a light.

Go from first to NEUTRAL, "ah C R A P!!" hit it again, THEN second. Makes for rather 'messy' getaways.

Do it downshifting too, but not as often.

You just got to be more "authoritative" on the shifter.

P

[Big B]

every now and then i'll come to a stop, look both ways, and make an "O Ring" out of myself when i gun it and the bike is in neutral instead of first
doesn't happen often, but it happens. i put a heel/toe shifter on my vtx and that cured all false neutrals on upshifts, just slam down on your heel and she's in second.

[Baltimore Newbie]

I did it a lot the first week I got my bike. Then I read on here about pre loading the shifter. Has'nt happened as much since I started that.