False Neutrals

[Jogrsyu]

Is it just me?? I ask myself!

I have an SV650s K4 and i'm beginning to think she has 11 Gears!! I have had her from new and it has always been a problem. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

[Biker Biggles]

Can be a maintenance problem.
The gear lever needs to be kept lubed where it pivots on the footrest,and the chain needs to kept lubed and correctly adjusted.Some gearboxes get a bit iffy when the engine oil needs changing or when the level is wrong too.

[Jogrsyu]

I have always had this problem from new. I have always kept her well maintained. I have been told a racing gearbox will sort out the problem.

[Banus]

Can I just confirm - read loads about false neutrals but not 100% sure what it is. Is a false neutral when you have difficulty in finding neutral when you've stopped?I seem to fanny about for ages trying toget the "N" light to come on when stationary. Although my oil level (and quality), chain (tension and clenliness)and gear lever clenliness are spot on. Considering i'm a bit neurotic about things that aren't **** on - Its never really bothered me - just thought it was one of those things - should I be ?

[fizzwheel]

I have been told a racing gearbox will sort out the problem.

Let me guess the person that told you this, is the same person who could possibly sell you a racing gearbox. Its rot mate don't listen to them.

As biker biggles says, make sure the chain is correctly adjusted and lubed and that the oil isnt overfilled. Every time I've had gear change problems on my SV its been one of these things. Other things to check, check that the gearshift linkage rod is done up tight and theres no slack in it. Also check that your clutch is adjusted properly.

Failing that it could be you. I found before that it was me that was causing the problem with a dodgy gear change technique. The thing to try here IMHO is before you change gear to put a tiny bit of pressure on the lever before knock the lever to change gears, I found that makes a big difference, just a little pressure is all you need, don't go forcing it.

The other thing to try is to do a gearchange without the clutch, with a bit of practice you can get this really down to an art and you'll get a smoother gear change.

[Jebiah]

Is a false neutral when you have difficulty in finding neutral when you've stopped?

False neutral is when the neautral light comes on but is still in gear, I believe.

[valleyboy]

False Neutral = while bike is in motion and you want to change gear from say 4th to 5th,.. except it goes into neutral instead... you usualy know its happened by you thinking youve changed gear, but you give it a bit of throttle to accelerate in next gear, but you get bugger all except lots of noise!, a quick glance at the display, and you find your Neutral light is on, so you usualy have to boot up the gear lever with a clunk to get it to change into gear then...

[Baph]

Can I just confirm - read loads about false neutrals but not 100% sure what it is. Is a false neutral when you have difficulty in finding neutral when you've stopped?I seem to fanny about for ages trying toget the "N" light to come on when stationary. Although my oil level (and quality), chain (tension and clenliness)and gear lever clenliness are spot on. Considering i'm a bit neurotic about things that aren't **** on - Its never really bothered me - just thought it was one of those things - should I be ?
A false neutral is trying to hit a gear, and getting neutral, say, between 2nd & 3rd gear, where there phyisically isn't a neutral.

In your problem, you'll be in either 1st & coming up for neutral, or 2nd & going down.

Either case, if you're hitting the gear instead of neutral, a little more finesse on the lever. If you're not going anywhere, firm pressure on the lever, let the clutch out to just before the bite point. That'll snick her into the gear past neutral, then come gently back the other way to neutral. Should go in no worries.

[Alpinestarhero]

False neutrals are when you get a neutral between gears where you dont normaly find a neutral i.e. 3rd and 4th, 4th and 5th, 5th and 6th.

Do i win the prize? Or am I wrong?

Matt

[Jebiah]

False Neutral = while bike is in motion and you want to change gear from say 4th to 5th,.. except it goes into neutral instead... you usualy know its happened by you thinking youve changed gear, but you give it a bit of throttle to accelerate in next gear, but you get bugger all except lots of noise!, a quick glance at the display, and you find your Neutral light is on, so you usualy have to boot up the gear lever with a clunk to get it to change into gear then...


I didnt think that was called a false neutral, though it fits the description. I thought that was just called missing a gear, Doesn't that only happen when you dont kick it hard enough into second?

Ok i think im wrong haha

[Baph]

False neutrals are when you get a neutral between gears where you dont normaly find a neutral i.e. 3rd and 4th, 4th and 5th, 5th and 6th.

Do i win the prize? Or am I wrong?

Matt
You aint wrong, but 4th gets you squat ;)

[Baph]

I didnt think that was called a false neutral, though it fits the description. I thought that was just called missing a gear, Doesn't that only happen when you dont kick it hard enough into second?
As above, if the chain is too loose, there's not enough pressure on the gear box, so even with a moderate kick, it'll hit neutral.

Lever adjustment or sticking is another classic cause.

[Jebiah]

As above, if the chain is too loose, there's not enough pressure on the gear box, so even with a moderate kick, it'll hit neutral.

Lever adjustment or sticking is another classic cause.

Well you learn something new every day :D so whats it called when you dont hit the lever hard enough to go into second and get neutral? :smt101

[Baph]

Well you learn something new every day :D so whats it called when you dont hit the lever hard enough to go into second and get neutral? :smt101
Being...footed (u-rating).

No seriously now, that's missing the gear.

[weazelz]

I find that I sometimes get false neutrals changing down between 5th & 4th
if I'm less than positive with my shift

[Toypop]

Every motorcycle I have had has had this problem to some extent. Some worse than others and mostly on the upshifts rather than downshifts.

On some bikes it would happen once every ten miles and on others once every 200 miles (half urban/half country riding).

[Blue_SV650S]

Race box, who told you that?!!? :lol:

Presuming everythign else checks out, look into/search on 'Factory Detent Star' (and Arm/Spring), gives much more positive shift.

[skidmarx]

All the above advice about chain and oil and technique is good, but it really helped me when I adjusted the gearlever DOWN quite a bit, just undo the locknuts (watch out for the left had thread:D ) and twist the adjuster. Takes 2 mins. Give it a go!

[Jogrsyu]

I Tend to get it mainly going down the gears. Which is a bad things if your heading into a corner. I have adjusted the gear leaver but that has not made a difference. I am looking to put a new chain on it this year but that is due to it going off over winter. Chains and wooden garages don't go!

I found that clutchless gear changes made the false neutral worse when i did use the clutch.

[Baph]

All the above advice about chain and oil and technique is good, but it really helped me when I adjusted the gearlever DOWN quite a bit, just undo the locknuts (watch out for the left had thread:D ) and twist the adjuster. Takes 2 mins. Give it a go!
I tried that, but couldn't adjust enough, so I had to take the gear lever off the gearbox & turn it, then put it back on.

That cured my problem of leaving my foot on the lever so only being able to change down 1 gear :oops:

[Jogrsyu]

I have adjusted the gear changer and it has not made any difference. I have also tried the clutchless gear changes but that m ade the problem worse when i needed to use the clutch.

I am not the only on who has had this problem with her. A friend of mine has also ridden her and struggled with false neutrals.

[Jogrsyu]

I am not the only on who has had this problem with her. A friend of mine has also ridden her and struggled with false neutrals.