Manual shifting is used in most motorcycles across the world. In opposition to the automatic transmission, you need to shift gears manually using your left hand for the clutch lever on the left handlebar and your left foot for the gear shift lever located in front of the left motorcycle’s footpeg.
Since the gearshift mechanism is one of the most commonly used systems on a motorcycle, it is not uncommon for something to wear out after a while. It can be of great help for a rider to fix the issue by himself.
So how to fix a motorcycle gear shifter? Adjust your external linkage properly so the shift claw can engage the gear completely. A regular oil change is vital for your gear shifter mechanism to work normally, and it ensures normal function but also protects it from transmission failures.
These are the most common fast and easy fixes for the motorcycle gear shifter. If you want to learn more about other and in detail explained problems and solutions, please continue reading as we are going to explain it more in-depth.
Table of Contents
Most Common Reasons for Shift Failings And How to Fix Them
External Linkage:
Suppose you notice any problem regarding shifting gears. The gear shifter can be affected when the riders want to adjust the shift pedal’s height to fit the limit of their ankles. You should look for any outside problem first, see all the external parts, and determine if there are any issues.
By doing so, the linkage gets moved and cramped against itself when you shift, resulting in not pushing the shift claw enough to engage the gear completely. Your motorcycle will not make the shift if the links are moved.
Solution: Be cautious and don’t mess with the linkage of the shift pedal if you need to adjust the height of the pedal.
Oil Change:
Riding a motorcycle for longer distances or every day causes the clutch and gears to be covered in engine oil. The shifting feel improves dramatically after an oil change. Regular and frequent oil changes must be done for the clutch and gears to function correctly and prevent transmission failures.
Solution: Change your oil regularly, and use oil containing anti-shearing agents and additives for buffering gears.
Too Many Dogs on the Shifters:
Shifting gears and connecting one gear to another happens when a set of dogs connects with another set. If they join, they will start to spin as one. The dogs won’t click if you shift too slow or too fast. The dogs get a little bit of damage every time they don’t connect, and this happens as long as the motorcycle doesn’t remain in one gear or pops out of the gear.
Solution: It is better to have fewer dogs for rapid shifting because their wide area will connect the gears better. You will need to change the damaged parts if you notice any worn-out dogs, and to do so; You will have to open the transmission case.
Dragging Clutch:
A dragging clutch can be a reason for hard gears shifting. The reason for that is when the clutch disk drags and doesn’t disengage as soon as you pull the clutch pedal. The clutch rotates along with the engine, which disables it to shift gears. A loud grinding noise can be heard, along with vibrations spreading through the motorcycle when you want to shift gears this way.
Solution: Too much slack on the clutch pedal can be the reason for this condition. The simple solution is to loosen the locking adjustment to adjust the clutch handle.
Insider Tip: Moving the handlebars can take up all the looseness, leading to disengaging the clutch. Make sure that it doesn’t happen.
Bent Shifter Forks:
Shifter forks can be bent when you fall with your motorcycle or bump into something hard. A great force that is released during impact causes forks to bend. Bent shifter forks will probably pop out the shift gear or bind in one gear.
Solution: Fixing this issue mostly depends on the intensity of the bent fork. Taking your motorcycle to a skilled technician is one probable scenario in fixing this problem, especially if it is heavily bent and needs to be replaced. Once the fork is fixed, you should shift your gears without issues.
Gear Shifting Parts
Gear shifting consists of three main parts:
- The gear shifting lever
- The clutch lever
- The throttle
The function of the clutch lever is to engage and disengage the engine’s power to the rear wheel. One more shifting option is clutchless shifting, where a quickshifter removes the need for the throttle or clutch during gear shifting.
You can learn more about Motorcycle Quickshifters by clicking on this link.
The Gear Pattern
The first gear is the lowest one and is positioned on the bottom. The gear pattern in a 6-speed motorcycle is 1,N,2,3,4,5,6. Every time you want to change the gear, you need to make a one-foot click which signals that you shifted the gear. To shift the gear to the lower one, you need to click it to the downside, and to shift the gear to the higher on you need to click it to the upside.
Interestingly, some MotoGP motorcycles have opposite gear positioning, which means the first gear is up, and the second to sixth gears are on the downside.
If you want to learn How Motorcycle Transmission System Works, click on this link.
Steps Involved in Smooth Gear Shifting
Press the clutch lever and start your motorcycle; make sure it is in the neutral position; you will know this when there is a green light turn on on your motorcycle meter.
Shifting into first gear:
- Press the clutch lever and shift to the first gear by pushing the gear shifter downside.
- Gently release the clutch lever by slowly rolling the throttle on.
- Increase the throttle gradually and let go of the clutch lever.
UpShifting into higher gears:
- Let go of the throttle as you pull the clutch.
- Use your left foot to shift up the gear lever. One-click signals that you engaged into the second gear, and every other means that you shifted one gear higher.
- Release the clutch lever gently while you keep adding gas to the throttle.
Downshifting into lower gears:
- Release the throttle as you pull the clutch.
- Put the left foot on the gear lever and shift it down.
- Release the clutch lever gently.
With every click, you make signals that you shifted into a lower gear. If you need to stop the motorcycle, continue downshifting until you reach the first gear and hold your clutch pressed as long as you are static.
Shifting gears is one of the essential skills for a rider to know. One of the most annoying things a rider can experience is the motorcycle not shifting the gears properly. Shifting gears is vital for an engine’s performance. It affects your motorcycle’s control, so if you can’t shift gears properly, it can present a significant problem while riding.
If you are in gear too high to meet your speed which is too low, your motorcycle will start to shake and decrease in speed which can result in engine problems.
Here is a video about fixing a loose shifter lever that we find very helpful for you:
Conclusion
Taking good care of the gear shifter and all of its components will ensure it has a long life span and serves you the best way possible. Be careful not to bend the shifter fork, wear the dogs out or drag the clutch. All the maintenance and care will ensure that you enjoy your rides and that your motorcycle lasts much longer.
We hope that this article has helped you fix your gear shifter problem; if you need to solve any other issues regarding your motorcycle or wish to learn something new, we hope that other articles will be of great use as well.