Transmission doesn’t shift into neutral but all gears work

T1jeep · 02-01-2021, 09:45 PM

Just got bike together and started. Warmed up and on first ride all gears work. I come back and think it’s in neutral (neutral light even lights up), but as I release clutch it begins to surge forward.

I try to upshift and go back down and then try to go to neutral but still in gear.

After I turn off engine I can feel it shift into neutral. Bike rolls forward no resistance.

What is going on?

Bruces · 02-01-2021, 10:56 PM

You need to ride it a few hundred miles .

franque · 02-02-2021, 01:58 AM

It's a combination of needing to break it in, technique, and also clutch adjustment. You might need to reduce slack on your clutch cable.

alex_in_az · 02-02-2021, 08:48 AM

They all do this to a greater or lessor degree. Try shifting it into neutral before you come to a dead stop, say at walking pace

TxTaoRider · 02-02-2021, 08:56 AM

As far as the neutral light coming on, pfft, my digital gauge does that all the time.

These guys are probably right. Adjust your clutch cable and especially if you live where it's cold, you might consider a lighter weight oil. This can help with clutch drag too.

CaesarVis · 02-13-2021, 04:39 PM

Most "China Bikes" have very finicky neutral positions. You have to find that sweet spot between gears 1 and 2. I have a Bashan Storm 250 and it's kind of a pain to get in neutral sometimes. I just put it into 1st gear and GENTLY tap my toes up. You'll feel it when it drops into neutral, it's hard to explain. Just play with it and get to know your bike. Also, they do need to break in a bit before shifting properly!

ChipToothy · 02-15-2021, 05:23 AM

At a standstill or off the bike it takes a few tries to “snap” in to N. Rolling and as long as you don’t shift to far and it clicks right in.

Spins · 02-15-2021, 06:21 PM

Are you riding with boots or sneakers? I know with my sneakers I can feel the shifts and it’s easier to get the bike in neutral. When I’m riding with my boots as you should , it’s more difficult to feel the shift. It will get better as your bike breaks in. The clutch may need to be adjusted as others have said. Make small adjustments to the cable tension at a time. When you get it right you’ll know it.

motochutuya · 02-23-2021, 09:57 PM

old honda design - its the exact same feel on MB5. and yes there will be times the neutral is green and its in first..... crazy but true :P

ChillRider · 02-24-2021, 05:40 AM

With my ZongShen Sierra and most other bikes I've ridden, it's easier to get in neutral from 2nd, e.g. when coming to a stop. A very gentle push down from 2nd will easily get it into N, esp. with a bit of residual forward motion.

Going from 1st to N however is much harder: for one the "distance" between 1st and N seems to be greater than that between N and 2nd, and the shifter is also much "stickier". What often happens is the shift lever suddenly jumping into 2nd as you struggle to push it upwards from a standstill. It's very hard to get the amount of force just right to a) "unstick" from 1st and b) Just baaarely land into N without touching 2nd.

02-01-2021, 09:45 PM	#1
T1jeep Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 29	Transmission doesn’t shift into neutral but all gears work Just got bike together and started. Warmed up and on first ride all gears work. I come back and think it’s in neutral (neutral light even lights up), but as I release clutch it begins to surge forward. I try to upshift and go back down and then try to go to neutral but still in gear. After I turn off engine I can feel it shift into neutral. Bike rolls forward no resistance. What is going on?
	0

02-02-2021, 08:48 AM	#4
alex_in_az Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Goodyear, Arizona Posts: 407	They all do this to a greater or lessor degree. Try shifting it into neutral before you come to a dead stop, say at walking pace __________________ 2020 Tao TBR7 9.3:1 PnP head CRF230F exhaust 4 degree advance key 290 degree cam Nibbi PE30 and cone filter Front fork brace
	0

02-02-2021, 08:56 AM	#5
TxTaoRider Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Flower Mound Texas Posts: 904	As far as the neutral light coming on, pfft, my digital gauge does that all the time. These guys are probably right. Adjust your clutch cable and especially if you live where it's cold, you might consider a lighter weight oil. This can help with clutch drag too. __________________ 2021 Tao Tbr7 - "Lucille" Mods so far- Brozz swingarm, 21" front rim (Bridgestone Tw302 rear/Dunlop D606 front tires), Digital gauge cluster, pz30b pumper carb, after market hand guards, aftermarket brake and clutch levers, round fold away mirrors, Fly handlebars shortened slightly, 13t front sprocket 2009 Q-link Legacy 250 1982 Suzuki GS1100ES - "Jolene"
	0

02-13-2021, 04:39 PM	#6
CaesarVis Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 54	Sweet Spot Most "China Bikes" have very finicky neutral positions. You have to find that sweet spot between gears 1 and 2. I have a Bashan Storm 250 and it's kind of a pain to get in neutral sometimes. I just put it into 1st gear and GENTLY tap my toes up. You'll feel it when it drops into neutral, it's hard to explain. Just play with it and get to know your bike. Also, they do need to break in a bit before shifting properly!
	1

02-15-2021, 05:23 AM	#7
ChipToothy Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 819	At a standstill or off the bike it takes a few tries to “snap” in to N. Rolling and as long as you don’t shift to far and it clicks right in. __________________ Bashan Storm: Ebay steel exhaust wrapped, folding shift lever, seat mod, vm26 carb, air pod, dual led scrambler headlamps, windshield mod, led brake/tail light, secondary led brake light (swingarm), Ebay 295mm rear shock, back up CDI (racing unknown), oil cooler, digital gauge cluster,
	0

02-01-2021, 10:56 PM	#2
Bruces Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 1,572	You need to ride it a few hundred miles .
	0

02-02-2021, 01:58 AM	#3
franque Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Marseille, France -> Conakry, Guinea Posts: 1,481	It's a combination of needing to break it in, technique, and also clutch adjustment. You might need to reduce slack on your clutch cable.
	2

02-15-2021, 06:21 PM	#8
Spins Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 287	Are you riding with boots or sneakers? I know with my sneakers I can feel the shifts and it’s easier to get the bike in neutral. When I’m riding with my boots as you should , it’s more difficult to feel the shift. It will get better as your bike breaks in. The clutch may need to be adjusted as others have said. Make small adjustments to the cable tension at a time. When you get it right you’ll know it. __________________ 2019 Z 400 2020 Tan Recon 2021 KLX 300 2022 GPX FSE 450R
	0

02-23-2021, 09:57 PM	#9
motochutuya Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 47	old honda design - its the exact same feel on MB5. and yes there will be times the neutral is green and its in first..... crazy but true :P
	0

02-24-2021, 05:40 AM	#10
ChillRider Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: A small country with a funny name Posts: 164	With my ZongShen Sierra and most other bikes I've ridden, it's easier to get in neutral from 2nd, e.g. when coming to a stop. A very gentle push down from 2nd will easily get it into N, esp. with a bit of residual forward motion. Going from 1st to N however is much harder: for one the "distance" between 1st and N seems to be greater than that between N and 2nd, and the shifter is also much "stickier". What often happens is the shift lever suddenly jumping into 2nd as you struggle to push it upwards from a standstill. It's very hard to get the amount of force just right to a) "unstick" from 1st and b) Just baaarely land into N without touching 2nd.
	0