Why Won't My Motorcycle Shift Gears?

It is no secret that one of the most important motorcycle skills to know is shifting gears. It can be such a headache for a rider when you are trying to shift gears when riding and your motorcycle just won’t shift gears. Changing gears at different speeds is essential for good engine performance and control of your motorcycle so not being able to shift gears when riding can be a problem. Riding too high a gear for your speed can cause your motorcycle to shake and move slowly which can cause engine problems. Here are some common reasons why a motorcycle fails to shift and some solutions that will hopefully help you solve this annoying problem.

External Linkage:

If your motorcycle is having problems shifting gears, we recommend you start looking for the problem outside of the engine and begin to inspect the external part of your bike first. Riders can affect the way the shift gear works when they try to adjust the height of the shift pedal to fit with the limit of their ankles. They move the linkage which cramps against itself when you make the shift and doesn’t push the shift claw far enough to fully engage the gear. If the links are moved, your motorcycle will not be able to shift.

Solution: If you are adjusting the height of the shift pedal, make sure you do not mess with the linkage of the shift pedal so that your motorcycle is able to shift gears when you need it to.

Oil Change:

If you ride your motorcycle every day or for long distances, the clutch and gears on your bike are most likely covered in the engine oil. Having less frequent oil changes can cause the clutch and gears not to work properly causing transmission failure. Many riders say that the shifting feel in their motorcycle improved dramatically after an oil change.

Solution: It is recommended to get an oil change regularly. Make sure to use oil that is formulated with anti-shearing agents and additives for buffering gears.

Too many Dogs on the Shifters:

When you are trying to shift gears on your motorcycle, the connection of one gear to another can only happen when one set of dogs is pushed to connect with another. If both gears connect, they will begin to rotate as one. If you shift too fast or too slow, the dogs will not connect and just skitter on top of the slots. Every time your dogs do not connect they begin to deteriorate until your motorcycle will just stay on one gear or pops out of gear.

Solution: It is ideal for rapid shifting to have fewer dogs that way the wide spacing in between will allow more chance for the gears to connect. If the dogs are worn out already, you will need to replace the broken parts by going inside of the transmission case

Bent Shifter Forks:

One thing that can really throw off the shifting of your motorcycle is when you bump and bend your shift fork. The shift fork usually bends when you have a great amount of force placed on it from one direction causing impact. If your motorcycles shift fork is bent, it is most likely going to cause the shift gear to pop out or bind in one gear.

Solution: The simplicity of repairing this issue all depends on how bad the shift fork is bent. More than likely you will have to take your motorcycle to your local service department and get the shift fork replaced. Once it’s fixed, you should be able to shift gears with no problem.

Dragging Clutch:

If your motorcycle is having a hard time shifting gears, it could be due to a dragging clutch. This means that the clutch disk drags and fails to disengage when you press the clutch pedal. The clutch is spinning with the engine which makes it nearly impossible to change gears. When you try to shift gears this way, your motorcycle might make a loud grinding noise and feel vibrations throughout the bike.

Solution: This issue is usually due to too much slack on the clutch pedal. Loosen the locking adjustment and get a little bit of play in the clutch handle. Move your handlebars all the way to the right and all the way to the left while doing this.

Insider Tip: Make sure that moving the handlebars does not take up all the slack and begin to disengage the clutch as a result

Conclusion:

Not being able to shift gears when riding your motorcycle can be a huge problem because changing gears at different speeds is essential for good engine performance and control of your motorcycle Making sure that you do not wear out the dogs, bend the shifter fork, or drag the clutch will allow you to keep your motorcycle in good shape and able to shift gears. If none of the above solutions help solve your gear shift problem, give our Service Department a call and they will assist you in fixing the issue.

- 5 Safety Tips to Ride a Motorcycle

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