rough shift

Hello SD.Net, I have started noticing a slight difference when going from neutral to first gear, I have seen this complaint in here before.

Seems to me that unless I shift from neutral to first with real authority, (a demand rather than a request), it wants to grind.

I always pull the clutch in deeply and give a few seconds for the clutch to have amble time to react.

I have done 6 track days and had 2 low speed, gentle low sides on the shifter side. (gentle on the bike but not my bones or wallet).

My next step from here is to take this to my dealer and see what they have to say of it , the transmission seems fine...

a wee bit clunky but it has always been this way. the bike does not seem to pull when in gear with the clutch in.

here is a pic of the damage the low side had done to the shift leaver. Thank You all for your advise.

My wife dropped my SD in the garage trying to move it about, and the only damage was the shift lever (and her middle finger). I bent it back (the shifter) and all is good (although she won't be attempting that move again). It's also good that I have a rubber mat under the SD.
The switch from neutral to first always demands a firm commitment, in every bike I've owned. Stomp away. I always use the clutch mercifully on downshifts (and leaving neutral); up shifts, not so much.

should be top right corner of your post. Wife didnt enjoy being grassed up in public eh?


Joe, mine needs a firm push into 1st, like you're stepping on a bug, a quick mildly firm action of the ankle suffices. Tough to be more specific here but hopefully you get the gist. If I'm a bit wussy with it then it bounces right off whatever metallic cog/surface is in there and says, "do me harder!" So then I slap it into position and wring it's neck with a mighty clap of thunder and it LOVES it !!

I rarely upshift sans clutch....and never on the downshift. Crotch-sorry-clutchless upshifts are pretty smooth on this box I think.

Joe,

The last RC8 review in the UK I read said the only disappointing bit about the bike was the lack of positive change in the gearbox.

Must be a KTM achilles heal?????

, Moz I have been told I dont knoe how true it is yet ,but aprentley RC8 has teh same gear box as the SD , something to do with running out of Divellepment time ,

this wood make sence as well to its top end speed to its Gearing wheel sprockets sises ,it has fitted.

Not entirely the same as you Joe, but I've found a wee problem changing down from 2nd to 1st.
A few times recently she has not wanted to go into 1st, sits in neutral.
Shit scary as I tend to use the engine braking a LOT to slow me down, ended up surging towards a few junctions, corners and cars a lot faster than I had anticipated...

Just glad I've been practicing me stoppies.

I tend to blip the throttle on downshifts, although I probably do it badly.
Just trying to eek more pops and bangs from her.

Have done a guid few clutchless upshifts but ALWAYS use the clutch on the downshift.

Joe, check that the 'U' shaped bracket isn't bent. Your gear lever connects to it on side, and the gearbox on the other...

I bent mine when I had a small off, I didn't notice if it had affected shifting but with a small tweak in the vice it was symmetrical again.

Now with 30,000km on my bike, It is stiffer to get into 1st than any other downshift. Always easier if I match rev's properly.