Seems to be a problem on Harley's, about 50 - 50 with me. Sometimes it is really easy other times it is a pain in the ass. But I can say that it is easier than when the bike was new, it seems that it kinda breaks in.
It is what it is, don't try and solve it. Its easy to live with, I sometimes coast in in neutral or just turn the bike off in gear.
Sometimes letting the clutch out a bit and then selecting sorts it.
Sometimes I get a light, sometimes I don't, and sometimes it comes on after a delay. That delay is usually just long enough for me to give up waiting and nudge it into first or second gear after having it in neutral without the indicator light.
True happiness was achieved when I stopped depending on the indicator light and just started easing out the clutch while rocking the bike a bit. If it free wheels, I'm in neutral.
I can tell you a trick that I learned: when stopping at traffic lights and wait for the green I turn the neutral or at least put the position where the neutral should be (9/10 times the indicator do not blink) and... let the clutch disengage a bit (only a bit- you have to feel it). In most cases the indicator light appears exactly in this very moment and I have neutral
For missing 1-> 2 gear: do keep the lever engaged at the top position (2nd gear) until you would start to release the clutch. You can back your foot at the moment you'd feel that the bike got the gear and starts to accelerate.
Both tricks I learned from my HD dealer when I returned after a week of riding with a complain on both issues. They politely explained to me, that this is not "perfect, Japanese construction" Since then- no issues at all- only the joy of ride!
For missing 1-> 2 gear: do keep the lever engaged at the top position (2nd gear) until you would start to release the clutch. You can back your foot at the moment you'd feel that the bike got the gear and starts to accelerate.
As I understand it, this trick is to keep pushing all the way up on the gear shift until the clutch is released, thus avoiding short stroking the shift and preventing the transmission from bouncing out of second and back to neutral.
I noticed that it is much easier to find neutral after an oil change. The AmSoil synthetic oil is much slicker than conventional. You will also notice a dramatic change while shifting gears - much smoother.
Good to hear I'm not the only one. I took it in under warranty. They fixed it 90% for the neutral light turning on. It becomes tolerable with all those tricks. I didn't get that missing second gear trick. Maybe I figured it out naturally, but please explain further.
Another tip is to change up through the gears at a lower rev and use the torque of the motor to accelerate. In my way of riding, the higher the revs the more chance of not getting a clean shift up.
I was initially having a bit of trouble finding neutral but since finally getting the clutch adjusted well it has become easy peasy. Even more so since switching to Redline oil.
I've had my bike a few days only, but I noticed the neutral light doesn't work, and frankly I don't trust it. I was going to complain about it at my 1k service, but thanks to this forum, I will keep on keeping on. Besides, 17 years ago, my bike didn't have a neutral light. So this is just the old fashioned way.
I just grab neutral from 2nd gear while approaching my stop. I was told by the shop that its still a little difficult while it is new due to the hardened steel in the transmission. May have been a cop out, but mine has been getting easier to find the more i ride it!
I had the same issue when I first picked up my Street 750. Now I have no trouble finding neutral. I think it is a combination of the bike breaking in and the fact that I am familiar with the bike. If I do have trouble I rock the bike gently or release the clutch just enough to grab. Then it sort of pops in.
So this morning playing around in the garage, i took a video on it. Looks like the odometer giving us a false reading. Im on Neutral but no “N” coming on the light. Then i waited for few secs and move the bike forward and backward then it detected finally.
I had Problems with mine. In the shop for a month. Neutral light switch problem. They replaced the switch. About 7 miles later, No N light. Only when Hot. Problem was the Spring and Ground pin inside the Shift Drum.
Other problem I found was, Taking off in 2nd. Release the clutch. No forward movement. Pull clutch in. Stomp the pedal 3 times to get back into 1st.
Sharing mine, when it’s cold, easy to find N, after about half hour riding, it just got lost in the abyss. If I have no time , will just switch off and off the kill switch. When starting on especially group rides, I will just start with the clutch depress. Problem is during traffic light, others will go in N while not trying to look stupid to fiddle with N, I just depress it.
I find sometimes it’s a pain and sometimes not. I usually leave it in gear since the kickstand can just fold over if the bike rolls forward and at stop lights you never know when you gotta avoid the cager that’s textin and gonna ruin your day! Happens all the time here. I feel like it’s just understanding the feel for popping in and out of N. Practice makes perfect as they say.
When rolling up to a stop I find neutral much easier while the bike is still rolling before a dead stop. Getting that sweet spot in the gears takes time, but when it all "clicks" into place, SMILE time.
Hi. I have read a lot of posts on this site from all versions of the Street and Street rod about it being hard to find neutral so the light comes on. Some people say it works fine. So when you look they have later bikes. I have a 2017. So today I took out the neutral switch and contact pin...
Two ways that I know of not finding N is either a warped plate, or the adjustment at the lever and perch. It's more like zero lever gap short of slipping the clutch when in static mode.
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