[Flamegirl]

I am having an issue with my Street 500 and was wondering if anyone else has the same problem.

When shifting from 1st into 2nd (sometimes) I hear and feel the click like the bike has gone into gear. When I roll on the throttle the bike ends up being in neutral. Sometimes the green N shows on the speedo sometimes not.

I am an experienced rider so I don't think it is me. I have made a point of really making sure that I am shifting clean and it still happens.

Anyone else?

Oh, and it seems to happen a bit more when the bike is warmed up.

 

[AYEDEE]

I am having an issue with my Street 500 and was wondering if anyone else has the same problem.

When shifting from 1st into 2nd (sometimes) I hear and feel the click like the bike has gone into gear. When I roll on the throttle the bike ends up being in neutral. Sometimes the green N shows on the speedo sometimes not.

I am an experienced rider so I don't think it is me. I have made a point of really making sure that I am shifting clean and it still happens.

Anyone else?

Oh, and it seems to happen a bit more when the bike is warmed up.

No such issues here, but I hope you are shifting the gear with a firm action? It's possible that there is problem with the shifter mechanism. However, before you go back to HD, do attempt shifting the gears with a firm action, although it does seem redundant advice.

 

[ElTeeFauci]

I had issues specifically from 1st to 2nd - however my issue was that the bike would stay in 1st.


It was rectified during my 1K service, without me mentioning it - which is so far the only good thing the dealer has done.

 

[Street750Nc]

Ive had this happen a couple times also. I didnt really think about it untill now. Just thought i missed the gear or something.

 

[Harlowhickalooper]

Yup, it happens. Don't blame yourself, you're not missing gears.

it seems to be a rough finish in the shifter drum. I am betting on a recall because HD shifter drum problems never get better. Too bad, it seems to be a nice change from previous HD trans...

 

[Flamegirl]

I took my bike into the shop last night. We will see what they have to say.....

 

[stude]

Over the years, I have had several bikes, and was able to catch neutral between 1-2 shifts on most of them... on seldom occasion.
If it happens frequently, I would be concerned, but not, otherwise.

 

[StoneFree]

I've had a problem with "fat feet" where I didn't allow the shifter to fully relocate to it's "neutral" position and it won't shift if you don't fully release it. I also found it was hard to find neutral from 1st gear but not from 2nd gear. The shifting did become easier as the gears broke in over time and I became more used to the shifter which is different than my Sportster (i.e. less foot room between the peg and shift lever).

 

[Kevin Penrose]

I have similar issue but thought it was just me... Even after a "missed" shift its a PIA to get it into second.

 

[MGG]

I took my bike into the shop last night. We will see what they have to say.....

Hi Flamegirl; I am a new rider. I am having this same issue. Was wondering what the dealer said or decided.

The other day I must have missed 2nd gear and ended up in neutral 7 or 8 times on a short ride. A friend of mine said I was not shifting it all the way up but that was not the case as I was very conscious of this when it happened on this ride.

I had read about the fat foot thing before but this is not the case either as I get my foot completely out of the way.

I have found that if I shift it slowly and gently it goes into second fine almost every time. (Last night only missed second once. In fifty mile ride.) It is like if I through it up quickly and release it quickly it bounces into neutral. Is that possible? But if I put it up gently and release it gently it goes into gear.

I have never missed any of the other gears no matter what I do.

mgg

 

[Flamegirl]

Hi Flamegirl; I am a new rider. I am having this same issue. Was wondering what the dealer said or decided.

The other day I must have missed 2nd gear and ended up in neutral 7 or 8 times on a short ride. A friend of mine said I was not shifting it all the way up but that was not the case as I was very conscious of this when it happened on this ride.

I had read about the fat foot thing before but this is not the case either as I get my foot completely out of the way.

I have found that if I shift it slowly and gently it goes into second fine almost every time. (Last night only missed second once. In fifty mile ride.) It is like if I through it up quickly and release it quickly it bounces into neutral. Is that possible? But if I put it up gently and release it gently it goes into gear.

I have never missed any of the other gears no matter what I do.

mgg

It is such an intermittent occurrence for me. The dealer could not get it to happen (of course).
For me it almost seems to get into gear. I think I can hear/feel it click, then neutral happens. Sometimes it takes several tries to get into 2nd.
I have been too gentle shifting on other bikes and slip into neutral. As soon as I give it another tap it goes right in.
So I am no help to you. It always seems to happen at least once per ride for me.

 

[Vicky Bravo]

@Flamegirl

This also happened with me a couple of times, but now i just shift the gears a bit more firmly. Haven't got the problem ever since.

 

[Jefferson Gates Compton]

I've got this problem too. Clicks strong like you're going into gear and then you give it gas and it just revs, look down and I'm in neutral.

 

[MGG]

As you mentioned earlier it is more likely to happen after it is warmed up. However in my case once I miss second it can take several tries to get it into gear which sucks if you are in the middle of an intersection.

I am going to see if there is any adjustment in this when I bring the bike in for the 1000 mile oil change/tune up.

If anyone discovers a technique for shifting or fix for this please post.

mgg

 

[harleywv]

Hi Flamegirl; I am a new rider. I am having this same issue. Was wondering what the dealer said or decided.

The other day I must have missed 2nd gear and ended up in neutral 7 or 8 times on a short ride. A friend of mine said I was not shifting it all the way up but that was not the case as I was very conscious of this when it happened on this ride.

I had read about the fat foot thing before but this is not the case either as I get my foot completely out of the way.

I have found that if I shift it slowly and gently it goes into second fine almost every time. (Last night only missed second once. In fifty mile ride.) It is like if I through it up quickly and release it quickly it bounces into neutral. Is that possible? But if I put it up gently and release it gently it goes into gear.

I have never missed any of the other gears no matter what I do.

mgg

Thanks mgg! This same technique worked for me this morning. This was my first ride without going into neutral between 1st and 2nd gear. I don't have this problem with my other bikes. It's odd that a gentle shift allows it go into 2nd ok. I brought this up to my local dealership and they weren't able to recreate it and thought maybe I wasn't giving it enough force when shifting. They did make a note that I had an issue with this and I plan to stop by again so they know that it still happens as well as the current workaround.

 

[Cory Goodspeed]

I just bought a Street 750 on June 11th and the same day I brought it back for the same issue of not up shifting to second once it warmed up. The dealer kept telling me that it was my boots, or the way I was shifting. I had it for a few more days and almost got into a few accidents taking off from stop signs and lights when the bike wouldn't up shift to 2nd. On the evening of June 12th coming from a stop light I up shifted 8 times until it rolled to a near stop and the truck behind me almost rear ended me. I brought it back, and the dealer was still leery that it was the bike and not me. I insisted they take it on a long ride, then I went home and called big Harley and complained and opened a case on it. Big Harley called the dealer and then the dealer took it on a long ride. No updates from anyone, so I called back two days later and they had my transmission apart because they finally replicated the problem once it got hot. Yesterday, I went to the dealer insisting they give me a loaner bike and they admitted that they have no clue why its doing it and there waiting on big Harley to send a tech and to give them another freaking week! So I just called big Harley and complained to a manager about why they haven't sent a tech like the dealer requested. I told them that no one is updating me on whats actually wrong, and if they don't have a solution I am asking for a full refund and returning this bike this week.

Bottom line, this bike, as of this post, has been in service longer then its been in my driveway over this issue........

 

[tdcmoto]

Adjustment

I am having an issue with my Street 500 and was wondering if anyone else has the same problem.

When shifting from 1st into 2nd (sometimes) I hear and feel the click like the bike has gone into gear. When I roll on the throttle the bike ends up being in neutral. Sometimes the green N shows on the speedo sometimes not.

I am an experienced rider so I don't think it is me. I have made a point of really making sure that I am shifting clean and it still happens.

Anyone else?

Oh, and it seems to happen a bit more when the bike is warmed up.

On any new bike the clutch cable stretches and will develop shifting issues probably all you need is a clutch cable adjustment which is due at your 1K service or go see your dealer if need be.

 

[charlesskelter]

I've had on occurrence an issue with getting stuck in a false neutral and I found that floating the clutch allowed me to get out of it easily and quickly. I have a habit of pulling the clutch lever all the way to the bar even though it is not needed. If I only pull it to the "sweet spot" it will shift out 99% of the time right away. Not sure it's the exact and issue, but might be worth trying if you encounter it again. I had the same issue on my ninjas and the same technique would fix it.

 

[MGG]

I reported having this issue here on April 15th. It still happens but very rarely now. It may be that I have gotten better at controlling the clutch lever or it may be that I make sure that my foot is under the foot peg before I shift from 1st to second gear or a combination of the two. I wore my street shoes in place of my riding boots for a couple days and it never happened on 2 long rides. The difference between my shoes and boots is that it is much easier to get my foot completely under the pedal with my shoes as they are thinner than my boots. Another thing I have changed is that I thought it would help to slam or push it into second hard and get my foot out of the way quickly. This does not help! Pull in clutch, shift up smoothly, let foot down naturally while releasing the clutch is what works best for me. It is rare that I miss second gear now. Last time it happened I was caught off guard at a light that turned green before expected and I did not follow this relaxed routine. (I hope this is not a fluke. It has been working for me now the last 7 rides I took. So I am feeling pretty confident now.)

It has always seemed strange to me that I have a difficult time finding neutral (N) on this bike unless I am not looking for it.

Here is what I have found works for me to find N. It is easier for me to find neutral from second gear than from first. It is also easier when the bike is moving. So if when coming to a stop I want to rest in N I down shift to second and when I hit second I break until it is pretty slow and then ease it into neutral before I stop. This technique has been working well. The only problem with it is sometimes I am not sure when I am in second. (I wish there were a few more gear indicators.)

mgg

 

[Flamegirl]

On any new bike the clutch cable stretches and will develop shifting issues probably all you need is a clutch cable adjustment which is due at your 1K service or go see your dealer if need be.

It is not the clutch cable. That was adjusted at 1000 mile service. It is random when it does happen.