First gear issue gen 3

[dcnblues]

The bike doesn't want to go into first gear more than half the time. I find it annoying and dangerous in traffic.

I don't think it's the clutch fluid, and while I'm not sure, I don't think it's mechanical either. When the bike does go into first, it's silent and I don't feel it, and I have to look at the display to know whether it's in or not. There is no clunk like my gen 1. What it really feels like is there is something electric in there moving it into gear and the pedal is really clutch by wire. I know that's not the case, but that's what it feels like when it goes into first.

I think there's something in the flowchart that's coming from the quick shifter or the launch control, or now that I think about it, how the hell does hill hold work? And as I got the MM Flash, I'm wondering whether something electronic is out of whack.

I finally figured out that sometimes with a little gas it slips into gear without issue, but I haven't figured out the exact technique and it's not muscle memory yet. I'm hoping I can figure something out, but I'm also wondering if this is a problem that could be sorted more easily. I don't like stomping on the pedal and hearing that grind but I've been in traffic a few times where I've needed to get moving. Anyone else think the flash or launch control or hill hold may be the cause?

 

[Bumblebee]

The bike doesn't want to go into first gear more than half the time. I find it annoying and dangerous in traffic.

I don't think it's the clutch fluid, and while I'm not sure, I don't think it's mechanical either. When the bike does go into first, it's silent and I don't feel it, and I have to look at the display to know whether it's in or not. There is no clunk like my gen 1. What it really feels like is there is something Electric in there moving it into gear and the pedal is really clutch by wire. I know that's not the case, but that's what it feels like when it goes into first.

I think there's something in the flowchart that's coming from the quick shifter or the launch control. And as I got the MM Flash, I'm wondering whether something electronic is out of whack.

I finally figured out that sometimes with a little gas it slips into gear without issue, but I haven't figured out the exact technique and it's not muscle memory yet. I'm hoping I can figure something out, but I'm also wondering if this is a problem that could be sorted more easily. I don't like stopping on the pedal and hearing that grind but I've been in traffic a few times where I've needed to get moving. Anyone else think the flash may be an issue?

I would think other gen 3 bikes that have been flashed would have the same issue...

I wonder how different the transmission is from the gen 2? I know sometimes the gen 2 is a bit fiddly getting into 1st gear...

 

[dcnblues]

Like you my Gen3 won’t go into first sometimes but I’ve narrowed it down to me downshifting repeatedly while coming to a stop. If I clutch out on each down shift it’s fine at take off but if I click down to N a few times before letting the clutch out then the issue appears.

Adapt and overcome is what I’ve done.

mine is a pain in the butt to get into 1st sometimes. I roll it a tad and pump the clutch and it goes right in. Sometimes it even says QS on the dash like it thinks its quick shift. Dont stomp it though just rock it a tad an operate the clutch.

- clutch out on each downshift
- a touch of throttle
- rolling it while pumping the clutch
- possibly there's a settings issue?
- I've also read in some other thread that you need to pull in the clutch and wait a moment before engaging the gear lever. Doesn't seem to help my situation but more data...

It would be good to figure out this quirk.

 

[wreckwriter]

Gen 2 does the same thing. Agree with the last post, clutch out on each downshift and on the occasions when it doesn't want to go, double hit the clutch and retry.

 

[dcnblues]

Yeah but I'll bet the Gen 2 doesn't have that silent 'gear engagement by wire' feel, right?

 

[dcnblues]

Now I am remembering seeing sensor wires on the shifting rod. Maybe when I adjusted the foot lever downwards because I am tall I threw the sensor off. I'll have a look in the manual and try and get to that soon.

Frack, and when I got the CM flash, I remember not requesting him to do the quick Shifter Mod, but I bet he did. And maybe that is throwing something off.

 

[SPECIALFORCESOFGOD]

My Gen 3 also doesn't make a noise or slightly lurch forward like every other bike I've owned or ridden when going into 1st, so I have to look in the dash sometimes when I don't feel it in the shifter.

It also won't go into 1st if I come to a stop in any gear but 1st, which I stupidly do all the time for some odd reason and have never done before in my other bikes.

I rock back and forth or walk the bike and it will go to 2 or N, but not 1st. Takes a lot of effort to make 1st engage. Has done it since 0 miles.

Only when shifting from N after previously being in 1st (or into N from 2nd as I roll to a stop so I get a quicky clutch hand rest) can I engage 1st.

Also goes to N from 1st to 2nd under hard acceleration if I don't shift precisely. Quirkiest bike I've owned.

 

[dcnblues]

I feel pretty stupid. Turns out my T-rex kickstand pushes against the bottom of the shift lever once it gets lowered for a tall rider. Trying to work things around now.

It looks just like the Brocks aftermarket kickstand. Anyone using the Brocks who has also lowered the shift lever? I don't want to put the cast iron stock kickstand back on...

 

[wreckwriter]

I feel pretty stupid. Turns out my T-rex kickstand pushes against the bottom of the shift lever once it gets lowered for a tall rider. Trying to work things around now.

It looks just like the Brocks aftermarket kickstand. Anyone using the Brocks who has also lowered the shift lever? I don't want to put the cast iron stock kickstand back on...

Soupy's is a nicer stand than Brocks. Don't know what would work for you though...

 

[dcnblues]

Blocked the kickstand so that when it is raised it can't come up fully, and raised the shifter arm a bit where it's not ideal but it is usable.

Still have issues getting into first. And I'm pretty sure they're electronic.

At a stoplight in neutral, I can pull the clutch and push down the shift lever and nothing happens, but if I roll the bike a couple of inches forward with my right foot, there is an electronic click and it goes into first. Workable but hardly ideal and still a little dangerous. I'm hoping it's not related to the ECU Flash.

 

[Spudley]

Nice work !.

 

[sportbikeryder]

Blocked the kickstand so that when it is raised it can't come up fully, and raised the shifter arm a bit where it's not ideal but it is usable.

Still have issues getting into first. And I'm pretty sure they're electronic.

At a stoplight in neutral, I can pull the clutch and push down the shift lever and nothing happens, but if I roll the bike a couple of inches forward with my right foot, there is an electronic click and it goes into first. Workable but hardly ideal and still a little dangerous. I'm hoping it's not related to the ECU Flash.

There is nothing electronic that will prevent the bike from going into first. Some bikes (zx14) have a mechanical ball lockout for 2nd gear so the bike will easily go into neutral, but I haven't seen anything like this on a gen3 transmission.

What else have you done to the bike? any chance the clutch is slightly warped?

 

[SS4Luck]

If I come to a stop in gear, find N, release the clutch then sometimes I’ll have to roll the bike forward to get it to go back into first. I just assume it’s dealing with engagement points.

I’m running into a kickstand issue with my lowered rearsets I’m tackling tonight. I think Brock’s stand is going to be the answer

 

[PeregrineKeith]

Always had the intermittent issues with first gear… I usually let off the clutch a bit to be sure I’m in first. Definitely feels like is electronically controlled!
Also still getting a delayed shift while really getting on it. My white bike and silver bike would act the same for the most part. Not sure if Chris did the shifter mod on the silver bike but we talked about the white bike and decided to leave it alone.

 

[InfiniteReality]

I haven't noticed any issues with 1st gear on mine other than a couple of times under semi hard throttle when QS to 2nd it goes but falls to N. I blame the user though.

I have a Brocks stand, but never used it. I'm very likely just paranoid, but it had to be extended further out than I'd like, footing wasn't flat on the concrete. Just didn't really trust it. Went back with the same one I used on my Gen2 and have been happy, lol.

 

[Bumblebee]

Even with my gen 2, once in a while I have to let the clutch out slightly to get the bike into first gear and I've head similar stories with other Hayabusa owners...

It seems the gen 3 uses the same transmission and will suffer the same ailments as the gen 2 I guess...

I wouldn't lose sleep over it and accept it as a "quirk" of the bike..

Now issues with the factory QS is another issue....

I never put my bike into neutral at stops, I keep it in gear and watch around me just in case I have to get the heck out there...