Sometimes I am having problems with changing gears. Sometimes I grab the clutch and go couple gears down and it doesn't go any lower before I release the clutch and grab it again to go couple more gears down. What do you think the problem could be?

My other problem is connectivity issue with the ignition button. When I start the bike my headlights go off time to time and when I touch the ignition button (lightly) and it comes back on. Do you think its something I could fix by myself? I am familiar with tools enough to change an ignition switch on a 91 pontiac sunbird. I don't have much knowledge on bikes so I need some advice.

 

i have the same problem downshifting. i've heard other people do too

as for the headlight, when you press the starter, the headlights disengage to route all power to the starter. when your headlights go out, your starter is probably engaged. i'd take it apart and clean it up with electrical lube. if that doesn't fix it, replace it. it's a relitively cheap and easy fix.

 

Electrical lube?
name? brand?

 

you can buy it for $2.99 at home depot.

list of things that stuff has fixed for me:
1) My front harness cluster when my bike wouldn't start
2) my front brake switch
3) my rear brake switch

i'm sure i'll add more to the list over the years. i've only owned my 2002 for 5 months.

IMO the 01-03 F4i's have the ****test wiring of any bike on the planet. seriously, my bike has been in the rain like, 3 times total, and is always garaged... yet i'm always having electrical problems with it.

every bike owner should have a can of this stuff...

 

the gear box is synchro, you are supposed to let the clutch out after every downshift. It is not designed to go from like 6-4th, trying to skip gears may cause damage.

if you are trying to drop several gears, you only need to lightly engage the transmission, then pull the clutch again...ever see the pro's blipping the throttle on the way down?

 

hmmm, i rarely downshift when i come to a stop. i usually keep it in 6th until i'm about 20 feet from my stopping location. then i jammit all the way to first once i'm at a stop.

just a bad habbit i guess...

 

yeah, its not like a car where you can just take it out of gear then put it wherever you want.

not to mention the safety factor of being in the right gear for an escape. ever tried to gas it in 6th gear doing 15mph?

 

You do not want to skip gears on a bike very bad for the shifter forks. + Krash is right if you need to get out quick you can not if you are still in 5th or 6th. It just takes time to break bad habbits, but it could save your life some day.