Have a 03 with 11k miles. When I bought it, it was having a bit of trouble down shifting which I summed up to clutch adjustment/freeplay. It will click roughly into gear and sounds like the clutch is not fully engaged when downshifting but takes 1st thru 6th perfect with no noise, slipping or any drag. Pulled off the plastics the other day and played with the clutch cable (thinking the lever adjustment wasn’t working) but still have the same issue. I had a Superhawk with 26k that did the same thing and was told it needed new clutch plates. BUT This bike only has 11k!! Could the plates be warped or have corroded material in-between them? Seems like the bike was sitting for awhile judging by the first oil change but any ideas? Should I pull the plates out and clean them or go forbroke and get some new plates?

Last owner was older and not a stunter nor am I. Nevertheless I do open her up but hey…isn’t that what these were meant to do!

 

i would say if the oil was really bad like u say that could have messed up the clutch or maybe it was the wrong type of oil or something in it

 

Yeah thats kind of my firstthought. So you think the plates are done for or is it possible to do an over-haul like a tranny? I was thinking about taking them out, cleaning the clutch basket with some fresh oil and same on the plates. But wanted to know if this should/could be done or if I just go for new clutch altogether.

All and all the oil was not really bad at first change but I would have never let it get that bad.

 

with 11k on the bike, you might want to ask yourself or the previous owner if the clutch was changed? its possible that you do need new plates. if you are down shift around 7-8k rmps (might be a bit high) and you feel that you are slipping a bit or if you feel that the bike is not pulling at higher rpms than you do need new plates.
first change the oil and readjust and see if there is some room for play.
g-luck

 

See thats the thing...After I drop into first (that onesrough) but I can rip in and out of 2-6and my RPMs stay super low. I'm not even able to get close to redline before I take another gear. So kind of leading me to believe theclutch may not be the culprit but thats why I;m having this meeting with the minds.
What about the gear shift linkage? Think that may need to be adjusted?

Now just to throw this out there I'm running Motul 15/50 upon a Honda Mechanic's recomendation. Good/bad?

 

ive got the same thing happening, rough shift into first But doesnt happen all the time and sometimes up into second. mines an 06 with only 800 miles. Beeing my first bike i thought it was normal.

 

Maybe but you would think I should know by now if thats the norm or not (just never bought a brand new bike). Like I said above my VTR would down shift really hard but never while taking a higher gear. My gixxer (dont say anything bad) doesn't down shift rough like my F4i thats pretty much why I opened up the floor for discussion.

 

Yea i dont know but would like to if anybody could help us