i would have to agree with Tahoe, I have noticed on my bike from first to second has to be like you mean it , when I'm just putting around town I have noticed that I can blow the shift between 1st and 2nd if I shift have heartedly.

 

That's happened to me too, like was said you just gotta shift with some authority or it'll jump out. A couple times mine actually jumped out of 2nd and back into 1st... now you want to talk about scaring the *($^*_()%##@_ out of you!! [:-] I was going hard into 2nd too after making a right turn, thank god I had already made the turn and going straight, cuz it about came right up on me, hahah. I usually give the shifter a nice firm bump, and hold it there until I'm back on the gas and never have a problem

 

as far as the tank slapper. you could have the wrong tire pressure in the front tire, or worn tire. next time something goes wrong like that don't panic, that what causes a lot of guy's to go down. it's kind of like this: i use to work in a sheet metal shop many years ago and when i first started to work there the sudden noise like someone dropping a large piece of metal in the shop and i was jumping like crazy, but as time went by i learned to expect loud noises and then they stopped making me freak out as they happen. learn this and apply to riding a bike.

 

Yeah this has happened to me too, just cruising along and shifting from 2 to 3 or something and not shifting hard enough and catching neutral. Scares the **** out of me.
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