was passing a couple cars yesterday on my 03 f4i... downshifted to 5th, took off around the cars, shifted up to 6th while passing and the bike stuck between 5th and 6th! the rpm's shot up as i realized what was happening and i pulled the clutch and jerked the shifter on up into 6th and it was fine. scary as hell when this happens doing 90+mph beside cars and in the wrong lane! this has happened to me a few times since i got the bike. anything wrong or is it just me trying to hurry and not fully shifting?

 

A couple of things can cause it. Not pressing hard enough on the shift lever, too much slack on the chain, etc. There could be a more serious mechanical issue but I'd look at those first before anything else.

 

roger wilco, thanks

 

mine did this through all of the gears at one point in time. I for sure thought id be rebuilding my transmission but I just soaked everything with lube and it stopped doing it and hasnt since. So before you start tearing it apart, pick up a can of aerocroyle (sp) (the can is expensive-like $12 a can, but well worth it) and soak everything that has to do with the shifter with it. Pull the clutch in and shift through the gears with the bike off and keep spraying away. Give it about an hour to sit at least and then try it out. It did wonders for me and it could save you lots of money if its just something sticky! (oh, and make sure youre pulling the clutch all the way in and getting your shift all the way done before releasing, even the best of riders have troubles with this cause they are too antsy) keep us updated

 

This can happen on occasion and is not an indication of a problem with the bike necessarily. Sometimes we just don't apply enough force to the shift and it doesn't go all the way into gear.

Something else to think about is adjustment of the shift linkage. Each of us is different in our physical make up as well as the gear we wear while riding. The motorcycle manufacturers knew this and made the linkage to the shifter adjustable. The resting position of the shift pedal can be adjusted up or down to accommodate those differences. It's an easy thing to adjust. Loosening the nuts at each end of the connecting shaft allows you to twist the shaft. This will have the effect of lengthening or shortening the length of the shaft, thereby raising or lowering the pedal.

This is a good video on some of the adjustments that can be made on your bike, including the clutch pedal.

 

I just want to add to idodirt's response:

The shift spline linkage can sometimes be a tight fit, but whatever you do, DO NOT TAP IT BACK ONTO THE SPLINE WITH A HAMMER. Instead, use a flat head screwdriver to pry the linkage open a bit more.

There is a tiny plate behind the clutch that holds that shift spline from moving further into the bike. By tapping it with a mallet or something to get the linkage back on, you'll bend that plate.

You'll get:

I know this because I just fixed it on a motorcycle I bought recently. The previous owner powder coated a bunch of things, and he must have hit it with a hammer or something to get it back on! Just be careful.

 

That's some good info Conrice, I wouldn't have thought about that. There's probably been one or two times that I've considered taking a hammer to it, so restraint is good.

 

The BMW s1000rr suffers from this. All years and models (yup, my HP4 too). Hitting a false neutral, usually between 1st and 2nd gear, going up or down. Though it can happen anywhere...


There's nothing wrong mechanically in most of our cases. The transmission just doesn't suffer lazy shifting. Some options have been explored with varying success. I've gotten mostly used to it now and simply shift with authority.

Biggest thing is not to panic. The guy in the video stood her up and got on the brakes... And ran off the track. Throttle blip, match revs and shift again. Or

 

thanks guys, good info. i will play around with the lever positions and make sure all is lubed up asap. adjusting lever positions seems like common sense yet i haven't even thought of it. if for no other reason, at least for riding comfort.

 

Same problem as OP, same solution as above. Also used an old toothbrush to clean the nooks and crannies as possible.