hey guys,
so i've got a '99 cbr 600 f4 that doesn't want to go into neutral. i'll sit there for like 10 min trying to get it into neutral but it just goes straight from 1st to 2nd. it will sometimes want to go into neutral when the bike is off though. what could it be?

thanks in advanced
jordan

 

Sounds like clutch drag where the clutch plates don't free off properly. It's usually due to the clutch cable having too much slack in it. Start by taking some slack out of the cable at the clutch lever on the engine itself then fine tune the slack at the handlebar end lever. Leave around 3-5mm slack in the handlebar lever so the clutch doesn't slip! If this doesn't cure it you may have to strip the clutch out and check for wear in the clutch basket etc. The plates can get stuck in the grooves and cause the clutch drag you are describing. Other causes are worn selector forks in the gearbox, but hope the above procedure works, so try this first and let us know how it goes?

 

I had a similar problem right after I got my bike.

Adjusting the clutch (straightening the lever in my case), and adding a little slack in the chain helped. More than anything it was the technique.

When I go all the way down into first, I just give it barely a nudge upwards with my toe, and I mean barely. Sometimes it takes a couple tries. I did some Google research and it seems to be a rather common complaint about CBR's.

 

i tried to adjust my clutch but it doesn't seam to be making a difference.
my clutch lever is also bent from the previous owner. i'm not sure i understand why a bent lever would affect much. it's not bent so much that i'm unable to disengage the clutch when using it. should i invest in a new lever/straighten it out?

 

Bent lever would mean you are not getting enough pull on the clutch to fully disengage
the clutch, making the clutch drag and give you exactly the problem you are having.


Straighten it out or buy new if bent and twisted

 

Mine was bent almost completely straight. My mount had a lot of slop in it, so I could pull the handle sightly under the bar and it would go into neutral a lot easier, and not "clack" and jump as much when I put it in gear from neutral. When shifting gear-to-gear, I barely have to clutch (maybe 1/2-3/4") but when going into neutral I pull it all the way to the handle.

I was able to straighten mine with a bench vise and some muscle. Although I have since ordered new short levers to replace it. I just put more of a curve in it, so I get a little more pull on the cable before the lever hits the bar.