I've got a 2009 SF.

Occasionally the bike likes to stick into neutral while shifting to 2nd from first.. like.. when I'm trying to accelerate away from a red light.

What exactly causes this?

I've contemplated adjusting the shift arm down a notch.. since I'm 6' tall, my knees are a fair amount bent on this bike, and I've already adjusted the brake pedal and appropriate light switch down.

I'm not totally sold on the idea that it's me not pulling up enough, since from 2nd to 3rd.. I can barely tap it in comparison to 1st to 2nd.

So if it's not an adjustment problem, what could it be?

Also, I've put fresh oil in the bike within the last few hundred KM, maybe oil level too high? I filled to the "High" marking on the sight glass with the bike vertical, any opinions on this?

 

Oil height doesn't sound too high to me. I always check to make sure there are no physical impedements with the lever peg or bolt. Sounds like there isn't in your case, if 2nd-3rd is so easy. I just replaced my shift star, and there is a pin in there that COULD be bent, and may cause this 1st-2nd glitch. Hopefully, a transmission expert will know better, and can help.

 

Are you the original owner? How many miles/km on it now?

My gut reaction was that it's you, but there are certainly mechanical possibilities too. The 1-2 is a very easy shift to miss, especially if you are tall and riding forward on the bike. The difference between the 1-2 shift and the 3-4 shift is that during the 1-2 shift you pass over the neutral detent...if you don't move the lever far enough, the mechanism will stop in the neutral position. During the 2-3 shift, there is no detent - rather there is a relatively sharp point on the star - so as long as you get the mechanism over half way through it's travel, then it will (or should) carry itself the rest of the way into 3rd - same for the rest of the gear changes. The net result is that the 1-2 shift requires a slightly longer throw than the rest.

Try being more deliberate with your shifts to see if it helps. Also, feel free to move the lever up or down to suit yourself.

If you find that it's not you, the first things to check mechanically are that the shifter is tightened down on the shifter shaft (no slop), and that the shifter isn't hitting the ignition cover. Beyond that...well, check back here, as it would be an internal issue.

 

Oops.

 

Sounds like I need to adjust the shift level a bit lower, to match the rear brake.

I found I was standing on the brake lever before.. instead of resting my heel on the peg, made it annoying to use the rear brake. Now I use the rear brake a lot more with it lower, because I feel that it's easier to modulate with my heel resting on the peg.

Wish it wasn't raining, I'd go adjust it now.

 

That is the most frequent missed shift for any rider. 1-2 or 2-1 for the reason Lutz pointed out, neutral hides between those gears.

Lots and lots of people, including me, have found ourselves slowing down in second while on a hill climb or something nasty and before its too late try and dump her into first and pour on the power. Only to be rewarded with a rev to the moon since we didn't make it all the way to first. Then you lose momentum and tip over or stop your climb.

 

I find that keeping my foot wedged tight between the peg and shifter makes a better lift up situation. Haven't had a missed shift in a long time.

 

I tried yesterday to adjust it, but the shift lever didn't want to slide off the splines.

Will try again today or tomorrow... maybe try a flat head screwdriver to open the shift level up a tiny bit...

It slides on the splines, but doesn't want to come off all the way.

 

Gentle coaxing, while keeping extraction pressure on it, will walk it right off those splines.

 

Just to be sure...you need to take the bolt all the way out of the shifter for it to come off.

Otherwise, yeah it just needs a little persuasion.