Trouble With Shifting From 1st to 2nd & 2nd to 1st

[Lord Popgun]

That clutch thing is what we all have to do every now and then. Always works for me!

[curlyjoe]

I had the same problem when I first started riding the bike. I found I needed to remove all pressure on the shift lever between shifts (down or up). If I maintained some pressure on the shift lever after a shift, it would not go into the next gear (up or down). I have big feet and wear red wing pecos boots so there's little room for error in my case.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I had the same shift problem once when I went out not wearing boots. The top of my sneakers would crush and I would sense that feeling as my foot was raising and hence, moving the shifter when, of course it wasn't yet. Had to think about using much more upward pressure.

Also remember that the issue could be on the other end- the clutch lever. Could be our carpal tunnel, arthritis, or just plain hand fatigue from some stop and go riding and all of a sudden we're not pulling it in far enough.

[mininsx_imp]

Were you wearing different than normal footwear? Were you shifting gingerly or with authority? Did it happen evey time or just one time? i suspect rider error.

I agree, not trying to bash you but that's usually the case. If you're stopped in any other gear besides 1st you will have trouble going into first and it's not because there's something wrong with the bike, it's the "nature of the beast." Bike transmissions aren't made like car transmissions, they need to be moving in order to shift.

+1 If you're not moving, or you're moving very slowly, you may not be able to complete the shift. The CB11 seems to be a little more sensitive in this respect. Where my CB750 can easily shift when rolling at 5 mph or less, the CB11 seems to need to be moving a bit faster.

+1 If you're not moving, or you're moving very slowly, you may not be able to complete the shift. The CB11 seems to be a little more sensitive in this respect. Where my CB750 can easily shift when rolling at 5 mph or less, the CB11 seems to need to be moving a bit faster.


The shift lever is adjustable up and down, maybe that's all you need to do. I usually don't have to adjust it, but with one bike I had a while back I couldn't seem to shift smoothly and I adjusted the shift lever just a little and that was all it took. There's two locknuts on the shaft, one of which is "backwards" (left-hand) threaded.

[wiredgeorge_imp]

Shifter causes shift pawls to grab pins in shift drum. This rotates drum and that is what changes gears. The rod between shifter and splined shaft that rotates and works shift pawls is only adjustment point. As has been pointed out, rod is threaded and has locknuts (M6) on both ends with one having left handed thread. Try to loosen both with 10mm open end wrench and back off nut that loosens. Also back off other nut turning clockwise. Normally one side is used for adjustment. Wrap a piece of old inner tube around threaded rod and turn rod about 1.5 turns and check shifter function. You may have to play with adjustment but no more than about two full turns from where you started. Blue Loctite nuts when you are adjusted and are snugging them down.

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