Tricky Shifter

[Dark Jackal]

hello everyone

i'm just back from a ride on my GZ and i can finally stand that sometime the shifter works pretty well, with smooth shifting, a pleasure to deal with, and sometimes it act a little weird...

tonight i noticed that the shifter is really much harder, every gear, with second and first at the top of hardiness... it's like some days it run smooth and someday it's harder to shift, seem that if the bike is cold or not it doesn't make a difference...

someone have something to suggest?

thank you very much

[Moedad]

Do you have fresh synthetic oil in it?

[Easy Rider]

someone have something to suggest?


I know you may not believe this answer but it IS true.......and even if you don't buy it right now, with a few years of riding under your belt, you will learn to believe:

The BIKE does the same thing every day. It is the RIDER that is different from day to day......or even from one hour to the next !! :shocked: :tup:

Tiny,un-noticeable differences in technique and timing can make things feel and sound WAY different. There have been a few times in my 40+ years of riding that "things" felt so funny when I got on the bike that I just parked it for the day.

[Water Warrior 2]

My first thought was an oil change too. But the idea of the rider being different on some days also holds some truth too. Do you always wear the same shoes or boots when riding ? Even tight pants will limit your leg and ankle flexibility to some degree. Also think about whether you are always wearing gloves or not. Could be limited clutch pull due to not so great gloves or cold hand with no gloves. Riding experience also plays a large part in proper operation overall.

[Dark Jackal]

Do you have fresh synthetic oil in it?

yep i think so it was changed at 3300 km, now it have 4300 so far so i think that shouldn't be the issue

[quote="Dark Jackal":2zlch2ud]
someone have something to suggest?


I know you may not believe this answer but it IS true.......and even if you don't buy it right now, with a few years of riding under your belt, you will learn to believe:

The BIKE does the same thing every day. It is the RIDER that is different from day to day......or even from one hour to the next !! :shocked: :tup:

Tiny,un-noticeable differences in technique and timing can make things feel and sound WAY different. There have been a few times in my 40+ years of riding that "things" felt so funny when I got on the bike that I just parked it for the day.[/quote:2zlch2ud]

My first thought was an oil change too. But the idea of the rider being different on some days also holds some truth too. Do you always wear the same shoes or boots when riding ? Even tight pants will limit your leg and ankle flexibility to some degree. Also think about whether you are always wearing gloves or not. Could be limited clutch pull due to not so great gloves or cold hand with no gloves. Riding experience also plays a large part in proper operation overall.

now that i think of it, i usually always ride with Harley Davidson boots... yesterday i rode with CULT shoes.... maybe could be that? i always ride with my gloves on all the time... for the pants, wear large ones always, so i think i can exclude that also...

i'll try to ride with HD boots next tie and see, anyway i found that it's harder shift with sport shoes...

anyway i'll bring my GZ to SUZUKI to check the front brake (the bike is still in warranty) so it will no harm checking the shifter just to be sure that everything work as it should

[patrick_777]

I'm going to go ahead and concur with the others. This sounds like a boot issue.

[alantf]

I find that if I'm riding in trainers I often miss the double click from first to second, & find that I've just gone into neutral.

[roncg41677]

I've noticed what Dark is talking about before too. It's not so much like the lever is physically harder to push down, but like there's actual mechanical resistance. I'm not sure if that's what you're experiencing. I've noticed in different shoes it's harder, but not like there's a mechanical issue. Not pulling the clutch in enough makes perfect sense though. Had never thought about that.

[adrianinflorida]

One more conccurence for the shoes. I notice a huge difference in the feel of the shifter, it's accuracy, etc, depending on the shoes I'm wearing.

[Dark Jackal]

I've noticed what Dark is talking about before too. It's not so much like the lever is physically harder to push down, but like there's actual mechanical resistance. I'm not sure if that's what you're experiencing. I've noticed in different shoes it's harder, but not like there's a mechanical issue. Not pulling the clutch in enough makes perfect sense though. Had never thought about that.

yep i still have to find out if it's a problem with the bike or not.... i'm going to find it out tomorrow cuz i'm going to service the bike for the front brake, i'll let you know ;)One more conccurence for the shoes. I notice a huge difference in the feel of the shifter, it's accuracy, etc, depending on the shoes I'm wearing.

yes that's very true, as i said i rode with sport shoes one or 2 times and i found that it's much harder and less natural to shift with them.... tomorrow i'll bring my GZ wearing HD boots and see if it's a boot issue or not...

thank you all very much anyway for the help ^^

[RonWhitm]

Four words - Oil the shift linkage. Makes a world of difference, shoes not withstanding.

[Dark Jackal]

ok so i've rode my bike to SUZUKI service, they checked the front brake and eveything it's ok, they did a through cleaning of the brake disc and some gibberish went out... now it make no noise anymore... good thing to bring it, planning for a trip this weekend

they checked the shifter also and as far they can tell everything it's ok, i've rode with HD boots and things changed drastically, i got back the smooth shifting that i love :D

anyway i'll also oil the shift linkage asap, i think it will not harm it ;)

[greenhorn]

+10 for boots making a difference. Good thing I haven't spent too much to figure that out. Icon's on sale at New Enough for $19.99 & one size difference has made all the difference between "feeling" the shift and not feeling it.

Kind of like a condom vs no condom. Oops. Did I say that? And how the hell would I know anyway?????? :lol:

MARY

[Water Warrior 2]

+10 for boots making a difference. Good thing I haven't spent too much to figure that out. Icon's on sale at New Enough for $19.99 & one size difference has made all the difference between "feeling" the shift and not feeling it.

Kind of like a condom vs no condom. Oops. Did I say that? And how the hell would I know anyway?????? :lol:

MARY

Now you've done it. Opened yourself up to be heckled and made fun of forever.

About oiling the shifter, here is an idea. The ends of the linkages have rubber boots, why not just slip in the spray nozzle tube from a can of chain lube and give it a quick blast. Probably work real well. I also keep meaning to do this to my own bike but always find something else to do instead.

[RonWhitm]

"About oiling the shifter, here is an idea. The ends of the linkages have rubber boots, why not just slip in the spray nozzle tube from a can of chain lube and give it a quick blast. Probably work real well."

Exactly how I do it, perfectly good suggestion.
I used to use lightweight or regular motor oil but that washes away quickly with every washing or rainstorm or ride on a wet street. The spray grease solved that problem for me.
Ron

[GOZEBRA1957]

This is my first post and I can't find a way to just write this, so I am adding it to the "shifter" problem. I had the same problem, by the way - I bought my 2006 GZ250 from a guy who had put 2,250 miles on it and had never changed the oil. I changed it at 100 mile increments three times, then filled it with synthetic and that solved that problem, but here is my problem. Please, someone tell me how to get the word out to all of the GZ250 readers of this excellent site. Here is the problem.

I decided to check/set the valves on my 2006 GZ250 that now has 3,350 miles. I took everything off necessary to do so, but foolishly had not bought the special tool and I couldn't get the feeler gage into the small space, so I put it all back together and ordered the special tool, hoping that will help me set the valves. By the way, I drilled through both of the baffles when I bought the bike and I am just sure it is running lean, so I installed an iridium spark plug one heat range cooler just to help, but it still seems to run hot.

Anyway, here is my problem - I had run the gas way low so as to help me take the gas tank off (I am 70 and a physical wreck - no details, I am just worn out and living on pain meds.) So, after putting everything back together, without setting the valves, I went out and filled it up - overfilled a little. I then went on a fun 15 mile ride at about 45-55 mph and came home. To my dismay, the bike is covered with oil. I have cleaned it and then run it at idle, and oil seems to be coming out of one exhaust. When I cleaned it, oil was everywhere, even dipping off of the carb. After cleaning it and idling it, I see oil spattered across from one of the exhaust pipes (coming out of the front of the engine). This all sounds nuts. Please advise 1) How to post this where more GZ250 riders can see it and 2) where is the oil coming from? Is it ok to ask you to also reply to tlhokc@aol.com? Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Easy Rider]

This is my first post and I can't find a way to just write this, so I am adding it to the "shifter" problem.

This all sounds nuts. Please advise 1) How to post this where more GZ250 riders can see it and 2) where is the oil coming from? Is it ok to ask you to also reply to tlhokc@aol.com? Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know of any better forum for GZ riders than THIS, BUT.....

If you select a forum, like TECHNICAL for instance, there is a prominent button for "NEW TOPIC"....but at 70 we'll cut you a bit of slack (I'm not too far behind you!) :biggrin:

I think you need to have a shop look at it; it's almost impossible to diagnose something like that without SEEING it. Obviously you didn't get something put back together right. While it is IN the shop, you might as well have them check the valves. The "special tool" will only allow you to adjust them if needed; it won't help you get the feeler gauge in where it needs to go.

And no, it really ISN'T OK to send an answer via email because then YOU are the only one who will benefit from it. We would like to encourage you to visit here occasionally and contribute something to the ongoing discussion!! (maybe even something about motorcycles!!) :)

Hopefully someone else who has done it before will have a better guess for you than I did !! :tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

Sounds like the valve cover is not on correctly. Wrenching is for young uns, riding is for us old guys. Take it to a shop, why be hunched over a bike in pain when the kids have a bike lift in the shop.