Do you ever find yourself getting stuck between gears?

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:27 pm

I seem to find myself getting stuck in between gears a good bit and I don’t know why; could the cables use some adjusting with only 240 miles on my Stella?

Also, at times I’ll be in neutral at a stop light and with the only slightest touch of my hand on the left grip I get thrown into gear causing the bike to jerk forward then stall.

Are these all typical things that will be adjusted at the 500 mile tuneup?

Side question:
If you guys are going down a long hill do you ever put it in neutral and just cruise, or do you always stay in gear?

spd122 · Post by **spd122** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 1:47 am

You mean like missing between 2 and 3? finding a spot that is a non gear? Then yeah.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:08 am

I've occasionally wound up in a "false neutral" between two of the upper gears, but have then been able to get it into the intended gear almost immediately.

No, I never coast down hills... I always keep it in gear with the clutch engaged.

My cables needed adjustment at the first service. They stretch like crazy when the scoot is new.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:20 am

Silver Streak wrote:My cables needed adjustment at the first service. They stretch like crazy when the scoot is new.

+1

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:56 am

yeah...

1.) the 500 mile service will get the cables adjusted AND lubed That"ll help

2.) Its still breaking in and smoothing off of the crude rough surfaces...Ride one that has 3K on it and it will amaze you how much better it shifts.

legalgooner · Post by **legalgooner** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:08 pm

I'm 950 miles in on mine and I have already noticed how much smoother the shifting is.

At first, I would constantly shift from first to false second (neutral) after I was certain I had passed neutral. That was frustrating, but it has gotten much better over time and after the service.

As to down shifting to neutral on a hill, I tried this a few times but found that the shifter begins to make a clicking noise when trying to get to Neutral from, say, fourth. Thus, I have stopped doing that and just hold in the clutch and let 'er roll like others mentioned.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:40 pm

Isn't it pretty bad for the clutch to hold it in while scooter is in motion and engine running? I try to never ride the clutch up or down hill..

In answer to original question, I have found a "phantom neutral" once or twice. If I recall correctly it was before my first service as well.

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:38 pm

Tom wrote:Isn't it pretty bad for the clutch to hold it in while scooter is in motion and engine running? I try to never ride the clutch up or down hill.

That's what I would think also Tom. I've been driving standard shift cars most of my life and I know you'd kill a clutch if you did that with a car.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:12 pm

I watched as my mech adjusted the cables on my Stella the first time and he put a false neutral between 2 and 3, showed it to me, then adjusted it away.

It's the new cable thing. Every time the cables are replaced, they'll need adjustment after stretching out, too.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:28 pm

It's a monthly ritual, the tightening of the cables (at least for me who is anal retentive and rides perhaps harder than he should for the machine). Cable adjustments are an easy thing anyways, so I don't sweat it.

As for false neutrals, they happen on any manual bike. It's not unusual and just usually means you're not extending your shift points proper