2017 ES | Gear Shifting Question

[Rambler]

Gear Shifting Question:
Last few rides, I've noticed shifting through gears up or down - all speeds - has become clunky and takes a little effort. Each gear shift is like two clicks of the lever (if that makes sense).
2100 miles, 17 ES model.
Anything I can check or do. Dealer appt available all the way in to late next week.

(One of the questions on the phone -
Tech: 'when was the last time you adjusted the chain on your bike?'
Me: )

 

[WJBertrand]

Gear Shifting Question:
Last few rides, I've noticed shifting through gears up or down - all speeds - has become clunky and takes a little effort. Each gear shift is like two clicks of the lever (if that makes sense).
2100 miles, 17 ES model.
Anything I can check or do. Dealer appt available all the way in to late next week.

(One of the questions on the phone -
Tech: 'when was the last time you adjusted the chain on your bike?'
Me: )

Remove the shift lever, clean and re-lubricate the pivot shaft. That should clear it up. This seems to be a regular maintenance item to be aware of.

 

[Rambler]

Remove the shift lever, clean and re-lubricate the pivot shaft. That should clear it up. This seems to be a regular maintenance item to be aware of.

Thanks!
Bike's first service done at 650miles by dealer. Doubt it would be part of that or taken care of by the dealer at the time.
As a reference, do the greasing every oil change - or as an when necessary?

 

[WJBertrand]

Thanks!
Bike's first service done at 650miles by dealer. Doubt it would be part of that or taken care of by the dealer at the time.
As a reference, do the greasing every oil change - or as an when necessary?

It may depend a lot on how you use your bike. Wet climate, lots of off road, may need done more often. For me in a relatively dry climate and mostly on-road, I lube it every other oil change along with changing the final drive lube.

 

[Sierra1]

What he said. I've seen many post about similar conditions, and that the fix was lube. But, what bugs me, none of ANY of my past bikes EVER got their shifter pivots lubed. When I got mine, also a 17ES, the clutch lever wasn't returning/releasing fully without me pushing it back. Brought it in, and the tech lubed it....worked fine. He told me that it was a required maintenance. Mine has never been further off road than a dirt road. So, I don't understand why my new "rough & tough" adventure bike needs coddling. (But, of course, I will do it) ::001::

 

[jbrown]

At first my 2012 required cleaning and lubing once a month to keep it shifting right. Things gradually improved such that now I don't remember the last time I lubed it. I drive the car when it rains, and I seldom ride through puddles or in the dirt. So this is not an environment issue. I think the clearance spec may allow significant variance, and you can end up with too tight a fit if you are unlucky. I'm really glad mine loosened up, because it always bugged me. Especially since I never lubed it on my VFR750 in the 17 years I rode that guy.

 

[RonH]

I lube mine every oil change and also do the levers and rear brake pivot. Doing those levers really makes a difference. They use loctite of some type on that shifter bolt, so using hand tools it may be very tight. I used an impact driver to make it easy.

 

[teryn1]

Any videos on how to lube the shifter? Thanks

 

[Terminus]

So, I will throw this out there to see if anyone else has noticed it or not. I also experienced the exact thing you are describing. Also about the same mileage. Shifting was harsh and easy to miss a gear. Then one day I adjusted the clutch lever position with the little dial to another position. As soon as I did that, it shifted as smooth as butter. I don't know if maybe the little dial was in between numbers? Maybe it was just me fiddling with it? Maybe it was a complete coincidence? It could be any of those, or maybe it was aliens.....

 

[limey]

Any videos on how to lube the shifter? Thanks

It’s real easy only takes a few minutes.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[2daMax]

Grease it with Lithium Soap grease. Dun forget the brake pdeal pivots, clutch lever pivots and twist throttle area. My throttle twist area was 80% rusted n was greaseless from factory.

 

[hobdayd]

Reply to Terminus's comment...from new my gear shift was poor...quite clunky. This was not a greasing issue but simple ergonomics.

I have had this issue before on other bikes and it comes down to clutch pull in / release speed, throttle free play and boot travel to gear lever distance up and down.

The problem with the stock clutch lever is it is long and your hand / finger position on it varies during each obstical to be negotiated. I changed the lever to a short lever so my pull is more consistent and in the same place removing one variable. (Although i still pull from different places on the lever sometimes and it does effect the gear change but not by as much).

The issue with the throttle is a lot of slack before it does anything...this is a safety requirement to allow lock to lock movement without cables advancing throttle when fully off. You can remove excess play using the cable adjuster to take out some free play.

The travel from boot to gear shift lever needs to be set so that there is very little clearance required to lift it.

All these mods change the relationship of the 3 factors...smooth changes can be affected if any of these vary by milliseconds.

My bike is now a dream to shift...and I will now go and grease my pivots!

 

[Madhatter]

lubrication of linkage will smooth out the shifts , I also notice that as the motor oil gets closer to change time the shifts are a bit clunky.... as when I do an oil change suddenly it shifts so much nicer.... it likes fresh oil it seems ( that is what I have noticed in 5 years of ownership ) .

 

[Dazzerb]

"Off The Road" make an alternative bolt, I fitted one 12 months ago and have had no issues since.

https://www.off-the-road.de/en/XT-1200Z/Gear-lever-axle-bolt-XT-1200Z.html

 

[Checkswrecks]

The sticky shifter and maintenance are a stickie and search is your friend.


go here:


http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=15230.0

 

[Sierra1]

lubrication of linkage will smooth out the shifts , I also notice that as the motor oil gets closer to change time the shifts are a bit clunky.... as when I do an oil change suddenly it shifts so much nicer.... it likes fresh oil it seems ( that is what I have noticed in 5 years of ownership ) .

I haven't noticed that on this bike, but my '86 FJ has always been like that. When I miss 2nd gear, it's time to change the oil. (always at 3k ish miles)

 

[Rambler]

Took the bike into the dealer this afternoon.

'I've been doing this for 31yrs' Tech Man: I need to ride it to understand what's going on. And he does. 'I changed the snot out of the gears - up and down - I didnt notice anything wrong'. Bike's running just fine and as it should. :-X
Another tech: Just be a little more aggressive with your shifting. Some bikes need that to shift! ???

Me: I get what both of you are saying but how do you explain that over the last 3 weeks the gear shifting has become clunky, notchy and 'noisy'.
'I've been doing this for 31yrs': I don't know about that but the bike's just fine.

Service Manager comes out: (Looks at engine oil sight glass) "When did you last add oil to the bike?"
Me: ??? ??? I have not. Last time Oil was touched was by you guys for the 1st service done at 600 miles.
Him: "Hmmmm - seems to be more oil than there should be" Proceeds to vacuum out about a Qt.
Me: So your boys messed up on the oil?
Him: Sight glass difficult to read so this happens.
Me: So this engine oil thing? Does that have any effect on the gear shifting issue.
Him: Can do sometimes
Me: Rides away - straight back to YST.com !

 

[Super08]

My shifter was feeling notchy after my first service. I went back and was talking to one of the techs and he said to try switching from Yamalube to some Motul. I did't think much of it but figured why not try. I filled it up with Motul 10w40 when I did my service last fall when I parked it for the winter. Now that I have it back out riding around this year it is shifting smooth as can be. I didn't think it would make any difference.

 

[Rambler]

My shifter was feeling notchy after my first service. I went back and was talking to one of the techs and he said to try switching from Yamalube to some Motul. I did't think much of it but figured why not try. I filled it up with Motul 10w40 when I did my service last fall when I parked it for the winter. Now that I have it back out riding around this year it is shifting smooth as can be. I didn't think it would make any difference.

Which now takes us to the OIL discussion! ;D ;D

 

[Super08]

Hahahaha!!!!