How does your S10 shift?

[TXTenere]

With fresh oil, it shifts smoothly. However within 1000-1500 miles on the oil, I too find the shifting to be clunky.

 

[EricV]

To the original poster - Compared to what? Without knowing your base line standard, others can only speak from theirs.

Mark R - Err, you're doing it wrong. You're supposed to be rev matching the down shifts and doing it as you slow down, not trying to do it all at once after slowing down. Sure, that doesn't always happen, but it's a sequential transmission, you can't just bang down gears w/o engaging them and expect it to be smooth.

 

[jbrown]

I think there is some bike-to-bike variance. Maybe due to manufacturing tolerances?
I have to grease the linkage on my 2012 every 1000 to 2000 miles to keep it shifting "normally".
I base my "normal" on the '95 VFR750 I had for 17 years, and never greased any part of the shift linkage.

When it's working, I don't think about it at all. It just shifts.
Sometime after 1000 miles since the last lube, I have an occasional failure to downshift, that gets progressively worse until I clean and re-lube the linkage.
BTW, the linkage doesn't seem to be gummed up or lacking lubrication at that time, but a clean and re-lube fixes it (for a while).

 

[Cycledude]

Now that u mention it I like the idea of cutting off that stupid side stand lever. Mine shifts fine other than missing the 1st to second gear shift almost any time I try to shift fast so I simply avoid making that particular shift fast.

 

[Mark R.]

To the original poster - Compared to what? Without knowing your base line standard, others can only speak from theirs.

Mark R - Err, you're doing it wrong. You're supposed to be rev matching the down shifts and doing it as you slow down, not trying to do it all at once after slowing down. Sure, that doesn't always happen, but it's a sequential transmission, you can't just bang down gears w/o engaging them and expect it to be smooth.

Hi Eric. I do match match the revs with the engine, etc, but other bikes I have, like my DR 650 or DRz400, will take a quick series of downshifts much better than the S-10. It is in the context of the quick series of downshifts that my S-10 shows the clunky nature of the transmission.

Mark R.
Albuquerque

 

[dietDrThunder]

How is notchy shifting discussion 'power and exhaust?' Just curious.

 

[Checkswrecks]

How is notchy shifting discussion 'power and exhaust?' Just curious.

It's in the powertrain. We don't have a break-out specifically for transmissions or shifters.

 

[squarebore]

Mine is very smooth. I lubed as suggested at about 5k kms and no issues. 40k kms now. For a comparison, go ride a triumph 1050 sport or similar. I reckon that transmission is straight out of a John Deere.


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[st art]

I don't like the shifting on my bike, especially downshifting on the street. I simply can't come up to a light and quickly downshift through all the gears as I slow down. I have to downshift at speed and blip the throttle to get a nice downshift.

Once I am on a dirt road though, the bike has absolutely no issues with the transmission.

Mark R.
Albuquerque

Lube the shifter pivot bolt. I mean take ot off, clean it and lube it with grease. No penetrating sprays.
Looks like you are going the same direction as many of us. It'll get worse if i was to guess. Mine got so bad i thought i was heading for a major repair.
10 min of work 2 years ago and i forgot all about it now.
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[limey]

You said that you "checked" the linkage, but did you lube everything? Mine shifted clunky until I greased the shifter pivot and lubed the linkage. It's a common issue. As far as everything else, modify it so it works for you.

It's not a big job guys, have to lube mine up today after ridding in 5 days of rain and gravel roads in Romney.

 

[vwboomer]

It's not a big job guys, have to lube mine up today after ridding in 5 days of rain and gravel roads in Romney.

Not a bad job. Not time consuming or technical.
But why throughout all the bikes I have owned and years I have ridden has this never been an issue until this bike? Bad design? poor seals?
I'm genuinely curious how Yamaha suddenly forgot to make a decent shift linkage setup )

 

[Cycledude]

I would bet using pressure washers contributes to the issues.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Not a bad job. Not time consuming or technical.
But why throughout all the bikes I have owned and years I have ridden has this never been an issue until this bike? Bad design? poor seals?
I'm genuinely curious how Yamaha suddenly forgot to make a decent shift linkage setup )

Yamaha has been using this design since at least the 1980s. Check the FJR alone and you'll be back to 2001.

 

[rrnunes2002]

Silly question, but how soon you change gears when ridding? I noticed that if I shift when the engine is above 4500 rpm, for instance, it is way more smooth than if I am 'trying to save fuel' and shift by 3000 rpm.

or maybe I am having more fun and don't notice the shift...
Anyway, give it a try.

 

[dietDrThunder]

It's in the powertrain. We don't have a break-out specifically for transmissions or shifters.

If you ever decide to have a dedicate subforum for shifting, I'll volunteer to moderate it

Regarding the shifting I did notice something the other day that I think may be a contributing factor, Between the annoying sidestand lever (that I will be cutting off) and the way the OEM pegs and my boots interact, I realized that my foot is never in the natural position that I would typically be in to shift. I'm going to rectify this with some flatter pegs (and the aforementioned sidestand modification) and I have a feeling that this may go a long way in this department.

 

[taskmaster86]

For me the stock shifter is too short. I think that is why it is hard to get a perfect shift for me. I wish someone would make a longer shifter for the S10. Happy trails make an awesome extended shifter for the klr, maybe we could get them to make one for us also.

 

[dietDrThunder]

Ok, so it turns out that my foot was never in the proper position to shift because the sidestand lever was in the way. I cut it off, and now I can safely upgrade the S10 shifting action from 'pretty lame' to 'a bit agricultural.'

 

[ScoutDogMan]

Guys, as a note; when I took my 2016 ES in for the first check up, my dealer said that they would check the shifting shaft to see if it was lubricated. It wasn't !! They have found some S10's that were not lubricated when shipped and this has caused problems in
shifting, etc. You might want to verify this - it goes back a couple years.

 

[Chuck B]

For me the stock shifter is too short. I think that is why it is hard to get a perfect shift for me. I wish someone would make a longer shifter for the S10. Happy trails make an awesome extended shifter for the klr, maybe we could get them to make one for us also.

I also found it too short. I purchased the Woodcraft folding toe piece and used it to extend my shifter pad location.

 

[Rodge]

Been using chain wax (TM) on shifter pivot point, SW Motech Yamaha tank bag fuel cap mechanism and the Yamaha pannier locks... all good...