I was having same issues with my Suzuki and sure enough it was that sometimes I just wasn't giving the shift enough physical effort.It also happened more often when I was rushing throuhg the gears.

 

Yep, chances are it's the old "lazy foot" problem. Don't ask thattrans to go into second gear, tell it to.

 

I did that for the first time yesterday. It was just a lazy shift. I was pre-occupied with a female occupant in a cage beside me. Thankfully, I realized I had missed the shift before I let out the clutch and reved the engine in netural. That would most certainly have KILLED the "cool factor" I had working for me.

But if that isn't the problem, you might try changing to a synthetic oil in the tranny. When I changed from regular Dino tranny fluid to Moble 1 V-twin in the tranny, the shifting effort was noticeably reduced.

 

Kick it harder. Seriously.

Like SportyPig, I've been distracted by attractive cagers and have missed the shift.

 

Funny, but with me, I hit neutral on the downshift, when I'm coming up to a light.

Definite loss of cool points when the light turns green.

I now look to see the big green "N" idiot light when I stop now.

 

I usually have a hell of a time getting it to go into neutral when I park it at home, or when warming it up. Then I go and clunk it into neut when downshifting for a stop sign. Big blue "N" shows up, I think it means "nitwit" or "nucklehead."

 

yup, i've done it too. Always when shifting lazily to second. It's embarrassing when that engine races and you're basically standing still. gotta shift with authority.

rob

 

Have hit the neutral a couple of times, mostly when downshifting in front of a traffic light. Being a relatively fresh rider, I don't think I can blame the the bike for this. To avoid future embarrassment,I always look for the "N" when waiting for thelights to change.

 

Whew...I'm glad I'm not the only one...

 

I have the same issue however, it is not due to lazy shifting technique. It literally happens everytime i try to shift to second gear. I just had my bike in for the 10k service and i assumed it was just a clutch adjustment. But it was the same and progressively got worse over the next three weeks. When i upshift no matter how swift i try it hits the second gear and bounces back into neutral. Also i just noticed today that my primary case is leaking about one drip a day. Dont know if that could be a contributing factor. Im looking to see if anyone has exerienced this. Not accidentally hitting neutral bc i of course have had that embarrassing feeling of everyone just watched me wind out neutral bc i missed second gear. Especially when a honda shadow beats me off the line bc of it haha.


Specs:
2011 nightster 1200
Screaming eagle mufflers (reflashed ECU)
Stock a/c
Standard oil
History of shifter seal leak


Thanks