I’ve got a 2009 XR Sportster with about 14,000 miles.

A couple of years ago, some fool in a parking lot turns into me, throwing the bike over and bending the transmission shaft. I took it into the dealership and they replaced it. Otherwise, nothing has been done to the transmission other than oil changes and chain adjustments.

A few weeks back when approaching a traffic light, I clicked the clutch down to first gear like I always do. This time the transmission gets down to NEUTRAL, feels spongy when I try to shift down further and does not go into first gear. I let off of the clutch and let the bike roll a little, push the clutch in and try it again. Nothing. The light turns green and I can’t go. I’m shifting up. I’m shifting down. Eventually, it pops into first, and I ride off like it was some fluke occurrence.

Then, it happened to me again yesterday.

This does not feel like the clutch is going out, so what is going on?

 

A FULL clutch adjustment is one of the items that are part of every 5,000 mile service, has it been done?

 

the clutch has nothing to do with the shifting..

it should go into gear (jump/bang stall) without using the clutch..
the problem is in your shifter /shifter pawl/and or shift drum.

 

Sounds like it may be a gearbox problem, but I would definitely check the clutch adjustment before I started ripping into the gearbox.

 

I have not checked the clutch cable adjustment. That part feels fine, but who knows?

I'll also have a look at that shift mechanism that baylor suggested.

If I have no luck, I'll be forced to ride her into The Harley Shop. I just wanted to check here first to see if any other Sportster owners had ever encountered this before.

 

My '02 did something similar, didn't want to shift into first, then didn't want to go into gear from neutral. Turned out to be a bent shifter pawl and some other stuff, can't remember right now. Hope yours is a simple fix.

 

Yep, sounds like a bad shifter pawl, had that on my xl 30 dollar part, but pain in the **** to replace

 

What is a shifter pawl?

Is it one of the items pictured in this?

 

Item #6 ..it pushes the "pins" either clockwise ,or counterclockwise on item # 5.
that (item 5) .. is the shift drum.
it rotates , and moves items #9 , and #16 ..(they follow the "cam groves"
those move the shifting "dogs" that engage whatever gear to the output shaft(main "

elementary , My Dear Mr Watson

 

I got to talking to another guy I know online.

He said to pull the derby cover off, mount the shifter, and go in and out of the gears. He said if something was bent or out of place, it would be obvious without having to pull everything out.

Does that sound about right?