Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Gear selection problems

I'm very new to Triumph (been a Japanese sports rider for years, beer belly has developed, therefore bought something more in keeping with my age and stature). I've only just got my America, so I'm running it in at the moment. So as well as having problems 'hearing' the engine with the wind noise, I've started to experience shifting problems i.e. getting the revs up 1st, 2nd, reach for 3rd - clutch out - Eeeek its still in 2nd, grab clutch again, reach for 3rd 'Clunk' and we're there... Is this normal for running in ? Will the dealer adjust all this at the 500 mile service?

Hey Paul, welcome to the site!!!!

After you get the break-in oil out of there and get some proper synthetic in your shifting problems should alleviate.
At least mine did. The more I rode it the better it shifted.

Thanks very much for the advice Tony

Welcome Paul. How far do you have to vertically move your foot to shift?

I had a similar problem with my 2007 TBA at around 250 miles on odometer. Several times she would not shift up to 3rd. Sometimes It was real annoying since I was in traffic. However, I have not noticed it since then. I always wondered if it was something due to that first real ride I took (put on ~180 miles that day). Since then, the 600 mile service has been done and I have not experienced that problem again.
Conwy

Welcome the states and the forum Paul. Actually the only shifting problem I have is when I go from 1st to second and lazily don't apply enough force and end up in neutral. That way I can madly race the engine and garner much unwanted attention. That's one reason I went back to the stock pipes-my mistakes aren't quite as loud that way.

Hi Phil,
I'm actually lifting my foot up to the point where it will go no further, i.e. should have felt a 'clunk'. Take pressure off, release the clutch, expecting another gear... ooops! Maybe that it needs some adjustment on the linkage I guess

Hi.

I had a simular problem, but I don't think it was 3rd...

But 250 miles was a while ago and I don't seem to have it now.

I notice you're in Glous.... which dealer are you using?

Oh and welcome!

I have always found that while the Triumph box is slightly clunky compared to your average Jap unit it is supremely positive once bedded in.

after shifting, make sure your foot is away from shifter in between shifts and return foot to then shift again and see what happens. Since buying my new boots i have noticed sometimes when i leave my foot in position, i have not released the shifter and let it relax to its rightfull position, and then when i try to shift into next gear, it aint there. so now i am in the habit of moveing my foot out and away to insure shifter getting too its place. It CAN be adjusted but i just havent taken the time and my shift lingage is a little bent at the threads so i think i will just leave it and just move my foot away from the shifter in between shifts

Sure sounds like it could be adjusted Paul. Very easy to do also. Down on the gear change rod are the locking nuts (10mm ??). Loosen both ends and you can turn the rod and watch the shift pedal change height. I try to keep mine within a half inch of my boot. This allows me enough room for smooth upshifts and can easily switch to downshifts.

Don't forget to re-tighten the lock nuts!

Thanks Newt,
I'm glad someone else fessed up to doing this; I felt kinda stupid when I realized my new boots with taller toe cap were the cause of my transmission problems. Just glad I figured it out before takin' back to the dealer.

It cuts both ways.
I've been missing some downshifts due to not letting the selector reset between.
Think I need to lower the shifter.

Exactly what the others said - I thought there was a problem too, but found that removing your foot completly out of the way of the selector during changes seems to clear the problem. As already said its as though your boots wont let it quite get back into the final position ready to change gear.

I've also found after running in and getting the oil changed the whole bike runs a whole lot better. Everything just seems "smoother", and bike seems a lot faster too - not usre if its just me or if they have actually done anything during the first service.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

JC