2nd Gear is hit or miss

[RDW-B14]

I'm asking for your help!

My 2000 XII, 37,000 miles, in the 3500+ miles I've ridden it, it hasn't had any shifting problems. The other day traffic had me inching along for about a mile (the radiator fan works well!). When I got going again it did fine the several miles home. Next morning I take off down my driveway (3/8 mile long) and it wouldn't shift into 2nd, just into neutral. I shifted back into first and try again serval times. A few times it shifted and a few times it wouldn't (so I jumped on my KLR650 and went to work).

Today I changed the oil and filter ( Wix and 15w-40 Rotella) and bled the clutch. Same issue as before. Plan to try to go for a ride tomorrow to see what it'll do.

The shifting pivot and linkage seem free moving. Any ideas what's causing this problem?

Thanks a lot for any info. and suggestions!

Take care, RD

[cranky]

.... not a wrench, but I've seen posted, and it's happened to me,
when starting out cold, it won't go into second unless you get to
high rev's or the scoot warms up, then all is fine. I run high end
full synthetic Mobil 1 and only have a little problem, but a problem
is still there for a mile or so... known bug and not to worry!!!!

Go warm'er up and enjoy the ride!!! JM2C

[GrandpaDenny]

Yeah, what Cranky said. When it gets cooler, our bikes are known to not want to go into 2nd gear for the first few minutes until they warm up a little bit, unless you wind up to around 3500 rpm. I run Rotella T6 15w-40 and also have the same problem when it's cold. I'm thinking the critical temp is somewhere around 45-50 degrees, as I had this problem the other morning for the first time since the spring, temp was in the mid-40s.

You didn't really expect our 15-35 year old bikes to be perfect, did you?

[Nails]

Also check the gearshift linkage. Mine was loose on the transmission shaft -- shifted much, much easier once tightened. (No, it wasn't slipping. Don't really know why that made so much difference.)

[RDW-B14]

Thank you all for the responses.

I went on a 15 mile test ride, lots of stops and starts and it never missed a beat (or 2nd gear). It was 75 degrees out though, so if cold is part of the issue, it wasn't too good of a test.

If things change I'll report back! Thanks again!

Take care, RD

[erock]

I have the same identical issue. Colder weather seems to aggravate the problem. The solution is always the same with complete success....just give it higher revs between 1st and second gears until engine reaches normal operating temp, and it will shift normally every time.

[cushman eagle]

I'm asking for your help!

My 2000 XII, 37,000 miles, in the 3500+ miles I've ridden it, it hasn't had any shifting problems. The other day traffic had me inching along for about a mile (the radiator fan works well!). When I got going again it did fine the several miles home. Next morning I take off down my driveway (3/8 mile long) and it wouldn't shift into 2nd, just into neutral. I shifted back into first and try again serval times. A few times it shifted and a few times it wouldn't (so I jumped on my KLR650 and went to work).

Today I changed the oil and filter ( Wix and 15w-40 Rotella) and bled the clutch. Same issue as before. Plan to try to go for a ride tomorrow to see what it'll do.

The shifting pivot and linkage seem free moving. Any ideas what's causing this problem?

Thanks a lot for any info. and suggestions!

Take care, RD

I learned about that issue 10+ years ago,when I bought my VXII. When it is cold take it above 2500 rpm to make the 1-2 shift,then all is well with the shifting

[drtechnology]

.... not a wrench, but I've seen posted, and it's happened to me,
when starting out cold, it won't go into second unless you get to
high rev's or the scoot warms up, then all is fine. I run high end
full synthetic Mobil 1 and only have a little problem, but a problem
is still there for a mile or so... known bug and not to worry!!!!

Go warm'er up and enjoy the ride!!! JM2C

I agree, when I got my '02 XII a few months ago the owner told me in colder months let it run and warm up before riding or expect shifting issues.

if you have shifting issues, even tho 70's is not that "cold" try stopping and letting the bike run a few min and "warm up" moreso than is already and see if it works good then or not...

[Barry]

This problem is caused by the positive neutral finder. Ever noticed when you come to a stop in first gear, you can't shift from first to second? Nice feature, but it does cause an annoyance in cooler weather. Thankfully only till it warms up.

[Nails]

This problem is caused by the positive neutral finder.

I didn't know that.

My daughter, the pipsqueak on back, dissed me royally (in public!) for missing shifts ... until I pointed out the divot in my left boot where I tried to get the damn thing into second. As mentioned, that was mostly a loose shifter on the trans shaft (and I still don't really understand it), but also the cold-shift issue. I don't know whether anyone brought up oil additives like Marvel Mystery Oil, but folks have sworn it helps this exact problem.

[Barry]

I've tried long warm ups in the driveway and still not made it past neutral on the first upshift. No brand of oil or oil additives will eliminate this problem. I've tried just about every brand of synthetic and conventional oils on multiple vxii's. Currently I run Mobil 1 10/40 high mileage and it still has this problem below 50 degrees. Regular oils will develop this problem around 60 degrees. Simple solution is to never make the first shift of the day below 2500 rpm. All the rest will be fine. In cool weather, just follow your normal routine, but change your first shift point rpm.