Shifting 1st to 2nd not smooth

Rubio

Rubio

Joined
May 26, 2025
Messages
74
Age
65
Location
Ontario, Canada
Bike
ST1100A
When I shift from first to second I feel some feedback in the shifter like it's not engaging right away. I would almost describe it as grinding the gears but not to that extreme. Similar to slowly shifting a boat into gear and you hear the glack, glack, glack of the gear teeth engaging.

I'm trying shift quickly and firmly to avoid this and sometimes it seems fine. I see no adjustment for the clutch and I'm pulling it right to the handlebar grip. The slave is rebuilt, bled and seems to operate properly. I'm not sure what to check to improve this.
 
John OoSTerhuis said:
Try preloading the shifter.

John
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and, there's an adjustment for the shift lever underneath the engine, you could try adjusting it down a little to get a bit more throw with your foot.

one of the locknuts is reverse thread, so keep that in mind when loosening it. You loosen the locknuts, then rotate the adjusting rod by hand, you'll see the shift lever move up or down as you do.

Another thing to consider is make sure you're revving it up to 4-5k before shifting.
 
Before spending any significant time trying to diagnose this I suggest that you do the below. Even if it doesn't solve your problem (often it does) it is good preventative maintenance and will remove one variable from your list of possibilities.

ST1100 - Shift Linkage Tune-up​

 
Some here have mentioned the bushing up in the clutch handle- nice and cheap and easy to fix, which fully releases the clutch (meaning it gets pinged over time and causes some increased need to pull on the handle and I guess therefore doesn’t disengage the clutch fully, resulting in a harsher shift. I replaced both in the STs I have- the 94 was pinged pretty significantly, the 2000, not so much. Both bikes are now very smooth in terms of the shifting.

Here is the part number (Suzuki part but fits the Honda fine and is less expensive):


You could always take it out and examine it before purchase (takes 2 minutes to remove)
 
Not a bad deal, but before replacing a bunch of parts that may not need it, I’d start with the simpler stuff, like lubing the shift linkage and checking the clutch lever bushing. My 2000 has 55K on it and the rubbers and aluminum look like new (and no play with the ‘spider’ attached). They’re not ovaled out at all.
 
John OoSTerhuis said:
Try preloading the shifter.
Click to expand...
I shift like that 99% of the time. Sometimes I back off on the throttle for a second and it falls right into gear. I don't know that this is indicative of the shifter linkage needing a tune up. My bike is low milage or snow or off-roading. The bike shifts smoothly. It shifts better when I preload the shifter.

One other possible consideration might be the position of the gearshift lever at its static position. If it's been removed previously and not replaced accurately as in a notch too high it can make upshifting a little problematic. But if it's only the 1>2 shift then this probably isn't a culprit.
 
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Rubio said:
It doesn’t need to fully disengage to to upshift, does it?
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I've always thought the clutch needs to unload pressure on the gears for any shifting. If you match the rpms, yes you can up or down shift w/o the clutch, but if you miss, you grind gears. With practice one can do this consistently (no clutch), but a miss match of rpms gets a gnashing of gears.
 
John OoSTerhuis said:
Try preloading the shifter.
Click to expand...
Here is my take on shifting...
- don't high-rev/redline 1st gear... never...
- 1st to 2nd I remain "an idea" in neutral, then quick into 2nd..
- 2nd and further: slightly preload the shifter an idea before pulling the clutch...

downshift:
- gentle "blip" the throttle after pulling clutch, but before actuating the shifter...
 
SMSW said:
I've always thought the clutch needs to unload pressure on the gears for any shifting. If you match the rpms, yes you can up or down shift w/o the clutch, but if you miss, you grind gears. With practice one can do this consistently (no clutch), but a miss match of rpms gets a gnashing of gears.
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I remember watching Jay Gleason in the 1983 Honda V65 commercial bang through the gears without touching the clutch. I rode my Magna home when the clutch slave failed upshifting without problems.
 
Rubio said:
I remember watching Jay Gleason in the 1983 Honda V65 commercial bang through the gears without touching the clutch. I rode my Magna home when the clutch slave failed upshifting without problems.
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Sure, and I rode my Triumph TR6R home from work after the clutch cable snapped. No problems or grinding gears. BUT...do it consistently day after day? I'd wager the transmission would not last as long as one belonging to someone who used the clutch.
 
Additional to the shift linkage tune-up and clutch lever bushing/grease, do a fresh bleed on the hydraulics..... if you have persistent issues (which is really the clutch not fully disengaging), consider a clutch soak..... remove all clutch plates, clean and then soak in engine oil for 15 minutes, reassemble...... sometimes parts of the clutch don't get enough oil. This soak treatment should last you miles and miles......
 
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