Shifting Question

[orbitzor]

Hi all, just picked up a couple of CT's for the wife and I here in Thailand and so far we are loving them...but we are running into one question regarding shifting / gearing. Since I haven't been on a bike in years and she is coming from a lifetime on scooters, we are both starting from a clean slate in terms of muscle memory and riding so getting used to the heal shifter has been easy for us. I find it very natural and haven't had any issues retraining my brain.

That being said, I am having an issue getting into 4th gear. Shifting in to first gear to start rolling, cracking the throttle a bit and shifting into second (at around 15KM per hour) is very smooth, the same with third gear (at about 30KM - 35KM's per hour) but then when I go to shift into what I think should be 4th gear (4th click "down" with the heal) I am getting the engine way over revving and the bike lunging as if I shifted back into first gear, not 4th. In other words, I seem not to be able to find 4th gear. I have tried this a dozen times all with the same results so I am wondering what I am doing wrong? This is the first bike I have had without a gear indicator and didn't think I would miss it with only 4 gears, but it seems I have gotten soft around the edges since my last bike.

Any insight into where I am screwing up would be greatly appreciated!

 

[AZ7000']

Some have had luck with this, try tapping down on the rear shift pedal with your toe and see if it drops into 4th easier?? I ride all kinds of bikes and with this one I have better luck tapping down with my toe on both the front and back.
Some, myself included, rotate the shifter up in the front one notch. If you still are having issues the shift adjustment procedure is pretty simple, the chances are less if it is behaving the same on two vs just one bike.
Good luck

 

[oldskool]

Don't over think it. Use the toe shifter at first IMHO as that is what you had experience with. My Ural has a heel shifter and I use it all the time but for some reason this one is a bit "weird" for me. Shift to 2nd @ 10mph, 3rd @20mph and 4th @30 mph. As long as you have any pressure ,ANY, applied to the shift lever the clutch will not be engaged. Don't get too crazy blipping the throttle, very light is all that is needed. Shifting down 4th to 3rd 25, 3rd to 2nd @ 15ish, 2nd to first@5 mph or at complete stop. Go for smooth not fast, click pause snick.
Not an expert by any stretch, have 200 miles on the clock but these things have smoothed things out for me.
Also are you sure you are not already in 4th. Found myself trying to hit the next gear up that isn't there at first. Seems like they could have stretched things just a bit between gears but I'm sure the gearing is what they have found to be the best compromise for the bikes uses.

 

[jimzpsd]

Put the bike on its center stand, engine off, transmission in neutral, while rotating the rear tire by hand back and forth (not just one direction) put the bike in first gear by hand shifting and as you continue to rotate the rear tire (forward and backwards) you will feel first gear engage, continue doing this through 2ns, 3rd, and 4th. This test will verify your 4th gear is where it should be and is available, if its not engaging to fourth it may simply need a clutch adjustment or the shift drum/linkage is at fault. However...if you still have a warranty on the bike, take it in to an authorized service center.

 

[DJ427]

Shift support installed

I'm just going to repeat what others on here have already said, "why do I need that?". So I put this on my cub and my trail.....eatin crow for breakfast, loord have mercy

hondatrail125.com

 

[orbitzor]

Thanks for the comments! Just operator error on my part. If I switch to using my toe on the rear shift pad, I can hit 4th nice and smooth. I think the angle of the shifter makes it so I can't fully depress it with my heal so great advice on this. I imagine if the angle of the the shifter was adjusted a notch, heal shifting would work fine but I think I will try to commit to using the toe as a lot of the Thai's all seed to do on their Waves. Of course, they are ALL in flip flops which I don't think I will adopt

 

[jimzpsd]

In the early CT90/110's, people would put a small block of wood or plastic to help raise the heel pad up allowing for easier use.

 

[eastema]

Thanks for the comments! Just operator error on my part. If I switch to using my toe on the rear shift pad, I can hit 4th nice and smooth. I think the angle of the shifter makes it so I can't fully depress it with my heal so great advice on this. I imagine if the angle of the the shifter was adjusted a notch, heal shifting would work fine but I think I will try to commit to using the toe as a lot of the Thai's all seed to do on their Waves. Of course, they are ALL in flip flops which I don't think I will adopt

Toe, Toe, thats the way it works for me, love it.

 

[m in sc]

also make sure the auto clutch adjustment is ok, may have been out from the factory.

I never use the heel shifter except at a light to take off sometimes, i prefer all toe.

 

[SneakyDingo]

also make sure the auto clutch adjustment is ok, may have been out from the factory.

+1. This was the first thing I needed to adjust on my bike. It was ok from the factory but quickly went out of spec.

 

[Kritou]

You have the Thai domestic model - all four gears are toe down