Always when I'm not paying attention.
There's a thread about pre-loading the shifter.
I just have to remember every time.
Always when I'm not paying attention.
There's a thread about pre-loading the shifter.
I just have to remember every time.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I'm currently on my second oil change with Rotella T6 5W40 Synthetic and have a occasional "missed shift into second gear". It is definitely rider error in not "crisply shifting. If you are paying attention to operating the 6 and not daydreaming the trans works as designed. I've had several "heavy cruisers" and one required a fluid change on the hydraulic activated clutch to improve shifting.
Not sure but after nearly 20K miles of riding I may change the DOT 4 on the 6. Probably wouldn't hurt and may actually improve things
Yes it is a bike quirk, they commented on that issue in Visor Down and Rider and Cycle World, if you shift a little late it is less likely to happen, over 20 MPH.
DOD Retired Cold War, Operation Promote Liberty, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran. PPR (PAINt proBLEM registry) Member! Current rides: 1984 Harley Davidson FXST Softail 1340, 2013 Honda GoldWing F6B 1832, 2014 BMW R nine T 1170
As crazy as it sounded to me this pre-loading (lifting up on the gearshift just before pulling in the clutch) does work. It took some un-learing but for the most part it makes the shift from 1 to 2 almost unnoticeable. Plus ya gotta get up in the rpms a bit. There is a good thread here on clunk shifting or something like that.
"Great Britain's a great country, but it's not an idea ... that's how we see [America] around the world, one of the greatest ideas in human history." Bono
Personally, I have not experienced this issue in my F6B. I certainly had it on my previous two full Wings. I am running Kury mini boards on this motorcycle and their positioning wedges my foot more between the floor board and the shifter than with the standard pegs. That could actually help me have more positive shifts in all gears.
Also, the F6B is the first wing I have owned that has not experienced ghost or phantom shifts. My previous full Wings would periodically up or down shift under power. I am certainly glad this bike does not have those quirks.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Ever since I've been riding Honda's reputation for gear boxes has been that they are a bit clunky and require positive input from the rider. Even in their race rep bikes, Suzuki on the other hand build some of the sweetest gear boxes ever.
Honda changed the transmissions on the 2014 models, they are much stronger and should shift better.
I'm running the Kuryakin heel-toe shifter which "seems" to make missing 2nd easier...
We could call this rider error because with the proper technique it will never happen. On the otherhand we could also call it transmission design error because it doesn't need to be like this.
All in all it's a TINY issue to overcome and there's still no other bike in the world I'd rather have.