Motors Motorcycle Mayhem

Is your clutch properly engaging? Mine used to occasionally slip out of 2nd and I just needed to adjust the clutch cable a bit to ensure the lever was fully actuating it.

Otherwise, sounds like it could be a normal wear and tear sort of thing that shouldn't be horrendous to get fixed. I don't know enough about gearboxes to say exactly what it could be though.

 

Try out a Street Triple, and hell a Speed Triple as well! If you liked the Z800 and by the sounds of it you did, you certainly owe it to yourself to get out on a 675 and/or 1050!

Insurance companies - they make no sense at all Ducati dealerships and their insurance are generally the most anally retentive - must have a completely clean license, be over 25 and have had a full license for 2+ years, must bring at least two forms of proof of address, hand over licence and counter part plus passport, plus your own bike keys if you arrive by bike, must have all of your own teeth... by the time that rigmarole was over I barely bloody wanted to test ride anything!

Hmm. Could just be a slightly bent shifter fork. Does it slip at all if you pin it in first? Could be clutch related as julian said. Could also be worn dogs, in which case, big job (engine out, gearbox apart!). Sortable definitely, independent local mechanic's your best bet!

 

Thanks for the tip- I don't think it's clutch, since it happens when I've done clutchless up and down into 2nd.

I'm just hoping that it's not my 2nd gear having been worn- I'm reading that when it gets to that stage, repair is going to be somewhere in the region of £500-£700, which is money I simply don't have.

Thanks for the advice anyway.

 

The Street is next on the test list, I'll make up some story about the Daytona being 'not quite right' but loving the engine so that I wanted to try the Street.

Darn, the Ducati Streetfighter 848 is my dream bike, looks like I'll be waiting a while. I think it might be a bit too much too soon anyway. It may have traction control but I'd want my skill to match the machine first.

 

Could well be the shift mechanism, is there any adjustment in it? Worst case I suppose is a worn 2nd dog...

 

I have no idea. As above, thanks for the suggestion, I'll have a ponder through the Haynes manual in the morning. I was also thinking, could it be oil? Going on my logic that the engine oil is used in the gearbox too, then a problem with the oil or the filter Could mean a problem shifting?

I could be talking out of my arse, though.

 

Poor/incorrect oil will exacerbate shifting problems and the like - it's certainly worth changing it for the correct grade of decent synthetic to see if that helps.

 

Indeed. Oil change is never a bad thing and on those 400s, probably a good idea. Did you get that bike from a dealer? I forget.

 

No, Privately. Had done 50km in three years too- I guess could be old oil that's been sitting for quite a while. Starting to think it probably wasn't the best purchasing decision.

 

Older bikes with high(ish) mileage are always a gamble no matter what, it's luck of the draw if you don't test ride them. Worth changing the oil certainly - if the box does need pulling apart you can re-use it after, so it won't all go to waste.

Btw, clutchless downshifts? Really?! :/

 

I took a look at the dipstick just now, unless I'm doing it wrong, then there's no oil in it at all. (unscrew dipstick, take dipstick out, wipe clean, put back in, don't screw in, but take out and see where the oil is at) Other than that, every other gear seems fine, and the 'Jumping' problem I had before has disappeared, maybe I was imagining it in other gears- just 2nd has ceased to function after 10mm of throttle travel now.

It's not that high milage, 31000km, or just over 19000.

A little error in my writing, I've not gone clutchless down into 2nd yet (Since the problem started) What I meant to say is I've done the following

Clutch up to 2nd
Clutchless to 2nd
Clutch and down to 2nd.

I'm going to try and sort the oil out tomorrow, then, and I think I read in the Haynes manual that you can get to the shift mechanism without taking anything major off. If all is still bad after that, it's finding a reputable mechanic to check it out for me. I don't trust my most local dealer any more.

 

If there is no oil in it, don't even dream of starting it. New filter time too I should think as well mate. Then again if there was no oil in it, 2nd gear would be the least of your problems. Get that sorted first.

 

Are you meant to shift down without clutch? My grapevine/layman's understanding was that it only works or is safe for the clutch's health going up.

 

To my knowledge, it's safe to go up or down without the clutch, but if you do it wrong you'll damage something. up can be quicker than with the clutch, there isn't too much point to going clutchless down, though. It's very safe for the clutch's health, if done incorrectly can be terrible for the gearbox, though.

with regards to the oil, I'll have to re-go over it in the morning, when it's not dark. Clutch is fine if the cover is warm, though? I would have thought so since it uses the same oil as the engine, but I could be wrong?

 

I think most bike people would say to clutchless up and to down, especially if your box might already be a bit dodgy!

 

Mmm, yes please! (MV F3 800)

 

Just failed my mod 1 on the emergency brake test, done 29mph and i think i stopped well, no skidding and was controlled. i know it was just under speed but i was marked down for a serious fault, never got to finish the test, told me to park the bike up.

Gutted is not the word for it

 

So you got failed for the 29mph? Damn. Sorry dude.

 

That entire new test thing is ridiculous from start to finish. Oh no 1mph off!

 

The guy never really explained, he pulled me up, asked if i understood what he asked me to do, i said yes, then he said your not safe to carry on and asked me to leave the test area, never got to finish it off. Im sure if i failed on a MOD 2 he wouldn't just order me back to the test center but would tell me at the end?

I know the test is only £15, but i also had to pay the motorcycle school for the training before and use of the bike, so it was more like £45, still not mega bad but to think i will need another £45 for my next one then it becomes expensive.

The examiners attitude left a lot to be desired, it seemed like he either couldn't be arsed or was having a bad day, this guy was a miserable sod