FZS1000 gearbox woes

[binarystarr]

Hi


Picked up my 02 bike on saturday and am having problems already.



Shifting up is incredibly difficult and i often have to re-engage the clutch and try again with quite a bit of force to get it to click into place.


This obviously isn't normal - should i take it back to the dealer or are there some quick fixes i could try? It's done 34000 miles and has some service history but not much.


Any advice would be really appreciated.

[james43]

Hi I've got an 05 Gen1 that's done 32k. Mine changes as sweet as as a nut like the day it rolled off the production line.
So I would say it's not mileage related.
Unless its been ridden like a Tw*T.


I would suggest taking it back as you bought it from a dealer & if they tell you its age or mileage related tell em its a load of old guff.


You could always name & shame the dealership here to give you an idea if anyone else has had problems with them.


James43

[Falcon 269]

Hi and welcome.

Hopefully something as simple as misaligned or partially seized Rose joints on the shift linkage, corrosion on the gear lever pivot or a maladjusted clutch operating mechanism. 

However, could also be indicative of internal gearbox problems (ie, shift forks damaged) so don't mess with it.  Take it straight back to the dealer and don't take it off them again until it's 100% right.

[ghostbiker]

Might be worth lowering the gear leaver a little and checking chain adjustment. But as others have said try the dealers first.

[red98]

back to the dealer...thats why you bought from him and not going private...good luck 

[binarystarr]

Thanks all, to the dealer it is! Will let you know how i get on.

[locksmith]

Bummer, you buy from a dealer expecting pure joy.

Hope it's simple and they play ball.

[binarystarr]

Well, i went to see them yesterday and typically the box was working fine. A mechanic took it out for a spin and came back saying it was fine but perhaps the lever needed some adjustment, which he did and now things are much better.


Panic over


It's still not brilliant but i'm shifting up without bothering with the clutch most of the time now. When i get some time i will pull things apart and give them a good going over.


Will put this down to teething troubles.

[Phil TK]

It's still not brilliant but i'm shifting up without bothering with the clutch most of the time now

I would say that the Fazers gearchange isn't the slickest out there anyway, it's typical vintage Yamaha ie  you feel a minor click sensation then a fair bit of movement until the lever goes solid  'click, thunk'
 
My Fazer is one of the few bikes I've had where I don't get too clever with clutchless changes, I almost always use the clutch at lower rpms in all the gears, when you are filtering 'progressively' at low speed it's safer that way too.

[binarystarr]

Cheers Phil, your description of how this feels spot on. I'll get used to that vintage feel then

[Falcon 269]

Sorted, good.

I think it's still worth cleaning, greasing and aligning the linkage mechanism.  Also, don't forget the R1 shift arm mod.

[mcyoungy]

what's with the R1 mod? is this a very good thing to do?

[locksmith]

Echo what Mike said, give the linkage a good clean/grease/adjust.

[paul.s]

It's still not brilliant but i'm shifting up without bothering with the clutch most of the time now

I would say that the Fazers gearchange isn't the slickest out there anyway, it's typical vintage Yamaha ie  you feel a minor click sensation then a fair bit of movement until the lever goes solid  'click, thunk'
 
My Fazer is one of the few bikes I've had where I don't get too clever with clutchless changes, I almost always use the clutch at lower rpms in all the gears, when you are filtering 'progressively' at low speed it's safer that way too.

ill second this after coming from suzuki,s i was a little concerned about the gearchange when i bought my gen 2 but apparently they are all like this

[tomlinscote]

Another vote for using the clutch and I have had my gen1 from new, but it hardly ever 'finds' a false neutral. Suzuki are known for slick boxes so yoiu may have been spoilt I have tried a GS1200 and that had a lovely change but not sure I could get used to the huge vibes below 3500 rpm.
Cheers
P

[Falcon 269]

what's with the R1 mod? is this a very good thing to do?

Yes, a good mod and worth doing.  Shortens the gearchange lever movement considerably.

http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23754&highlight=r1+shift+arm

[binarystarr]

That mod looks the business, got to be done.

[mcyoungy]

yeah I found coming from the R1 to the Fazer that the gear lever throw was very long.......... thought it was jut me and I'd get used to it. now I know..................