[nLinked]

This hasn't happened to me but I've found that the shift between 1st and second has to be purposeful or you end up in neutral - maybe the OP isn't getting it cleanly in gear.

By "purposeful" do you mean pressing it extra firmly up to 2nd compared to higher gear shifts? If so, is this normal then? There might be a possibility I'm not pressing it harder between 1 to 2, I may just be tapping it as light as I do with other gears which work fine.

It's at the dealer now so hopefully they'll notice it during testing. It could just be me...

 

[nLinked]

I also feel now that maybe I should just tap it a little firmer for the gear 2 shift, but all having the dealer check just in case.

They got back saying they had heard about this issue with this model before and think there is a part available to fix it. They're not too certain yet so don't let this alarm anyone here but I'll get back with what they tell me later. Glad I had them checking it, might have found something...

 

[nLinked]

It is with Honda and as soon as I mentioned this issue (although not too bad, just a little sticky when passing from gear 1 to 2 sometimes), he immedietely knew of the problem. I think they're already familiar with it. He told me parts have been ordered to fix this which improves the shift from 1 to 2. I don't know what the part is or where they will fit it but I will keep you all up-to-date. Maybe this is a known and upcoming issue? Maybe it's just their own unofficial improvement. He said his colleague noticed this issue with another bike (possibly the same model - I didn't ask) and they knew of a part to fix it. We'll see...

 

[nLinked]

Just got the bike back from Honda and they have replaced the "gear change shaft". I don't think its a common issue or a fault, just what they thought would help to smooth things out and it was done for free under warranty. Maybe only a few of these bikes have a bit of a sticky neutral.

Now when shifting from 1 to 2, I don't feel neutral at all. It's straight from 1 to 2 now, nice and smooth. No other difference, no difference in pressure or position of the shifter, just not as sticky in between 1 and 2 (and it wasn't too sticky before either).

 

[nLinked]

Could you be more specific - Is the "gear change shaft" an internal or external part - what does it do? Is that the honda term?

Usually when a tranny jumps out of gear (on a car) it's worn synchros.

Just quoting as the Honda guy said it. He was pointing at the bottom of the engine, on the shifter side, but talking about the inside of the engine (not the shifter itself). It's an internal part. I asked was anything else changed, he said just the bolt to go with it (for this he pointed to the other side of the engine - the footbrake side).

If I Google "gear change shaft" I see rods like this. Don't know if this is what he meant though.

 

[nLinked]

Thanks for the part number and image, now I can see what they said to me is true, that's exactly the part the Honda guy described to me. Nice to see it's a genuine part too.

I've had no problems shifting since, perfect shifts now.