Missing Neutral

[Matty1]

Hey guys, looking for some suggestions. 2007 RS after a ride and I stop the bike and go to put into neutral it is like it is not even there or it doesn't want to leave 1st gear. It shifts fine when driving though.

[roadiemort]

The only thing most likely missing is lubrication at all the shift pivot points, lube your cables while your at it. Read the periodic maintenance in the manual Dude! http://www.werder.ee/Manual/XV1600.pdf

[Lug Nut]

And change oil to something we KNOW works well
Mobil 1 Vtwin
Shell Rotella T6
Amsoil Vtwin

[Shores]

Also make sure your clutch cable is adjusted properly with about a nickel thickness of slop between the lever and the perch when the engine is warm. They will shift into neutral better if you are rolling a little bit. I never stop in first or second and then try to put it in neutral. I always put it in neutral while the bike is rolling slightly.

[Father Pobasturd]

Oh C'mon Shores, that's an H-D tactic. The clutch is dragging for some reason, making it difficult to find neutral at a stop. I can easily find neutral at a stop regardless of how hot the bike is. I bet there are many other members here that will attest to the same thing.

[MikeyC]

Yeppers. I think all my bikes were hard to get neutral when i got them. A little lube up and now I don’t even think about it

[Matty1]

Thanks for the advise guys, I think I will start with these and see if that helps. Cheers

[Duke]

As Shores said, "adjust your clutch cable"!

[brianmac]

I am with shores I'm in neutral before I come to stop. That's just old school normal, they don't teach kids that these days cuz they don't want them getting killed at a red light by being in neutral. It's still the proper way to do it but they won't teach him that because they don't want to get sued, and of course this is before cell phones and it's completely situational dependent you don't always put it in neutral at a red light it depends on the intersection etc. Some bikes are harder to get into N for than others even in a line of bikes one of my 1700s is often a little stickier shifting.