What is it with the 1 - 2 shift

[pancho]

The shift from first to second on my bike is like a three step process,, I mean it is not just a single gentle snick like the 4 - 5 shift. It goes easily, but it seems to go through a process along the way,, makes for a long shift.
All are the Valkyries like this?? I have seen references to using different oils ,, does it make a difference?? or do I have a problem and will be splitting my cases next winter???

I would not want to take on my old buddies on their Darleys from a light with this shift.

[Tropic traveler]

One to two is a longer "throw" {for lack of a better description} on a five speed with our shift pattern. It is somewhat normal to have to hit it a bit harder on Valkyries, at least it is on all 3 of ours! 

[Pete]

First to second skips thru neutral.
And first to second is the biggest number of teeth change.

for those two reason other shifts are usually easier, quieter and less noticeable.

Sometimes changing to a different oil (slicker or thicker) can help.

[Hoser]

You have to use a little more force when shifting 1st to 2nd.  Because of where neutral is.  Hoser   

[pancho]

                       "First to second skip thru neutral. "


DUH,,,,,,,, and I think I am a mechanic......  that never crossed my mind.  I sure would like to minimize it.

[old2soon]

                      "First to second skip thru neutral. "


DUH,,,,,,,, and I think I am a mechanic......  that never crossed my mind.  I sure would like to minimize it.

   As an old moto crosser I don't even pay attention to the long throw-1st-neutral-2nd. I trained my self a LONG time ago to go from 1st to 2nd with a LOT of authority. For me anywho it's just second nature. You know how we say drive it like ya stole it??  In this case-shift it like you MEAN it.  You practice it enough it WILL become second nature.    When I got hole shotted on my1st and 2nd moto cross start-believe me-I learned how to shift.  RIDE SAFE.

[pancho]

Yeah,,, this is a new type of bike for me,,, still getting used to it. Wasn't sure if I had a problem coming on or not. I will certainly get used to it,, just dont ever like to treat anything rougher than you need to....... 

[tank_post142]

preload the shifter before hitting the clutch and use a good synthetic oil.

[signart]

Believe it... or not, you train your bike to shift the way it's going to shift. If you do a bad job making smooth shifts, that's the way its going to shift, & vice versa. Synthetic oil will help the best shifting transmission shift better.

[whitestroke]

Don't hesitate shift quickly and firmly. Power-shift.  If your trying to catch it just right it won't happen.
You'll be surprised how good it works.
 

[jimmytee]

The shift from first to second on my bike is like a three step process,, I mean it is not just a single gentle snick like the 4 - 5 shift. It goes easily, but it seems to go through a process along the way,, makes for a long shift.
All are the Valkyries like this?? I have seen references to using different oils ,, does it make a difference?? or do I have a problem and will be splitting my cases next winter???

I would not want to take on my old buddies on their Darleys from a light with this shift.

I've heard all this,the same kind of responses anyways, before when I had a similar question. I, however,  was not new to Valkyries, but it had been three or so years since my first Valk,and so my memory wasn't solid on my experience. All I know is that my current Valk is very touchy with 1st to 2nd shifts. I don't remember my first bike Valk being like this. I've just learned to live with it. My bike doesn't like hard, aggressive shifting from 1st to 2nd. I've had more than a couple of embarrassing misses when trying to take off hard from first. Now I've ridden motorcycles in one form or another since I was 6 years old. I am now 44. Off road, on road,rock climbing,hill climbing,sport bikes, touring bikes..etc... Most of them have been Hondas and like I said this is my second Valkyrie. There is something different and it isn't from lazy shifting effort. If I don't ease off and let the tach fall, I'll grind or miss the shift. This only really applies to the shift from 1st to 2nd. I'm just chiming in here because when I asked about the issue before, I had similar responses regarding shifting technique. Any thoughts?

[Skinhead]

The shift from first to second on my bike is like a three step process,, I mean it is not just a single gentle snick like the 4 - 5 shift. It goes easily, but it seems to go through a process along the way,, makes for a long shift.
All are the Valkyries like this?? I have seen references to using different oils ,, does it make a difference?? or do I have a problem and will be splitting my cases next winter???

I would not want to take on my old buddies on their Darleys from a light with this shift.

I've heard all this,the same kind of responses anyways, before when I had a similar question. I, however,  was not new to Valkyries, but it had been three or so years since my first Valk,and so my memory wasn't solid on my experience. All I know is that my current Valk is very touchy with 1st to 2nd shifts. I don't remember my first bike Valk being like this. I've just learned to live with it. My bike doesn't like hard, aggressive shifting from 1st to 2nd. I've had more than a couple of embarrassing misses when trying to take off hard from first. Now I've ridden motorcycles in one form or another since I was 6 years old. I am now 44. Off road, on road,rock climbing,hill climbing,sport bikes, touring bikes..etc... Most of them have been Hondas and like I said this is my second Valkyrie. There is something different and it isn't from lazy shifting effort. If I don't ease off and let the tach fall, I'll grind or miss the shift. This only really applies to the shift from 1st to 2nd. I'm just chiming in here because when I asked about the issue before, I had similar responses regarding shifting technique. Any thoughts?

You didn't include mileage, perhaps wear is a factor in your case.  I have 2 valks and both shift well 1 - 2, but they DO require authority.  99 IS - 82,000, 03 standard - 54,000 miles.

[The Anvil]

If you race a Harley start in 2nd. You'll still whoop it's ass.

[cookiedough]

I on rare occasion get stuck in neutral shifting from 1st to 2nd and engine revs higher giving it the gas for a split second but not often enough to worry about it.  A lot of times I start off in 2nd gear from a rolling stop if I don't have to put my feet down to come to a complete stop works fine all the time.  Even 2nd gear from a stop is do-able just have to give it a tad more gas is all.

My Valk is smoother from 1st to 2nd than my former 1984 honda magna was with similar mileage in the 20K range.  Yes, try synthetic oil like Amsoil or Castrol or  Mobil or try heavier weight oils might help.  You have to shift harder and give it a tad more time to shift that is for sure from 1st to 2nd. 

I always seem to short shift 1st gear way early on the powerband seems to shift smoother and easier as well if not winding out 1st gear all the time in the 20 on up mph range more like 5-10 mph is all then I shift into 2nd gear most of the time, but that is just me.  Reason I do that is I really like to wind out 2nd and 3rd gears where you can go a lot longer in and much faster range of speeds. 

I think HD's have a longer 1st gear before shifting into 2nd but once in 2nd gear,  I'm caught up and past them usually. 

[pancho]

Believe it... or not, you train your bike to shift the way it's going to shift. If you do a bad job making smooth shifts, that's the way its going to shift, & vice versa. Synthetic oil will help the best shifting transmission shift better.

I know thats true signart,, I'm making it mine,,  I don't have a problem with making the shift, just didn;t know if it was normal.. I see it is.
I get it guys, to get the speed I want on the shift I can see I will be hitting it harder than I would like to with that unsupported shifter shaft hanging out there with the shift lever on it. I may have to build a support brace with a bushing for the shift shaft mounted to the frame extension.  I know,,, people have been hammering on these things for 16 years and no one has ever had a problem!! Still,,,,,,, I cant help myself.

That was a good question about the mileage jimmytee,, I also wonder about the previous owner,, if maybe he had made a mess of a thousand shifts and caused some weird wear.

[Rio Wil]

Pancho.....you don't have to hammer that shift to the point of abuse.....just make it firm and take a little more time before releasing the pressure on the shift lever.  It can still be very fast so you don't lose any acceleration momentum.....

[mmurffy03]

Kawasaki learned this lesson in 69 with the 500cc 2 stroke hi revving <for there day> 500cc triple and just put neutral on the bottom of the gearbox and shift pattern was 5 up and was quite a bit harder to miss a shift and tach the crap out of that chainsaw on wheels, I know I put about 7000 miles on one in the summer of 1977 in 3 weeks dumbest thing I ever did and with nobody with me .and gas tank refills were worse than a Valkyrie about 110 per full tank plus you had to carry oil for the injection system tank and fill it also ,san diego- to new York city- via Yellowstone park to san franscisco then back to san diego had a blast

[pancho]

I also got one of those 500 triples when I got out of the service in 76,, I had so much fun scraping skin off my body and punching holes in the motor covers with the shifter and brake that I had to get one of the 750s. I traveled a bit on those mosquitoes also....  they would surely outrun anything else that was on the road at the time

[mmurffy03]

I also punched a few right side clutch covers with my brake pedal and back then finding a welded that could tig weld a crack on it was hard to do

[Aquaman]

Have you ever read your owners manual ? In my manual page 44 it tells you what speed you should be going when shifting each gear. It is much lower than you think. Most if not all guy's I know rev. too high when shifting. I have done some experimentation with lower speed shifting & I'll tell you it makes a huge  difference. It slides into gear with me barely aware of it.  I also found that switching to Amsoil also made a noticeable difference in a smoother shift transition.

[R J]

I have Chet's Kickshifter on MGM.      Since installing that item back in 97 or 98, I have not missed another 2nd gear.

I was used to floorboards and a link shifter on our Service bikes, so the item Chet build fit right in for me.

When I bought MGM the Service Manager told me to shift it with authority, so I have.

[pancho]

Have you ever read your owners manual ? In my manual page 44 it tells you what speed you should be going when shifting each gear. It is much lower than you think. Most if not all guy's I know rev. too high when shifting. I have done some experimentation with lower speed shifting & I'll tell you it makes a huge  difference. It slides into gear with me barely aware of it.  I also found that switching to Amsoil also made a noticeable difference in a smoother shift transition.

Haven't read the owners manual, but surely have noticed that the 1-2 shift will slip right in very gentlemanly at low RPM'S.....  Doesn't really help when I want to launch off the line for a 1/4 mile to show the Darley Boys what a real bike runs like...............  still working on it, I am looking for an oil that will optimize it....Amsoil..?? might try it.

Rio,, no worries... I won't abuse machinery that I rely on, hammer may have been a poor choice of words....  I may push it close to the limit at times, but no abuse... then again, I certainly have misjudged more than once.

I'm looking at a heel toe shifter... either building or buying one, and also making a bushing/support for the shifter shaft to keep alignment in that assembly when shifting.. I too am used to floorboards and heel toe shifting RJ.

[Oklahoma_Valk]

When i switched to the Rotella T6 is significantly improved MY engine whine @55mph as well as shifting performance. But....those are just the results of one man. One bike.

I grew up on light shifting motocross bikes. The valk is a little more like shifting a peterbuilt.

ride safe

[pancho]

I found the solution to that shift being a bit of a task!! Since I got this bike together in April or May, I have been wearing a pair of lizard skin cowboy boots every time I ride. (my most comfortable shoes,, and they look good to me) They're quite soft on the top with almost nothing between your upper foot and the outside world.
Yesterday I was working around the house, wearing heavy duty work boots and just decided to go for a ride right then,, thought I was just going to the store for a jug of Coke, and ended up on a 100 mile circle. The first thing I noticed that I was not aware of the shifting anymore.... when I took notice, the bike was going into gear effortlessly.

The difference was the boots!! Some how I had missed it,, all I needed was heavier protection on my feet. Now I don't wear a helmet where I don't have too, but I am a boots, long sleeves and jeans guy when riding. This truck just wants heavy duty boots. If you have noticed that the shifting is heavy,,,, give it a try.  I still need to get my heel toe shifter together, but it is riding season now,, a bit harder get into the projects.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I found the solution to that shift being a bit of a task!! Since I got this bike together in April or May, I have been wearing a pair of lizard skin cowboy boots every time I ride. (my most comfortable shoes,, and they look good to me) They're quite soft on the top with almost nothing between your upper foot and the outside world.
Yesterday I was working around the house, wearing heavy duty work boots and just decided to go for a ride right then,, thought I was just going to the store for a jug of Coke, and ended up on a 100 mile circle. The first thing I noticed that I was not aware of the shifting anymore.... when I took notice, the bike was going into gear effortlessly.

The difference was the boots!! Some how I had missed it,, all I needed was heavier protection on my feet. Now I don't wear a helmet where I don't have too, but I am a boots, long sleeves and jeans guy when riding. This truck just wants heavy duty boots. If you have noticed that the shifting is heavy,,,, give it a try.  I still need to get my heel toe shifter together, but it is riding season now,, a bit harder get into the projects.

Yeah I usually wear boots, when I have had tennis shoes on I invariably miss that first shift. It's just a very firm shifting bike.

[fudgie]

Nothing more embarrasing then shifting from 1 to 2 and gun it only to realize you are in N. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Nothing more embarrasing then shifting from 1 to 2 and gun it only to realize you are in N. 

Oh I don't know, I forgot to put the kickstand down once that was pretty embarrassing!

[Bone]

Hey meathead I parked real close to my Jeep on the left side. While concentrating on my right side get-off the Fatlady gently laid against the Jeep. The sidestand wasn't touched I wanted my left leg to clear the saddled bag
Luckily my pride was all that suffered damage.

[fantsybikr]

Have you ever read your owners manual ? In my manual page 44 it tells you what speed you should be going when shifting each gear. It is much lower than you think. Most if not all guy's I know rev. too high when shifting. I have done some experimentation with lower speed shifting & I'll tell you it makes a huge  difference. It slides into gear with me barely aware of it.  I also found that switching to Amsoil also made a noticeable difference in a smoother shift transition.

I like the Amsoil and after having it in there for a while my valk likes it too. Just "feels' better during the shifting process. owners manual shifting..never read it..my bike likes the nice leisurely shift at low rpm and get to speed limit by time your in 5th. But I shift at all rpms, and she doesn't mind it,  seldom do I take her out that I don't shift at near red line, in at least a couple, three gears. I admit, seldom do red line in 4th, no need to, but I have. I do not race so I do not feel the need to concern myself with the split second longer it takes to fully clutch and move the long throw from 1st to 2nd, I just make up for it the rest of the way up the ladder. Showing  off? well the fat lady's first gear will get the beast moving but red line comes quickly, I usually give her a good start and take that second to firmly hit 2nd gear and then just nail it, 2nd will get things going and thats where the showing off is, 2nd gear!
All said and done, i fully clutch and totally back off throttle on every shift. if I want to go fast I just make it up with throttle while she is in gear.
But we all ride differently. And all I just wrote is just something to read an forget... ride yours like you ride yours... just an opinion forum, right? lol

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hey meathead I parked real close to my Jeep on the left side. While concentrating on my right side get-off the Fatlady gently laid against the Jeep. The sidestand wasn't touched I wanted my left leg to clear the saddled bag
Luckily my pride was all that suffered damage.

Yeah luckily I caught it before it went all the way over. But it was more than a little embarrassing having a couple 20 something hotties watch a fat old bald man lift up a 800 lb. bike

[pancho]

..............  HA  ...............  Yeah,, doesn't get much worse than that without getting serious!!