Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Yes everyone- it IS about the Suzuki- so laugh if you will, but I need some advice!

My beautiful Black Magic now has about 3000kms on the clock. I am told by many that Suzuki gearboxes are generally very good, but my bike and I are having issues with one another.(If I had had this problem with any of my Kawasakis I wouldn't have batted an eye- i took their little idiosyncrasies as par for the course. )

In the last month or so I have noticed a progressively worsening issue with the bike not going into 1st for me. I almost always park it in 1st, but occasionally if I parked it in neutral I could not get it back into first when I went to take off again. (This did happen on both of my Kwakas but never happened on the Suzuki before a month ago.) When it started happening I could just rock it back and forward and it would then slip into gear, now I find I actually have to roll it forward substantially before it will engage for me.

Also, (and this is worse) sometimes when i am taking off in first from a stop, I go to click it up into second and no matter how hard I shove the lever neutral is all I can get! It just wont shift up into second! Then I am riding along in neutral with the clutch in and the gearbox crunching away on me everytime I try to get it up into gear.

One of the things that I loved about the GSXR when I test rode it was how beautifully smooth the gear changes were! not any more.

Now I am ready for all of the Suzuki jokes, but I have had so much conflicting advice! We have considered that it possibly may be that we need to adjust the position of the footpegs, levers etc, but I seriously doubt that the problem is 'operator error' as it has not happed at all before now. I guess the short answer is that I need to take it back to the dealer under warranty, but I was just wanting to see whether anyone has any ideas on what the problem may be.

Sorry for the long post.......

The only time I've ever had a gearbox misbehave was when either the oil was old and/or the chain needed adjusting. Given that it's happened so quickly, what's the chances that the chain is too tight? I'd do the following:

1. Check the chain tension, looking carefully for tight spots. There should be 25-35mm of vertical movement at a point midway between front and rear sprockets. At 3000km's old there shouldn't be any noticeable tight spots, but if there are consider replacing the chain (I doubt Suzuki will ocver this under warranty as it's a consumable, albeit one that should last upwards of 30,000km's)
2. Dump and replace the oil. Being only 3000km's old apparently you should still use mineral oil.
3. Take it back to the dealer and trade it in for a reliable Kawasaki

BM take it back to the dealer & demand they solve the problem....its is their problem not yours
I hope they can also restore your original feeling about the bike

The only other thing I'll add to what's already been said is to check your clutch cable. Does it have too much free play?

I think having to roll the bike to shift into first is normal (both of my bikes do it), but your 2nd gear problem sounds dodgy. For what it's worth, they have GSXR600s at PI for hire and they get thrashed all day and I didn't notice any problems with the gear shifts, apart from neutral being wider than on the GPX, probably because the GPX doesn't need a wide neutral due to the PNF.

Sounds like a warranty job for sure...

The last thing you want is to not find a gear mid corner or downshifting into a corner etc...

3000kms isn't old enough to have problems.

Oil, chain or a combination of both I would guess. Loose chain causes many gear change problems and crap oil also has these effects and tightens the clutch thus making changes feel 'tighter'.

Thank you everyone.

The bike has only had one service so far. The chain does get cleaned, lubed and checked regularly.

I will do all of the routine checks and then book it in to be looked at under warranty.

Will keep you posted.

I would try making your chain a touch looser and see if it makes any difference, I was setting my chain too tight for years and didnt realise until I started having shift issues on the track.

chain tension is wrong. Its probably too tight.

Gosling1 wrote:chain tension is wrong. Its probably too tight.

Chain tension is correct.

Thinking selector issue myself, will be having a look at it later today.

Rode it today and it rides and changes gears perfectly for the time I was on it.

Maybe you might need to apply more pressure to the gear lever when changing up gears Wendy and it may resolve the issue.

Next time we're out I can take it for a longer spin and see if it happens then.

Simple go out and buy a Kawasaki !!!!!!!!!!!!!

My money is on checking clutch cable adjustment first, then if its still a problem dump the oil and see how new stuff goes. Though im pretty sure that its to do with the cable, likely to be initial cable stretch, just like chains have their initial stretch then they are good for most of their life before they go quickly downhill at the end.

Hey everyone. Sorry it took me so long to get back to let you know what happened (my life seems to be going to the pack lately. )

Just wanted to fill you in on the gear changing issue.

The head mechanic had a look and the engine oil was putrid! The bike has done 3000kms, had it's last service at 1000kms, and according to the book wasn't due for another service for 3000kms.

We took out the old mineral oil and replaced it with synthetic oil.

Bike is running like a dream, no more gearbox issues.

(I guess the new bar ends probably help too! )