Hard to Smoothly Speed Shift with the 6-speed FJR

[SkooterG]

After much trial and error, I have found it nearly impossible to speed shift the 6-speed FJR smoothly. Has anyone else encountered this?

For reference, I can smoothly speed shift: My '13 5-spd FJR, my '04 FJR, my '14 FJR, and my '13 BMW R1200GSA. Just not either of the 6-speed FJRs I have owned. I am assuming it has to do with the slipper clutch, or more likely the way they cut the 6-spd tranny gears.

I am just wondering if other folks have encountered this also?

[Cav47]

Maybe it is cause you can't ride!

LOL

[N4HHE]

“Speed shift”, as in “clutchless”?

Isn’t that how the Italian police force trashed new transmissions trying to teach patrol officers how to ride clutchless?

Edit: corrected two stipd (deliberate misspelling) predictive speller that I missed.

[escapefjrtist]

Reminder to self...don't buy a used FJR near Skootsdale AZ!!

~G

[SkooterG]

“Speed shit”, as in “clutchless”?

Isn’t that his the Italian police force trashed new transmissions trying to teach patrol officers how to ride clutchless?

This thread was not intended to be a debate on the merits or disadvantages of speed or clutchless shifting, but somehow I knew it would devolve into that. *sigh*

But here's some reading for you: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mc-g ... -shifting/


So am I the only expert rider on this forum that speed shifts? Anybody?

[Abercrombie FJR]

“Speed shit”, as in “clutchless”?

Isn’t that his the Italian police force trashed new transmissions trying to teach patrol officers how to ride clutchless?

This thread was not intended to be a debate on the merits or disadvantages of speed or clutchless shifting, but somehow I knew it would devolve into that. *sigh*

But here's some reading for you: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/mc-g ... -shifting/


So am I the only expert rider on this forum that speed shifts? Anybody?

I don't always speed shift but do it regularly enough to have good muscle memory. Mostly I just use it when my left hand is busy with other tasks like pulling the underwear out of the crack of my ass, picking boogers, or waiving at a grumpy Harley rider with a scowl on his face.

The speed shift muscle memory was so strong that when I began riding my quick shifter equipped 950SP Hypermotard, I had to force myself to relearn how to shift with it. My muscle memory resisted my brain telling the left foot to just pull up on the shifter without fanning the clutch or momentarily dropping the throttle while preloading the shifter. Once the brain won out and I was doing full throttle quick shifter up shifts, there was a lot of giggling going on in my helmet. It’s so fun but feels so wrong. Coming into a corner, braking hard, and banging out a couple quick shifter down shifts while entering a corner is even more fun but even harder for the mind and body to compute.

My 2014 FJR does not shift very smootly from 1st to 2nd using the clutch resulting in a very notchy feeling and seems to shift much more smoothly pre-loading the shifter lever.

EDIT: The last statement in this post was not clearly written. I always use the clutch shifting from 1st to 2nd on my 2014 FJR but the best way to get a consistently smooth non notchy up shift is to preload the shifter.

[CollingsBob]

Just leave the bike in 6th gear and modulate your speed with a combination of the clutch and brakes.

[N4HHE]

I clutchless shift the dirtbike all the time. It never felt right on the FJR so I don’t.

As with Abercrombie, lots of muscle memory. Don’t consciously know everything I do, but I do know I hold more RPM with clutch disengaged making a slow shift 1-2 than would seem correct, but it seems to help.

Neutral has a big notch between 1-2 on FJR. KTM/Husaberg is the opposite: neutral is almost impossible to find in motion. Can clutchless shift right through.

[Tyler]

Don't you have a ride report to get back to, junior?

[Canadian FJR]

Not an issue but usually only do it on the track or back road thrashing. Revs would be higher than usual.

The rest of the time I use the clutch.


Canadian FJR

[raYzerman]

Certain bikes are easier than others, most have straight cut gears, so perhaps the helical cut gears on Gen4 FJR's come into play. The key is rev-matching, and unless you're really good at it, you may not get it right all the time. Best get a quick shifter kit.
A helical cut gear can't slide straight across like a straight cut gear, it has to rotate a bit to 'screw in' kinda sorta. The slipper clutch is also a helical of sorts, but that really shouldn't come into play.
I wouldn't advise it on any FJR from 1st to second. There is a chance second won't be fully engaged. There have been enough cases of second gear dogs worn on the 5 speeds, and given the recall issue on the 6 speeds, I'd avoid it there and use the clutch for a 1-2 shift.

[Red]

SkooterG,

Not my bike, okay, but I believe that quick-shifting or clutch-less shifting will prevent the clutch plates from getting enough oil. That may be the cause for sticky clutches, and the oil-soak operation needed to fix the problem. I routinely stop for traffic signs and red lights with the bike in gear, holding the clutch open, to allow good oiling for the clutch. The clutch doesn't get that much oil, even so. Then if I need to dash out of the way of some texting fool, I'm just gone, not searching for a gear.

If you do get a quick-shifter kit, I would like to hear how that works out for you.

My US$.02 worth . . .

[Canadian FJR]

I’m still struggling to find out what is causing clunky up shifts when using the clutch.

Just for $h!ts and giggles the last two rides I focused on not using the clutch for all up shifts passed 2nd gear.

It shifts like a 600 sport bike, smooth as silk.

Canadian FJR

[SkooterG]

Things have gotten marginally better for me. But I still don't love the shifting quality of the 6-speed tranny. I am a bit better at smoothly speed shifting (Precise and immediate application of the throttle is key), and things for me are ok using th clutch, EXCEPT: 1st to 2nd shift. When using the clutch it goes into neutral about one third of the time. If I speed shift without the clutch, it ALWAYS goes into 2nd gear. It's gotten bad enough for me that if I use the clutch going from 1st to 2nd I now am always anticipating, or expecting it to go in neutral. Highly annoying.

[Toter]

I don't know the reason, but, on any given day, I can shift really smoothly on the FJR, or I can look like I just started riding yesterday. On the GS, 1st to 2nd is pretty agricultural unless I really short shift it. Otherwise it shifts really smooth. Believe it or not, my 2015 Road King shifts smoother than both of the others. I clutchless upshift on the FJR, GS, and the DRZ, but usually not when flogging it. I fan the clutch while pinned on all three when letting the big dog eat. Only issue I will have some times is not lowering the shifter enough between gears and getting a no shift. But that's pilot error.

[escapefjrtist]

Don't you have a ride report to get back to, junior?

Echoing Tyler here...

~G

[raYzerman]

You shift challenged ones are obviously using the wrong oil, lol.

OK, tidbit.... in another sandbox, some swapped out the FJR shift lever arm for a slightly shorter one from an R1....... part no 5JJ-18112-10 or 20 same thing. The idea being your toe does not have to travel as far to make the full engagement.... most did it on the 5 speeds, which does shift OK to begin with.... perhaps give that a shot on the 6 gear?

About oil, just an example, those who use Rotella T6 5W40 seem to complain the odd time... which I interpret as too low a viscosity for optimal shifting. Others like it just fine, so what about going up a notch in viscosity from a 10W40 to say a 15W40? I began with my '07 using Amzoil 20W50, but didn't like the cold weather start noises, so I went with a blend to get 15W. Noise no more. Yammy's oil recommendations changed from 20W40 to 10W40..... so with the '14, I went to 10W40, never had shifting issues on those 5 speeds. The 6 speed has helical cut gears, so they have to kinda rotate and slide into each other to fully engage.

[mcatrophy]

Sticking clutch? Seems less common with Gen 3s than Gen 2s, but might be worth an hour to pull the clutch plates, clean and re-oil. (Maybe soak in oil for a few hours as well if you think that helps.)

[gixxerjasen]

I don't know how I missed this thread but now that Canadian FJR revived it I have to say that I literally have never ever used a clutch lever on my FJR. Also never heard it called speed shifting but I do clutchless shift my GSXS1000 on hard acceleration.

[Bounce]

So don't speed shift and use the clutch the engineers included.