Hard to find Neutral and selecting first is a bit of a clunk...
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- Joined
- May 10, 2016
- Messages
- 6
- Location
- USA
Spec on my 2016 V4 1100 is 5w-40.....and I find neutral hard to find from first gear....likely a reality of the bike. You can find neutral, but it takes just the right touch. I'm hoping it gets a little better over time.
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2016
- Messages
- 84
- Location
- Cheshire UK
I've sorted out the problem.
It was the oil.
As soon as I changed the oil and rode the bike for about 20 miles I noticed a complete change. the gears became slick and changing down was almost as good as the quick shifter.
I can now stop the bike in 1st and click straight into neutral and the same from second I've taken a video of it too so I'll post it once it is processed...
Too good to be true... Well it just might be.. I'll explain soon.
It was the oil.
As soon as I changed the oil and rode the bike for about 20 miles I noticed a complete change. the gears became slick and changing down was almost as good as the quick shifter.
I can now stop the bike in 1st and click straight into neutral and the same from second I've taken a video of it too so I'll post it once it is processed...
Too good to be true... Well it just might be.. I'll explain soon.
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2014
- Messages
- 135
- Location
- Shetland Isles
What oil grade did you end up using Derick?
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2016
- Messages
- 84
- Location
- Cheshire UK
Here is the explanation of what Oil I used and the results of over 300 miles....
Firstly I will be using this oil for no more than 500 mile before I change it:
I have had the problem of not easily being able to select neutral on another bike in the past. This was my Honda Pan-European. After a 3000 mile tour through France I notices that by the time I got back to the Ferry across the English Channel, I found ,as well as a neutral selecting difficulty, selecting first with the engine running would make the bike jolt forward, so much so, I started selecting 1st before starting the engine. Anyway once I got home I checked everything I could regarding the clutch and gears. The Honda dealer was not sure and an enquiry to Honda UK was fruitless. However I did get to speak to one of the dealer service engineers who told me the first thing they do is change the oil. So I bought some recommended Honda oil and filter but was still a bit sceptical. I changed the oil and it almost immediately cured the gear problems. However It only lasted about 2500mile when the problems started to come back. Changed again and cured again. I then decided to have the used oil tested by Miller Oils who's semi synthetic oil I'd started to use. They concluded that there was a breakdown of the viscosity due to fuel ingression. This and with the usual shear effect the gears had on the oil greatly reduced the oil life. So I decided to start to use cheaper oil and change it every 2000 miles. One of best of the cheap oils was Lidls 15w40, it was only £10 for five ltrs. and was a good grade. I didn't get any clutch slip so used it fairly regularly only using a genuine bike oil if going touring. I still own the Pan and haven't suffered any more gear problems after over 30,000 miles.
As for the Tuono, I have bought some fully synthetic Shell Advanced 10W40. However before using it I decided to flush the engine with Lidl 15W40 and as soon as I took the bike for a ride I noticed a difference straight away. Although the oil is mineral, it is the correct grade, API SL, ACEA A3. So I have left it in and, at the time of writing, covered 300 miles with a very slick gearbox, easy to select neutral and without any clutch slip too. I am concerned that this oil will shear down more readily than a fully synthetic so intend to change it after 500 miles.
Here is a youtube after only 60miles using the Lidl oil.
https://youtu.be/XO2ZRSq11Zs
Firstly I will be using this oil for no more than 500 mile before I change it:
I have had the problem of not easily being able to select neutral on another bike in the past. This was my Honda Pan-European. After a 3000 mile tour through France I notices that by the time I got back to the Ferry across the English Channel, I found ,as well as a neutral selecting difficulty, selecting first with the engine running would make the bike jolt forward, so much so, I started selecting 1st before starting the engine. Anyway once I got home I checked everything I could regarding the clutch and gears. The Honda dealer was not sure and an enquiry to Honda UK was fruitless. However I did get to speak to one of the dealer service engineers who told me the first thing they do is change the oil. So I bought some recommended Honda oil and filter but was still a bit sceptical. I changed the oil and it almost immediately cured the gear problems. However It only lasted about 2500mile when the problems started to come back. Changed again and cured again. I then decided to have the used oil tested by Miller Oils who's semi synthetic oil I'd started to use. They concluded that there was a breakdown of the viscosity due to fuel ingression. This and with the usual shear effect the gears had on the oil greatly reduced the oil life. So I decided to start to use cheaper oil and change it every 2000 miles. One of best of the cheap oils was Lidls 15w40, it was only £10 for five ltrs. and was a good grade. I didn't get any clutch slip so used it fairly regularly only using a genuine bike oil if going touring. I still own the Pan and haven't suffered any more gear problems after over 30,000 miles.
As for the Tuono, I have bought some fully synthetic Shell Advanced 10W40. However before using it I decided to flush the engine with Lidl 15W40 and as soon as I took the bike for a ride I noticed a difference straight away. Although the oil is mineral, it is the correct grade, API SL, ACEA A3. So I have left it in and, at the time of writing, covered 300 miles with a very slick gearbox, easy to select neutral and without any clutch slip too. I am concerned that this oil will shear down more readily than a fully synthetic so intend to change it after 500 miles.
Here is a youtube after only 60miles using the Lidl oil.
https://youtu.be/XO2ZRSq11Zs
