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Hard to shift into 2nd when cold

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9.8K views 32 replies 25 participants last post by  jgold56  
#1 ·
I very briefly owned a 2017 roadmaster classic which I traded for a 2018 Roadmaster Icon Blue. On both of these bikes I have noticed that when I crank up in the morning it's very stiff trying to shift from 1st to 2nd gear. When the bike is warm I don't notice this issue.

Anyone else experience this? Am I overlooking something?

I typically will let the bike warm up for 2-3 minutes before heading out.

Thanks in advance
 
#11 ·
Constant mesh gearboxes "like" to be moving when they are shifted. Just rock it slightly ahead with your right foot as you engage the shift predal and things will be easier.

The TS111 engine/primary/gearbox are all very tight when new and that is so that once fully broken in (circa 12,000 miles or so) it will be nice and snug rather than sloppy.

And if are the type (like me) to get into neutral when you know a traffic light is a long wait, shift into neutral before you stop rolling and it is also a lot easier.

HTH.

WD./
 
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#7 ·
Not sure the cost of the bike is a factor. If it takes that much time to get the oil warm enough to do its job, that is somewhere between chemistry and physics... Money can't alter those things. If you say that knowing these physical factors you wouldn't have purchased the bike, well that's fair enough. Just because some enjoy the note of the bike as it warms up, doesn't mean we all do. :)
 
#8 ·
They loosen up after about 4-6k miles, but they do need to be warmed up old or new.

Three minutes is too soon on a v-twin. I warm mine till it goes from 1000-11000 rpms down to 750-800 rpms. At cold start in 50 degree weather that takes about 5-9 minutes. Remember it is a v-twin and a single source oil with nearly 6 quarts. Takes a while to warm up that much oil and circulate back down into the tranny at temperature...

Once you've ridden it for 20-30 miles or had it up to temperature it is not an issue all day. It is a cold start, get it warm kind of a thing. You should never fire up and rip out of your driveway on any air cooled v-twin.
 
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#10 ·
So has mine; only a handful of times. I had this problem early. tight tranny. Then it loosened up. Then learned to warm it up. I have the 72 also. Great transmission and great shifting. Next time you are around a pack of HDs, you won't get that Kachaaaa shift. Just a silent up shift!
 
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#13 ·
I think your problem is pretty much universal. I don't see much cold weather, but on chilly days it is a bit stiff to shift. I typically let mine warm up until the idle drops below 900 rpm and the shifting seems easier. I also use a heel shifter, which gives you a lot more leverage on upshifts.
 
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#14 ·
#16 ·
I let the bike warm up for about 5 min this am and the behavior was much less noticeable.

Another observation that I made. When I first test rode several Indian models at my local dealer's Demo day a few months ago all of the demo bikes shifted like butter - - way smoother than my 2016 HD Road Glide Ultra that I ended up trading on the Roadmaster.

I'm wondering how they had the demo bikes set up to shift so smoothly?
 
#17 ·
Those demo bikes typically have 40-50K miles on them. They travel all over the country and are ridden every couple of days at low speeds with very hot motors...
 
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#21 ·
I ride down into the 20s when there is no ice on the road. In the morning it was nearly impossible to shift out of first for about 1/2 a mile (which wasn't that bad since that's about the length of my gravel driveway). Was running Mobile One V-twin 20W-50. Switched to Rotella T6 5W-40 in the cold and the problem went away. Running T5 (15W-40) now that it's warm and don't notice an issue.
 
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#25 ·
'15 Vintage, same problem. So... I start bike and leave the garage in 2nd gear. Go 15-20 feet in 2nd, then stop while still in the driveway, then shift into 1st gear, and down the road I go's. No problem shifting 1st to 2nd, as long as I roll out that 1st 15-20 feet in 2nd.
 
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#30 ·
M

MY 15 RM same way especially if rolling on a downhill grade. I have 30k on it now & it’s still stiff if cold at warm up I’ve learned to have the RPM correct and acceleration or deceleration not loading the tranny. After I got this all down the bike shifts fine I also let the bike warm up longer before I ride.
 
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