Question about New Volusia 800

[JJKJR]

I received my new bike 2 days ago. So far things are going well. I've spent a lot of time in vacant parking lots and today I tried a few rural roads. Everything seems to be functioning well on the bike. It drives very smooth and I don't believe I'm having any problems controlling it. I am having only one difficulty, getting the bike into first gear after I stop sometimes. I never have difficulty if I downshift into first but if I stop at a higher gear and try to downshift while I am stopped into first sometimes (not all the times) it doesn't go into gear. Instead of feeling that click it feels like somehow it is blocked. The other gears are not at all effected. The light will indicate that it is in neutral. I've tried letting the clutch out and resqueezing it thinking I didn't squeeze it in enough and slightly revving the engine. It will ultimately go into first gear but I might have to play with it a bit. I remember during my MSF class training with a 250 Suzuki and at times it did the same thing. Am I somehow making the same mistake with this bike as I did with my training bike, is this something that just happens with Suzuki or should I bring it back to the dealer for some service. Thanks for any advice.

[pitbull76]

I had an older CBR that sometimes acted like that, but if the bike is under warranty, get it fixed. It shouldn't do that. The only "problem" that I've commonly heard is getting the bike to go into neutral. Mine can be a pain in the a$$ sometimes.

[Clint]

Not sure if I have your procedure right, but most trannies have trouble doing multiple downshifts at a stop. They're not really designed to do that. Make sure you progressively downshift as you ride to a stop, at least to neutral. A throttle blip helps smooth this process out.

[vol01jim]

MIne did it when I 1st got it (used) more than now. Partly, I learned to not stop in higher gears as much and maybe its worn in better after 12k miles.

Also, if it does this, i found rocking it either in 2nd and blipping the clutch like you mentioned helps to get you to 1st. I now try not to go to 1st until I'm almost stopped. It seems common from what I've read. and you'll get more farmiliar with, so don't fret.

If its still doing it or you're not comfortable after a couple of grand miles, talk to the dealer. ride safe. Jim

[JJKJR]

Thanks for your advice so far. I really believe the multiple downshifts at a stop is the problem. I'll definitely pay closer attention to getting it into second before I stop and then just downshift past neutral into first. The inability of getting it into first never happens when I first start the bike. I have little experience with a bike so could someone please explain what you folks mean by "rocking" it into second and I guess "blipping" the clutch means releasing it in neutral and squeezing it again. Sorry for the ignorance of the terminology.

[Clint]

My mention of a "throttle blip" means to (during deceleration) pull the clutch, downshift one or more gears, give a small twist of throttle to appropriately increase the engine speed, then release the clutch. This reduces clutch wear and prevents rear-wheel lockup on water or sand. If you have a passenger, you'll be less likely to make helmet percussion.

I think the reference to "rocking" simply meant to coerce the gears into making the change by rolling the rear tire slightly at a stop. Should only be a last resort.

[vol01jim]

Rowdy's right on, said it better than I could and now is my official spokesperson.

[JJKJR]

Thanks for the replys. I just was out for a ride and made sure that I downshifted prior to each stop. I didn't have one problem getting it into first. So I guess that is the answer. I didn't acclerate as you mentioned so I'll try that next time I go out and see if it makes my riding any easier.

[Clint]

Hehe. I used a dictionary and a thesaurus.

[Uncle Bob]

When you come to a stop, you should be downshifting as you slow. This will insure that you are always in the right gear should you need to accelerate to get out of the way of something or you're slowing for a red light and it turns green.

MSF teaches that the left foot goes down when you come to a full stop and that the bike should already be in first gear before your foot goes down.