Gearbox Trouble with 2013 Rocket III Touring

[Alex K]

I bought a slightly used 2013 Rocket III with just about 1200 miles on it. Almost right away I started noticing that when I downshift from 2,3,4,5 gear I can not catch a neutral. So say when I need to stop at intersection, I have to downshift all the way to the first and then back to neutral, otherwise the neutral is not quite there and the green light indicating neutral is off. Even if I chose to stay in this faux neutral, I can not shift to first reliably after that.
I took the bike to a dealer and they said they need to take the transmission apart and quote about 20 hours of labor, but what concerns me is that they act like they've never seen anything like this before. Which means they may take it apart and put back together at my expense and still not solve the problem.
Has anyone heard anything similar to this? DO you know if there are specialists in Chicago land area who can correct the problem other than official dealers?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Call Baxter's in Marnie, IA. They are true experts on Rockets.

 

[mully95]

This might already been addressed most likely but has the clutch cable been adjusted? I know that when I adjusted mine after installing aftermarket levers I noticed the same problem. After I found out what I was doing wrong I fixed it. I remember that I didn't adjust it to exactly the specs of the shop manual. However it shifts very smoothly and can find neutral very easily ether coming from first or coming from second.

Not clearly understanding what the dealer is going to do inside the trans but I smell fish. Take it to another dealer just like you never took it anywhere the first time and see what they say. The best thing to do is take it to a motorcycle shop other than a dealer. For awhile now members have not been happy with the dealer mechanics. For simple things as spark plugs, tires change, etc. The mechanics at the dealers really don't know the butt from a hole in the ground. I've had a bad experience myself in which I eventually fixed it myself. I guess there is some mechanics that know their stuff but they are few and far between.

 

[Rocket3Pilot]

I have a 2013 Roadster and bought it with 2500 miles on it and have the same thing sometimes. I never thought it was a problem? Almost every bike I've ridden I have to develop a "feel" to drop down to neutral from second without going through to first and then coming back up. Sometimes more sometimes less so. I don't think there's anything wrong, and maybe mully95's idea would help a little.
Also, the bike has so few miles on it, the gears aren't even broke in yet. You may actually have a good one with tighter tolerances in the gear box and everything is still "stiff".
Now if you had it popping out of gear randomly, that would be a problem.
I'd just adjust the clutch and ride.

 

[Alex K]

I have a 2013 Roadster and bought it with 2500 miles on it and have the same thing sometimes. I never thought it was a problem? Almost every bike I've ridden I have to develop a "feel" to drop down to neutral from second without going through to first and then coming back up. Sometimes more sometimes less so. I don't think there's anything wrong, and maybe mully95's idea would help a little.
Also, the bike has so few miles on it, the gears aren't even broke in yet. You may actually have a good one with tighter tolerances in the gear box and everything is still "stiff".
Now if you had it popping out of gear randomly, that would be a problem.
I'd just adjust the clutch and ride.

I did start by adjusting the clutch cable. What concerns me is that I do find the neutral from second, but the green light indicating neutral will not go on, And if I shift into first from this position, the first will pop out as soon as I start moving.

 

[Rocket3Pilot]

I did start by adjusting the clutch cable. What concerns me is that I do find the neutral from second, but the green light indicating neutral will not go on, And if I shift into first from this position, the first will pop out as soon as I start moving.

I'm still not convinced you have a problem? Once in a while I can find neutral without getting the green light. It's just a light? Before lights, we used to go by feel, and then confirm by letting the clutch out very slowly just in case you were wrong.
As a rule kinda, when I come to a stop I downshift all the way to 1st gear first, then come up to neutral. I'm not sure why now, and haven't really thought about it but it's an old habit I guess. Once in a while, I will try to hit neutral on the way down but end up hunting and wobbling around balance wise trying to find it when my foot should be out near the ground for the stop. I think that's why I developed the habit of going straight to 1st, so I'd know exactly where I was. Seems to me that other bikes had this too, where you could find a "false" neutral on the way down. I'm really sticking my neck out here aren't I guys?

 

[Alex K]

I'm still not convinced you have a problem? Once in a while I can find neutral without getting the green light. It's just a light? Before lights, we used to go by feel, and then confirm by letting the clutch out very slowly just in case you were wrong.
As a rule kinda, when I come to a stop I downshift all the way to 1st gear first, then come up to neutral. I'm not sure why now, and haven't really thought about it but it's an old habit I guess. Once in a while, I will try to hit neutral on the way down but end up hunting and wobbling around balance wise trying to find it when my foot should be out near the ground for the stop. I think that's why I developed the habit of going straight to 1st, so I'd know exactly where I was. Seems to me that other bikes had this too, where you could find a "false" neutral on the way down. I'm really sticking my neck out here aren't I guys?

Maybe I am paranoid, I simply never had that issue with my previous bike. I guess I will start the season without dropping two grand at the dealer and see if the problem gets worse.

 

[Fingers]

Try to get the bike into neutral while you're still moving as previously stated the motor is still tight give it a chance to break up in.

 

[scot in exile]

In the MSF training circles we have a name for the neutral/green light we call it an idiot light in the manner you should never trust it 100%, not having a green light should not hamper any kind of riding one bit.

 

[mport]

Mine got a little easier after it broke in but still hard to find neutral while down shifting. Takes a gentile push that I can't seem to master. The light on mine is very sensitive. Doesn't always come on in neutral. Just the nature of the beast that I have adapted to.