Here's an interesting one and I'm having trouble working out what's going on - any thoughts, idea welcome.
Yep, the R3's are prone to have clunky transmissions, however I've been noticing that sometimes get a slight kick back through the shifter between 1st & 2nd and 2nd & 3rd unless the up change is at low revs. There is also an accompanying slight grind-clunk, with the grind a split second before clunk of the gear engaging.
I really didn't understand sequential transmissions so checked a few things out (including this excellent You Tube
which, although is about where a sixth gear could be added does walk through what happens in an R3 shift by shift) and I'm starting to think that the sensation of grind before clunk is the dogs not instantly and cleanly meshing with the gear when changing between 1/2 and 2/3. Interestingly there is the one dog wheel for both changes. I've tried letting the revs die off with the clutch in before shifting up, blipping the throttle a little with the clutch in then shifting and both "seemed" to help a bit but could easily be wishful thinking.
However, I lay awake last night picturing in my mind what was happening with the clutch, gears and dog wheel, shifter forks etc and realised I am pretty slow and gentle with many gear changes thinking I was being mechanically sympathetic which I now think might be contributing to the nashing of steel from time to time in the 85k km old transmission.
So today I testing up changes with no clutch - never tried this before on any bike (other than the BSA C15 about 100 years ago when the clutch cable broke). I found that getting the timing right with slight throttle back-off to take the tension out of the drive train and a firm left foot on the shifter the changes can be smooth and instant - and no sensation of grind-clunk and slight kick back on the shift lever. (Although I must say getting 1st to 2nd smooth was a challenge with the transmission lash adding to the need for real finness, which I definitely have not master yet)
Would be interesting to know any thoughts on:
Yep, the R3's are prone to have clunky transmissions, however I've been noticing that sometimes get a slight kick back through the shifter between 1st & 2nd and 2nd & 3rd unless the up change is at low revs. There is also an accompanying slight grind-clunk, with the grind a split second before clunk of the gear engaging.
I really didn't understand sequential transmissions so checked a few things out (including this excellent You Tube
However, I lay awake last night picturing in my mind what was happening with the clutch, gears and dog wheel, shifter forks etc and realised I am pretty slow and gentle with many gear changes thinking I was being mechanically sympathetic which I now think might be contributing to the nashing of steel from time to time in the 85k km old transmission.
So today I testing up changes with no clutch - never tried this before on any bike (other than the BSA C15 about 100 years ago when the clutch cable broke). I found that getting the timing right with slight throttle back-off to take the tension out of the drive train and a firm left foot on the shifter the changes can be smooth and instant - and no sensation of grind-clunk and slight kick back on the shift lever. (Although I must say getting 1st to 2nd smooth was a challenge with the transmission lash adding to the need for real finness, which I definitely have not master yet)
Would be interesting to know any thoughts on:
- Anyone who has noticed the same thing on their R3 / R3T
- If I might be on the right track with what's going on in the transmission
- Why, with age, the dogs don't seem to engage as slickly as they used to.
- Anyone else's experience / advice with clutch-less up shifting on an R3
- Or anything else of course...
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