New Bike - A couple of questions

[t_rall]

I just picked up a new 675 last week, and I'm having a blast with it so far. I have noticed a couple of potentially "off" things with the bike that I wanted to ask about.

First, I've noticed on about 3 or 4 occasions in the 90 miles I've driven the bike that the bike stops downshifting when going through multiple gears. ie. If I'm slowing down to a stop from 5th or 6th gear, holding down the clutch the entire time, sometimes the bike will not downshift. I've come to a stop in 4th gear because of this, unable to downshift unless I ease out on the clutch a little between each downshift. Is this normal? ...is this something that breaks in over time?

Second, how much play is there typically in the throttle control before it engages? I've noticed I can rotate the throttle about 0.5-1cm before the bike actually gets throttle. Is that amount of play typical on this bike?

I'm coming off of a Ninja 650R, which was my first bike, so it's my only point of reference for comparison. The gearbox on that bike was pretty rough, so clunking down from 6th->1st had a lot of feedback. The throttle was also pretty much on from even a slight turn of the handle too.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[TripleThreat]

The issue you describe with the downshifting is fairly common and it will get better over time as the bike breaks in. The cure is to let out the clutch between each downshift allowing the engine braking to help slow the bike down.

The throttle play needs to be adjusted and the dealer will do that at the 500 mile service. Standard free play is 4mm, if memory serves me. I've adjusted all but about 1mm of free play out of both of my bikes as I prefer it that way.

Hope you enjoy your new bike...

Jeff

[Agkistrodon]

Originally Posted by t_rall

I just picked up a new 675 last week, and I'm having a blast with it so far. I have noticed a couple of potentially "off" things with the bike that I wanted to ask about.

First, I've noticed on about 3 or 4 occasions in the 90 miles I've driven the bike that the bike stops downshifting when going through multiple gears. ie. If I'm slowing down to a stop from 5th or 6th gear, holding down the clutch the entire time, sometimes the bike will not downshift. I've come to a stop in 4th gear because of this, unable to downshift unless I ease out on the clutch a little between each downshift. Is this normal? ...is this something that breaks in over time?

Second, how much play is there typically in the throttle control before it engages? I've noticed I can rotate the throttle about 0.5-1cm before the bike actually gets throttle. Is that amount of play typical on this bike?

I'm coming off of a Ninja 650R, which was my first bike, so it's my only point of reference for comparison. The gearbox on that bike was pretty rough, so clunking down from 6th->1st had a lot of feedback. The throttle was also pretty much on from even a slight turn of the handle too.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

the first issue is with the nut that is loose between the clipons and the seat/ pegs. i.e. you. your doing it wrong. let the clutch out some between shifts. it sounds to me like you are either in to high a gear or you are waiting too long to down shift. shift down as soon as the revs drop below 6(I stay above 8-9).
second issue is a bit too much play. there is an adjuster on the cable wich is fairly self explanitary once you look at it. one cable is a "pull" and one is a "push" take some of the slack out of the pull cable by making the adjuster longer. again once you see it you will know what im talking about. you have allready got it so get down with the sickness