Kawasaki KLX230 Dual. Bought 8 months ago.

After taking a few falls, most on left side, sometimes bending the shifter (had to bend it back): It occasionally gets in an odd shifting state: It seems to be either in neutral, or second, but not in first gear. When I try to push down on the shifter to go into first, the shifter instead gives me resistance and produces a whining sound. The harder I push, the louder the whining sound. The same occurs when I pull up on the shifter (it doesn't shift, but just gives me a whining sound).

The only thing I can do to get it out of this state is to turn the motor off and rock the bike back and forth, with and without the clutch engaged until it finally moves the gearing out of what ever position it's in that is causing this. After that i can turn on the bike and ride it fine.