For some reason ive just noticed this lately but its been like this since i bought it. shifting from neutral to 1st the bike really pops, should it be more smooth? shifting into a higher gear on interstate it seems like i really gotta pull up on it to change. anything i can do?

 

First thing to check is the chain tension, if it is too tight it will be harder to go into gear. Second, is the oil, is it good and is there enough. I beleive there is an adjustment for the shifter lever too.

 

If anything the chain looks like it might be too loose. the oil level is fine but it needs to be changed.

where is the adjustment at?

 

I have the same problem. I heard a couple of people having this problem. I just learned to just deal with it.

 

The rod going from the shifter arm to the tranny is adjustable. See the picture attached, it is taken right from the service manual, it's at the bottom. I beleive you want to tighten it to lose some of the clunkiness. Sometimes, it needs to be tightened and sometimes loosened. It is all trial and error.

 

the klunk from N to 1st is normal in kawi's, i had a 95 zx6r that did the exact same thing i have talked to countless kawi techs and kawi corporate and they all say the same this it is just the syncro nothing to worry about they all tell me, some sugested double clutching in N to slow the sync alittle and then go down to 1st, it seemed to help alittle but not much, i think we all just learned to live with it

 

thankx 05 and sup, ill definetly look at that this week. i gotta change the oil while im at it.

 

Adjust and lube your chain and it should smooth out. A loose chain will cause hard shifting. Also adjust your clutch lever/ cablefreeplay and lube that too.