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Post by tigerpete on Jun 17, 2008 16:19:37 GMT
After a lay-off from biking for c.20 years, I returned to 2 wheels last November with a 1978 CX500 bought on e-Bay - not my best move. Bike was difficult to start and had a few other "age related" issues, which put it back on e-Bay and gave me some cash in my hand. Nuff said!
It was then then I found my lovely green Divvy 600S. Less than 7k on the clock, in a local dealer, with 6 months warranty and 12 months MOT. This is more like it! The bike rides really well and has ample power for what I use it for, which is mainly running around the Leicestershire/Rutland border on dry days/evenings.
The only slight gripe I have, and it is a slight one, is the gear change. The CX500 had a lovely smooth, quiet change (it had done 44k though), whereas my Divvy goes into 1st with a clunk and from 1st to 2nd with a clunk; the other upshifts are fine. Coming down, all is well except for the last drop into 1st.
I have done a couple of searches on here and found I may see an improvement with different/synthetic oil - any suggestions which make/type? Also, some threads suggest a riding style change, such as revving slighty before engaging 1st and also not pulling clutch in all the way when changing up (which sounds odd!).
I am considering asking the dealer to take a look as I still have a couple of months left on the warranty.
Any help and ideas gratefully received.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2008 16:30:39 GMT
Nothing wrong with getting him to look at it, but in my experience, it's a Divvy. Not noted for the smoothest gearchanges especially from cold. I use Halfrauds Semi Synth on the D9.
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Post by beeblemaster on Jun 17, 2008 16:36:44 GMT
Welcome to the club Pete. Have you checked the chain tension? Perhaps it's too tight and the clutch operation ok? Yes the Divvy does clunk (and can be quite heavy) from neutral to 1st and mine also clunks from 2nd to 3rd, but otherwise it's quite sweet. CX's are a great bike  Oh and I use Texaco Havoline Extra in my D6 (£13.99 from Morrisons Petrol for 5L) |
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Post by General Gman on Jun 17, 2008 21:55:19 GMT
The gearbox is pretty clunky on a good day - on a bad day it's awful.
gGets much worse when an oil change is due.I use Hein Gericke semi synthetic in all our bikes and have had no problems - £11.99 for 4L.
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Post by amorti on Jun 18, 2008 18:04:54 GMT
I just changed the sprocket carrier bearing (it actually disintegrated several of the balls all over my chain) and while I was greasy, I cleaned and re-greased the gear lever pivot. Just undo the allen bolt holding it to the footpeg, take apart, clean with WD40 and grease with machine grease, whatever you have around except coppaslip. Now the gearchange is so so much better, it's hardly the same bike. Couldn't tell you which made the most difference, but both worth checking. The gearbox is now actually really smooth. Honest!
Also of course chain tension, and the state of the chain - try pulling it back off the rear sprocket, if you can see daylight twixt chain and sprocket, it's bin time.
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Post by bobh on Jun 21, 2008 11:49:54 GMT
You do wish someone at Yamaha (preferably the person who designs their gearboxes) would buy a Suzuki and take it apart to find out what they do right that Yamaha don't.
I had a test ride on a brand-new FZ6 - lovely bike, but you guessed it - clunky gearchange.
Bob
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Post by amorti on Jun 22, 2008 22:28:39 GMT
That's not clunky, that's "positive" One man's slick gearchange is another's box full of neutrals, another's clunky box is positively engaging each time. Horses for courses, innit. Well worth just greasing your pedal pivot point IMHO. |
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Post by General Gman on Jun 23, 2008 11:19:05 GMT
Agree with bobh - Suzuki gearboxes are absolutely glorious , and most Yamahas are a bit shonky, TBH.
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Post by jimbob on Jul 23, 2008 14:56:29 GMT
Ive had a 600S for 10 years and it has always been clunky between neutral 1 and 2. I checked this out on the old Diversion user group some years back and it appears to be normal. In my experience it gets worse when the chain gets loose - in fact I always know when the chain needs tightening just from the clunk. And also after protracted running; perhaps when the oil gets either thin or low.
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Post by bobh on Jul 23, 2008 21:30:15 GMT
I've noticed that gearchanges seem to get less smooth towards the end of a ride, but I'm never sure if it's me or the bike that's getting tired.
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Post by joriff on Jul 23, 2008 22:32:32 GMT
Mine clunks into first, and then every gear, i can see daylight through the chain on the rear sprocket lol!! Tension is correct though. Can i get away with just a new chain as the sets are £80+!!!  |
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Post by bobh on Jul 24, 2008 21:23:22 GMT
I'd like to bet that if it's that worn your front sprocket will be shot - being smaller it does more work.
Some times you can just about get away with a chain and front sprocket, but since the chain is the most expensive item, and you're going to wear it out quicker if you run it on old sprockets, I'd say that would be false economy. Also the sets are often not that much more than a chain alone, cetainly less than buying them as individual items.
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Post by CD on Jul 31, 2008 17:15:33 GMT
Always do both sprox with a new chain. You might also want to replace the cush drive rubbers. And... if the chain drive bearing has gone quite possibly the wheel bearings wont be far behind. But they are an easy enough job to do. The 900 has a really clunky gearchange. I've had mine 18 months and still can't get it right. 3, 4 and 5 going up are actually easier and smoother without the clutch! I'm also less clunky without ear plugs so hearing the engine tone must have some benefit. All I can say with the 600 and the 900 is dont rush the gear changes but dont go too slow as thats even worse.  If you miss a gear try to* not whack it in too quickly as the gearbox spins on for ages and goes in with a horrible crash. *I say "try not" because in traffic you cant f*rt about waiting for gearbox revs to drop. |
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