Sportster Shifting Hard

16885 Views 20 Replies 13 Participants Last post by THE ROAD, May 6, 2015

Hauhet

Discussion Starter · Jan 9, 2015

So i have a 2012 48 and it has about 10k miles on it. I am excited to finally do some customization on it! Going to buy pipes, air intake, seat, and maybe handle bars this weekend.

Now that i've said that...as i've been researching i thought i could ask the question regarding the shifting. My bike has always shifted hard and the dealership said it is normal. Has anyone else experienced this? Should i not worry about it?

Also - about how many miles do most of you have on your sporty? I'd like for my bike to last me a very long time

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

bobf

· #2 · Jan 9, 2015

What do you mean by hard? What are you comparing it too?

gusa39

· #3 · Jan 10, 2015

I have a 2014 1200T and I can definitely hear and feel it shifting. Is that what your talking about, or do you mean it doesn't shift into each gear when you want it too? I also had a 2010 Yamaha V Star and it sounded even louder than my Sportster when it shifted.

knuckles33

· #4 · Jan 10, 2015

I have a 2004 sporty it shifts great.maybe its in your riding techniques.

Zeta7

· #5 · Jan 10, 2015

Sportster clunk is normal...

02sportytex

· #6 · Jan 10, 2015

It's not going to shift like a car, you will feel it. Even still if it's jerking the bike or if you have to really stomp on the shifter to get it in gear then you have an issue with your clutch. If you think it shifts hard; maybe adjust the clutch cable and the clutch. It's easy to do videos on YouTube will show you step by step.

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Thunder~Struck

· #7 · Jan 10, 2015

Zeta7 said:
Sportster clunk is normal...

Harley clunk into first is normal.
Always loved it.

Paul HD72

· #8 · Jan 10, 2015

It requires a little more force on the shift lever to shift my Sportster 72 versus any other bike I've own but I wouldn't describe it as hard to shift. You definitely hear more of a "clunk" when you shift but from what I've read the sound is normal.

I just got my 72 in October so I've only go 1,400 miles on it. So far no issues but I can't comment at this point on long term reliability.

SCHMIDTY

· #9 · Jan 10, 2015

If it goes in and out of gear and the bike goes forward when shifted then what's the problem ?
I'd be more concerned if the bike doesn't move when shifted !

Zeta7

· #10 · Jan 10, 2015

SCHMIDTYS said:
If it goes in and out of gear and the bike goes forward when shifted then what's the problem ?
I'd be more concerned if the bike doesn't move when shifted !

:thumb:thumb:thumb

RideADyna

· #11 · Jan 11, 2015

I read a lot of different motorcycle magazines and read most all the reviews of different models. Almost every review will be a discussion about easy shifting or hard shifting. I would believe yours is normal for that model.

Sportsters Rule

· #12 · Jan 13, 2015

Sportster shifting

Hauhet said:
So i have a 2012 48 and it has about 10k miles on it. I am excited to finally do some customization on it! Going to buy pipes, air intake, seat, and maybe handle bars this weekend.

Now that i've said that...as i've been researching i thought i could ask the question regarding the shifting. My bike has always shifted hard and the dealership said it is normal. Has anyone else experienced this? Should i not worry about it?

Also - about how many miles do most of you have on your sporty? I'd like for my bike to last me a very long time

Dudes... I have owned and ridden hard on 6 different Sportsters, They all CLUNK going down to first gear.. and a little bit of click ,clonk or noise... to any gear ...sometimes......but if it shifts hard, wont go into gear,, slips out of gear you most likely have clutch problem...IF you only have 10k on it,,you have a problem..right now I have a 2010/48 27,000 on it shifts smoooth..I have an 07 Nightster with 117,000...thats right 117,000..changed the clutch at 85,000...shifts smooth.

Sportsters Rule

· #13 · Jan 14, 2015

Hauhet said:
So i have a 2012 48 and it has about 10k miles on it. I am excited to finally do some customization on it! Going to buy pipes, air intake, seat, and maybe handle bars this weekend.

Now that i've said that...as i've been researching i thought i could ask the question regarding the shifting. My bike has always shifted hard and the dealership said it is normal. Has anyone else experienced this? Should i not worry about it?

Also - about how many miles do most of you have on your sporty? I'd like for my bike to last me a very long time

o7 Nightster1200 here....117,000 miles..3 batteries....
5 rear tires...one clutch

Hauhet

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 5, 2015

Sportsters Rule said:
o7 Nightster1200 here....117,000 miles..3 batteries....
5 rear tires...one clutch

HOLY HELL! 117,000 miles? Man i hope mine lasts that long. What else have you had to do to it?

Hauhet

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 5, 2015

Sportsters Rule said:
Dudes... I have owned and ridden hard on 6 different Sportsters, They all CLUNK going down to first gear.. and a little bit of click ,clonk or noise... to any gear ...sometimes......but if it shifts hard, wont go into gear,, slips out of gear you most likely have clutch problem...IF you only have 10k on it,,you have a problem..right now I have a 2010/48 27,000 on it shifts smoooth..I have an 07 Nightster with 117,000...thats right 117,000..changed the clutch at 85,000...shifts smooth.

Thank you man. Yeah i came off of riding suzuki's and kawasaki's. All of them shifted like butter. It doesn't bother me that it shifts i just want to make sure its by design.

Im interested to hear more about your 117,000 miles on your Nightster and anything you've done to keep it running smooth. Also, how does it fair on long trips? I took mine on a long trip and it did great (KC to Sturgis and back). The only thing i hated was not having a 6th gear....felt like i was pushing my bike a bit much.

Hauhet

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 5, 2015

Sportsters Rule said:
Dudes... I have owned and ridden hard on 6 different Sportsters, They all CLUNK going down to first gear.. and a little bit of click ,clonk or noise... to any gear ...sometimes......but if it shifts hard, wont go into gear,, slips out of gear you most likely have clutch problem...IF you only have 10k on it,,you have a problem..right now I have a 2010/48 27,000 on it shifts smoooth..I have an 07 Nightster with 117,000...thats right 117,000..changed the clutch at 85,000...shifts smooth.

Sorry, last reply. I don't know if i would say it shifts super hard or anything. But definitely get that cluck on shifting into first. I noticed if i don't reach a high RPM it wont shift the smoothest. I had to get new pipes to notice that as i couldn't really tell with my old pipes with wind blowing.

Maxz695

· #17 · May 5, 2015

Show her who is boss Use Authority when shifting the girl. Make sure you tighten the Clutch Basket nut snug then loosen it just a tad. if it is too loose it will cause the plates to grab somewhat even with the clutch in. The friction zone will be very limited as well

Sportsters Rule

· #18 · May 6, 2015

Hauhet said:
So i have a 2012 48 and it has about 10k miles on it. I am excited to finally do some customization on it! Going to buy pipes, air intake, seat, and maybe handle bars this weekend.

Now that i've said that...as i've been researching i thought i could ask the question regarding the shifting. My bike has always shifted hard and the dealership said it is normal. Has anyone else experienced this? Should i not worry about it?

Also - about how many miles do most of you have on your sporty? I'd like for my bike to last me a very long time

If its anything except easy peezey super easy to get in and out of gear or neutral ...then something , be it big or small is NOT right.....I am on Sportster # 5 so I know clutches and shifting...change oil every 5,000 miles on time... I have over 118,000 on my 07 nightster

Sportsters Rule

· #19 · May 6, 2015

Nothing....Batteries...tires......wayyy many oil changes..rocker cover gasgets...brakes..just the normal crap

Sportsters Rule

· #20 · May 6, 2015

If you wind out the gears a little slower..but longer...you will notice a difference in 5th

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

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