Gear shifter

How it works

The gear lever is the lever you operate with your left foot to shift up or down. It is clamped onto the gear-shift shaft coming out of the crankcase, either directly or through a linkage with rod ends (common on bikes with rear-set controls). Inside the engine, the shaft turns a selector drum that moves the forks and engages the gears. Precise shifting therefore depends first on the outside parts: a lever bent in a fall, a worn rod end, a loose pinch bolt or a dirty shaft give vague shifts, false neutrals or gears that engage poorly. The lever height can often be adjusted to suit your boot. Before suspecting the gearbox, always check clutch adjustment and the linkage: they are the most common and cheapest causes.

Maintenance tips

• ✓After a fall, check the lever is not bent and does not touch the engine case.
• ✓Check the pinch bolt on the shaft is tight and that the linkage rod ends have no play.
• ✓Clean and lightly lubricate the lever pivot and the rod ends.
• ✓Set the lever height so you can shift without lifting your whole foot.
• ✓If gears catch even with a healthy lever, check clutch free play before suspecting the gearbox.