What could be wrong with my GSXR 600 I hear a grinding noise when i shift down in gears

Question

motorcycle Expert needed

Answer 1

Hi,

     Could be a few things.

     #1. Check your clutch cable for correct amount of free play.

     #2. When is the last time you checked you chain for correct adjustment?

Answer 2

Ok so who actually goes into 1st gear at 70MPH? Get real!

Anyhow I like the other answer, chain or clutch cable. It happens occassionally but it should be happening all the time. Can you give a scenario?

Answer 3

If the shaft is spinning faster than the high rpm for that gear, sometimes you will get a grinding noise, it doesn't want to go in that gear.

On my YZF, if I am cruising along at say, 70mph..I can go from 3rd to second and it doesn't like it but it will go with a little "clunk" noise, but if I try to go to first..I have to stomp it down and get a real good clunk or grind.

Does your bike ONLY make the grinding noise when you are down shifting while rolling, or does it do it if the bike comes to a stop and then you down shift?

Some people like to start clearing their gears to first as they first start rolling towards a stop light... you should really only downshift to a gear that you would normally use while going the speed you are going...if you are doing 45 and approach a stop light...but normally wouldn't run 45 in 1st gear, don't shift to it, or yes, it will grind or clunk when you down shift.

If you are doing 100+, your bike isn't going to want to downshift into first gear.

If your bike is grinding while downshifting and the bike is stopped...trying adjusting your clutch cable and the lever until you only have about an 1/8th inch of play in it. But I would think if you were out of adjustement, you would be having problems up shifting as well.

Edit: Since you asked...My Ace has a very long first gear..and WILL do 70 in first...5 speed..YZF1000R, up 1 tooth in the front, down one in the back , I wouldn't shift into first at 70 because I would be at the top of the RPM range and would just have to shift back into 2nd. It was a HYPOTHETICAL comparison..I didn't think I would have to explain it but.... you know. Most NORMAL bikes also won't do 190 MPH, the POINT I was TRYING to make was, on a NORMAL bike if you tried to clear your gears while approaching a stop light..and tried to clear to first at lets say 35 mph, it won't want to go. My bike will go into first at 35..45... so I had to use 70MPH as an example of when it wouldn't want to downshift into first, 70 is pretty much peak in first gear for me..I am redlining..so it wouldn't want to go, on a NORMAL bike, like lets say my brothers Shadow 750, it doesn't want to shift first if the bike is rolling over 25 or 30 mph, so if he pulled the clutch rolling towards a stoplight..and tried to clear the gears knowing he is going to have to go down to first anyway..then his bike wouldn't want to go into first gear while it was rolling that fast.

Understand now?