False neutral!

Dirtysmile56
Edited Date/Time 5/31/2022 9:13pm
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3 times. The first time was on a low consequence table at Hangtown at about 1 hr on the bike. The second was coming out of a corner. This past Saturday it happened on the face of a 75'+ triple table. I somehow saved it and didn't crash but I'm wondering if this is common on these bikes? KTM/GasGas/Husky? I lowered the shifter one tooth and it seemed to help but this last one scared the shite out of me. In the bikes defense I was shifting into 3rd at the bottom of the jump face so maybe I need another tooth lower on the shifter? It feels like a long movement to upshift. I am headed to the Old Timer race at Horn this weekend and don't want to implode myself. Any help appreciated.
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kicker
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kicker 5/23/2022 2:30pm
5/23/2022 2:30pm
I’ve done it on my Husky but very rarely. Only happened with a weak half shift as if putting it in neutral. Are you able to reproduce it consistently? I’d avoid shifting on a jump face at all cost just in case regardless.
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Dirtysmile56 5/23/2022 2:48pm
5/23/2022 2:48pm
I am pretty sure that's what I did. Surprisingly my YZ250 never went false neutral on me.
McG194
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McG194 5/23/2022 3:11pm
5/23/2022 3:11pm
Between what gears are you hitting this false neutral?
theycallmeebryan 5/23/2022 3:19pm
5/23/2022 3:19pm Edited Date/Time 5/23/2022 3:25pm
No false neutrals with an electric bike. I hit false neutral going through a rhythm section at Pala in 2018 on my KX125 and took a trip to endonesia (thankfully not the hospital). The next week I bought my Alta MXR. People can hate all they want on electric bikes, but they are in fact much safer to ride than any gas bike. I want to continue enjoying this sport for a long time and don't want to be sidelined (or worse) due to something as silly as hitting a false neutral in an unlucky part of the track.
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mtl
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mtl 5/23/2022 3:28pm
5/23/2022 3:28pm
McG194 wrote:
Between what gears are you hitting this false neutral?
From the original post, if sounds like between 2nd and 3rd.
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Dirtysmile56 5/23/2022 4:00pm
5/23/2022 4:00pm
McG194 wrote:
Between what gears are you hitting this false neutral?
mtl wrote:
From the original post, if sounds like between 2nd and 3rd.
I am pretty sure it’s 2nd and 3rd
Dirtysmile56 5/23/2022 4:01pm
5/23/2022 4:01pm
It’s weird, it starts pulling fine then almost feels like it slips then pops completely out. My bike didn’t endo either. It stayed front wheel high. When I jump it normally I jump it with my front wheel a little lower too.
Dirt.Squirt
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Dirt.Squirt 5/23/2022 4:12pm
5/23/2022 4:12pm
I would note that this was a known issue with KTM and husky back around 2016 before they started having Pankel (spelling could be way off) build their transmissions but I don’t want anyone to start a thread about me hating KTMs
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Dirt.Squirt
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Dirt.Squirt 5/23/2022 4:15pm
5/23/2022 4:15pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3...
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3 times. The first time was on a low consequence table at Hangtown at about 1 hr on the bike. The second was coming out of a corner. This past Saturday it happened on the face of a 75'+ triple table. I somehow saved it and didn't crash but I'm wondering if this is common on these bikes? KTM/GasGas/Husky? I lowered the shifter one tooth and it seemed to help but this last one scared the shite out of me. In the bikes defense I was shifting into 3rd at the bottom of the jump face so maybe I need another tooth lower on the shifter? It feels like a long movement to upshift. I am headed to the Old Timer race at Horn this weekend and don't want to implode myself. Any help appreciated.
Could try moving shifter down a tooth. Good luck at horn this weekend was just there yesterday and the track was damn good. They recently took out that split section and turned it into a table table that I like a lot.
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mtl
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mtl 5/23/2022 4:26pm
5/23/2022 4:26pm
I had this issue on a different brand and it only happened when I'd pin it and shift a couple of gears to the biggest jump at Argyll in Dixon, CA. Eventually, it went away. Sort of unnerving but I made a bunch of small changes.

My takeaway was that A lot of things that seem irrelevant can influence this. oil used, clutch wear/engagement, hours on engine, shifting style.

One thing to think about is that, theoretically, this should also happen under load in straights or up hills. That might be a safer testing ground.
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xr70
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xr70 5/23/2022 4:47pm
5/23/2022 4:47pm
My 2011 Crf450r was notorious for that , one time I hit one in whops at Starwest and broke both wrist. That was the end of that bike !
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ProKawi24
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ProKawi24 5/23/2022 5:01pm
5/23/2022 5:01pm Edited Date/Time 5/23/2022 5:02pm
2 of the worst feelings you'll ever have when riding....

Going to click up a gear before a jump and hear the engine rev out while your body gets thrown over the bars.

Being in mid-air on a huge double/triple and realizing you're too short and wondering how long you'll be in the hospital.
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Tomok
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Tomok 5/23/2022 5:11pm
5/23/2022 5:11pm
Try moving the shift lever up one position. It worked for me on my 21 FC 450. Had aftermarket pegs that were taller than stock. When I'd shift, the lever could not totally release as it was hitting my boot leading to a false neutral.
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McG194
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McG194 5/23/2022 5:54pm
5/23/2022 5:54pm
McG194 wrote:
Between what gears are you hitting this false neutral?
mtl wrote:
From the original post, if sounds like between 2nd and 3rd.
Derrrrrr, it would help if I read a little more thoroughly.
Dirtysmile56 5/23/2022 6:10pm
5/23/2022 6:10pm
xr70 wrote:
My 2011 Crf450r was notorious for that , one time I hit one in whops at Starwest and broke both wrist. That was the end of...
My 2011 Crf450r was notorious for that , one time I hit one in whops at Starwest and broke both wrist. That was the end of that bike !
Ouch!!!
Dirtysmile56 5/23/2022 6:10pm
5/23/2022 6:10pm
ProKawi24 wrote:
2 of the worst feelings you'll ever have when riding.... Going to click up a gear before a jump and hear the engine rev out while...
2 of the worst feelings you'll ever have when riding....

Going to click up a gear before a jump and hear the engine rev out while your body gets thrown over the bars.

Being in mid-air on a huge double/triple and realizing you're too short and wondering how long you'll be in the hospital.
The absolute worst!!!!
Dirtysmile56 5/23/2022 6:11pm
5/23/2022 6:11pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3...
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3 times. The first time was on a low consequence table at Hangtown at about 1 hr on the bike. The second was coming out of a corner. This past Saturday it happened on the face of a 75'+ triple table. I somehow saved it and didn't crash but I'm wondering if this is common on these bikes? KTM/GasGas/Husky? I lowered the shifter one tooth and it seemed to help but this last one scared the shite out of me. In the bikes defense I was shifting into 3rd at the bottom of the jump face so maybe I need another tooth lower on the shifter? It feels like a long movement to upshift. I am headed to the Old Timer race at Horn this weekend and don't want to implode myself. Any help appreciated.
Dirt.Squirt wrote:
Could try moving shifter down a tooth. Good luck at horn this weekend was just there yesterday and the track was damn good. They recently took...
Could try moving shifter down a tooth. Good luck at horn this weekend was just there yesterday and the track was damn good. They recently took out that split section and turned it into a table table that I like a lot.
That's what I'm going to do. I dropped it one when I first got it and still hit it. Hoping for a fun time at Horn. I've never been.

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PNWMXer
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PNWMXer 5/23/2022 6:31pm
5/23/2022 6:31pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3...
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3 times. The first time was on a low consequence table at Hangtown at about 1 hr on the bike. The second was coming out of a corner. This past Saturday it happened on the face of a 75'+ triple table. I somehow saved it and didn't crash but I'm wondering if this is common on these bikes? KTM/GasGas/Husky? I lowered the shifter one tooth and it seemed to help but this last one scared the shite out of me. In the bikes defense I was shifting into 3rd at the bottom of the jump face so maybe I need another tooth lower on the shifter? It feels like a long movement to upshift. I am headed to the Old Timer race at Horn this weekend and don't want to implode myself. Any help appreciated.
Dirt.Squirt wrote:
Could try moving shifter down a tooth. Good luck at horn this weekend was just there yesterday and the track was damn good. They recently took...
Could try moving shifter down a tooth. Good luck at horn this weekend was just there yesterday and the track was damn good. They recently took out that split section and turned it into a table table that I like a lot.
Was there Saturday and agree 100%. That split section was goofy.
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bvm111
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bvm111 5/23/2022 6:41pm
5/23/2022 6:41pm
next thing you know these things will start splitting in half or something 😬
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PNWMXer
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PNWMXer 5/23/2022 6:47pm
5/23/2022 6:47pm
bvm111 wrote:
next thing you know these things will start splitting in half or something 😬
Only on jumps larger than 160 feet…
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PNWMXer
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PNWMXer 5/23/2022 6:54pm
5/23/2022 6:54pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3...
I've been on a 2022 Mc450 Troy Lee model for the last couple months. I have 14 hours on it and have hit false neutral 3 times. The first time was on a low consequence table at Hangtown at about 1 hr on the bike. The second was coming out of a corner. This past Saturday it happened on the face of a 75'+ triple table. I somehow saved it and didn't crash but I'm wondering if this is common on these bikes? KTM/GasGas/Husky? I lowered the shifter one tooth and it seemed to help but this last one scared the shite out of me. In the bikes defense I was shifting into 3rd at the bottom of the jump face so maybe I need another tooth lower on the shifter? It feels like a long movement to upshift. I am headed to the Old Timer race at Horn this weekend and don't want to implode myself. Any help appreciated.
Is it possible you’re not getting it all the way into 3rd due to the longer throw?

I noticed my KTM had a longer throw (coming from my Kawis) and it took me a bit to adjust. There were a number of times I thought I caught the next gear only to realize I didn’t.

Horn should be a blast for the Old Timer race. I’m headed there Friday morning-975 on a 21 KTM FE and my buddy Gene on his GasGas TLD like yours. Oh, and my dad for either moral support or to tell me I’m not riding fast enough, lol.
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Talisker
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Talisker 5/23/2022 6:56pm
5/23/2022 6:56pm
There is nothing false about neutral!!!
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Moto520
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Moto520 5/23/2022 7:23pm
5/23/2022 7:23pm
ProKawi24 wrote:
2 of the worst feelings you'll ever have when riding.... Going to click up a gear before a jump and hear the engine rev out while...
2 of the worst feelings you'll ever have when riding....

Going to click up a gear before a jump and hear the engine rev out while your body gets thrown over the bars.

Being in mid-air on a huge double/triple and realizing you're too short and wondering how long you'll be in the hospital.
Or even worse……the bike locks up in the air. Brutal feeling followed by happiness that I had feeling
willbilly
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willbilly 5/23/2022 7:40pm
5/23/2022 7:40pm
Check the shift star detent bolt for loosening and the ratchet mechanism. I have seen a few that had this problem.
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Gilby122
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Gilby122 5/23/2022 8:25pm
5/23/2022 8:25pm
I had two different ktm 350’s (one was a ‘12 and one a ‘16 I believe) and both were horrible with the false neutral. Also, I sucked.
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BeachMX
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BeachMX 5/23/2022 9:46pm
5/23/2022 9:46pm
Dirtysmile56 wrote:
It’s weird, it starts pulling fine then almost feels like it slips then pops completely out. My bike didn’t endo either. It stayed front wheel high...
It’s weird, it starts pulling fine then almost feels like it slips then pops completely out. My bike didn’t endo either. It stayed front wheel high. When I jump it normally I jump it with my front wheel a little lower too.
I had this issue with my 2020 YZ250f... ended up being the transmission. Hit false neutral a couple of times and that was it. Rounded off dogs and bent shift forks. began slipping out of gear under load.

Had to replace third and fourth gear.
#434
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#434 5/23/2022 10:35pm
5/23/2022 10:35pm
I know it sounds dumb, but try a different oil. I once bought the an expensive Motul oil and my YZF wouldn‘t wanna upshift. I ended up with incomplete upshifts and the bike jumped sometimes back into the lower gear. Pretty annoying. Changed the oil and it was back to normal.
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cwel11
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cwel11 5/24/2022 2:31am
5/24/2022 2:31am
Never had false neutral problems on my KTM or current Husky. 2012 CRF450 different story. Caught it on a quick shift before an uphill double. Nosedive and stepped through the bars. Horrible feeling. I definitely try to avoid quick up shifts before jumps when possible. Hard to trust your bike after that. I generally have my shifter a bit low also to make sure I get a solid up shift.
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sandman768
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sandman768 5/24/2022 6:12am
5/24/2022 6:12am
Sometimes when my boot soles are really worn down it effects my shifting….
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