Ryker goes into neutral while riding - any ideas?

[blackphoenix38]

I have the weirdest issue that I can't reproduce on my own.

While riding, I see on the LCD display the F will flash to the Neutral sign and then back. Sometimes it stays longer than others.

It doesn't affect the bike while I'm moving, but if I stop while it says it's in Neutral, it won't move until it goes back to Forward.

The gear lever does not move at all. I also had one time where it didn't know the parking brake was up, but that only happened once. Can't reproduce that either.

I put electrical tape over the ends of the gear position sensors in hopes that it would work, it hasn't really.

Also... this only happens on the highway on long trips over 50-75 miles. But once it does start, it doesn't stop happening for a while. I jiggled the gear position wires for a bit, and I was able to ride home on the highway for 75 miles with no issues at all. Nothing makes sense.

 

[DickB]

I doubt it is going into "neutral" but you likely have a bad Forward or Reverse switch on the gearbox or a poor connection. There are switches for Forward, Reverse, and Park brake - if none are engaged the display shows a dash "-".

 

[blackphoenix38]

I doubt it is going into "neutral" but you likely have a bad Forward or Reverse switch on the gearbox or a poor connection. There are switches for Forward, Reverse, and Park brake - if none are engaged the display shows a dash "-".

Well... it won't move when it displays the Neutral sign. So it's doing something, even though the gear lever was never moved. I retaped the connectors to the sensors, we'll see if that helps or not. I can't reproduce it at all, which is the biggest problem. It will just randomly happen after so many miles of riding.

 

[DickB]

When you say it won't move when displaying the dash, does the engine rev slightly then back down (like when you twist the throttle with the parking brake on)?

If it were the gearbox, I doubt this "It doesn't affect the bike while I'm moving..." would be true.

 

[blackphoenix38]

When you say it won't move when displaying the dash, does the engine rev slightly then back down (like when you twist the throttle with the parking brake on)?

If it were the gearbox, I doubt this "It doesn't affect the bike while I'm moving..." would be true.

Right. If I'm fully stopped and the issue happens, it will rev quick and not go anywhere. If I'm already moving and it does it, nothing happens.

 

[DickB]

Based on what you have said, it's most likely the Forward switch or a bad connection to it.

 

[blackphoenix38]

Based on what you have said, it's most likely the Forward switch or a bad connection to it.

I'll see if I can redo the wiring and see what happens.

 

[Raven]

Didn't you just install a Treal clutch in your Ryker.
Maybe something got knocked out of adjustment during the install.
Or was it doing this before then.
Just a thought.

 

[blackphoenix38]

Didn't you just install a Treal clutch in your Ryker.
Maybe something got knocked out of adjustment during the install.
Or was it doing this before then.
Just a thought.

It happened about 150 miles after I installed it. But it doesn't happen all the time. I'm pretty sure it's sensor wires coming loose.

It's possible the extra vibration from the heavier clutch caused it. But I don't think the install directly causes the issue. If it was mechanical, it would happen all the time.

 

[blackphoenix38]

I re-crimped the wires and put more tape over the ends. So far, I have not had this issue come up again. I've hit plenty of bumps. I've been on the highway at different speeds.

So, for right now, I'm guessing the wires just got loose.

 

[safecracker]

Thanks for reporting back on fix.