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Neutral Issue

12583 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  MotoDirective
Hi guys!

I haven't completed my first 1000km in my KTM and already have two issues.

1. Sometimes is hard to put it on Neutral, the gear gauge goes to blank and the green N doesn't turn on, so if I release the clutch it goes back to 1st or 2nd gear.

2. Just today, for the very first time, I was in fifth, went to sixth but the gear remained "in between" in some sort of neutral, so I had to kick back to put it in sixth.

I've spoke with some other 1090 owner here in Chile, and have the same issue.

Does anyone know the reason of these issues?

Best Regards,

Francisco.
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Hmmmm, maybe as the mileage goes up the gear box and clutch will bed in? This isn't the first time I'm hearing about people having difficulty finding neutral. What mileage is your 1090 at?
I rode my first 500 kms, with a new one, the gear box is very soft and sensitive, I think we have to get used to it,
Ohhh, you switched out the gearbox or got a new 1090?
All my bikes needed a little swing with the toe, and the clutch handle to find the neutral, just stay on the first gear and let the bike move 10 cm to feel the sprocket lock,
Clutch lever

I noticed some similar issues after adjusting the screw in my clutch lever to bring it closer to the handlebar.
The clutch didn't fully disengage.
After setting it back to the widest position my gear selection was smooth as before and neutral easy to find.
I noticed some similar issues after adjusting the screw in my clutch lever to bring it closer to the handlebar.
The clutch didn't fully disengage.
After setting it back to the widest position my gear selection was smooth as before and neutral easy to find.
Addition: During 1000Km maintenance yesterday it was found that the system contained some air after bleeding the air it is possible to bring the clutch lever closer to the handlebar and still fully disengage the clutch.
This sounds like the same problem. I had with my 690 enduro R. Fixed it with an upgrade to the shift prowl and related spring.
So you just bled the brakes to bring the clutch lever closer in?
So you just bled the brakes to bring the clutch lever closer in?
Bleeding the brakes won't help the clutch. :wink2: But yes, the hydraulic system may need to be bled. I don't yet own a 1090R but based on my other KTMs, you need to use a specific type of oil. NOT BRAKE FLUID!!!
I have experienced this too. Just hit 900 miles on the bike and it is very difficult to find neutral. Same thing with the gear selector it doesn’t show 1, 2 or N just goes blank.
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My 1090 is a little fussy to get neutral but I consider it similar to most of the "dirt bikes" I have owned & I don't think twice about it. If I'm a little soft on the gear lever particularly shifting 5th & 6th it doesn't go in fully so I shift again. Doesn't seem to do it standing on the pegs on the dirt probably as I'm being a little more purposeful, & I don't always use the clutch. Shift more positively & there is no problem.
I've had problems getting the bike into neutral since mile 0. Sometimes it clicks in easily... albeit with a very light touch that takes a bit to get the hang of. Other times it goes into neutral but the neutral light never turns on so I can't start the bike with the stand down which happens pretty often. If I took a summation of the amount of time I spent fidgeting with the **** foot lever to get it into neutral at red lights or to start the bike in the parking lot it would be a **** of a lot more than it should be.

Other times it has a hard shift from 2nd to 3rd where it just doesn't want to go into gear without applying a lot more force than it takes to shift into other gears. This is really awkward and uncomfortable with ADV boots on. Overall I'm 100% not impressed with the transmission on this machine. 6th gear acceleration is useless you're where the engine is making power... which is not at legal speeds. 1st and 2nd need to be lower also. 2nd gear is a little tall for safe off-roading speeds in single track and first gear is either too slow for constant speeds and can get twitchy if you're higher in the power band. Considering the top speed is almost 40 miles faster than what the off road tires are rated to I think this could be band-aid fixed with dropping a tooth in the front and maybe a +1 in the rear but a better fix would be making the transmission wider.

There is no excuse for this other than they need QA from road-oriented riders as well as the dirt-oriented ones that shaped the 1090 AR.
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I guess it's ktm "feature" :) on my ktm 500 exc it's very hard to put neutral when stopped, not a problem while moving though.
I guess it's ktm "feature" :) on my ktm 500 exc it's very hard to put neutral when stopped, not a problem while moving though.



Keeping the chain adjusted properly makes a pretty big difference. I had a suspicion they didn't tension mine apparently after the break in service because the feel was unchanged. It always seems to pop into gear easier with the right tension no matter what the bike and I jguess they just forgot :(
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