[jmharper]

Hi everyone, sorry if this has been covered before - haven't found it. Just got a new Himalayan and having serious issues finding neutral. I've owned Triumphs and Hondas for the past seven years and haven't had this much of an issue, so I'm thinking it's the Himalayan clutch.

I find neutral 50% of the time - typically while rolling to a stop, downshifting from 2nd gear. At a full stop, it's impossible to nudge from 1st gear into neutral, even if I roll the bike forward. It also won't shift from 1st to 2nd gear until I get the rpm's up to about 3500-4000. Upshifting/downshifting otherwise works just fine.

The strange thing is that when the engine is off, I can upshift/downshift through all the gears with no problem, including finding neutral.

So basically when the bike is running, the clutch issues start. Does this sound like a clutch issue or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Richard230]

It sounds to me like the clutch cable isn't adjusted properly. Try tightening up the slack a bit.

[oldphart]

A lot of people here (Australia) have reported this. You learn to live with it but basically, you'll usually go from first into second and then just give it a tap down into neutral.

Checking the clutch adjustment is a good move, but it seems to be a trait of the brutes. It does get better... or maybe I've got better, mine's got 5,000 kms  on the clock.

[oldphart]

Further on this, remembering your question, I had a play today. If you just ease the clutch out until you're in the friction zone, so the bike moves forward a tad, then pull in the clutch, you should be able to find neutral a lot easier. Yes, this is common to all bikes, but I agree, the Himmy box could make it easier to find neutral.

[Solera]

I have noticed that sometimes too, but it hasn't bothered me. I just put it down to a new box and just to give it time. I did see an Indian vid where the guy was saying the oil RE puts in them is pretty ordinary and the gearbox is way better with a good oil. Mine still has the factory oil, about to get changed, so I'll see.
I think OldPhart is right in that it is a "characteristic" of the bike. I kinda like it's roughness.

[9fingers]

Try some Mobile 1 V Twin oil (made for air cooled engines) or maybe some Amsoil, two of the best, and see if that helps. It helped my Classic 500.
9fingers

[Morgan65]

It sounds to me like the clutch cable isn't adjusted properly. Try tightening up the slack a bit.

Plus one.

[jmharper]

Thanks for the advice, everyone - what worked was putting the clutch in the friction zone when in second gear and tapping down into neutral. When it's in the friction zone rolling to a stop, I find neutral every time. Much appreciated.