My bike is in neutral, i used to be able to hold in the clutch and step lightly to put into 1st. If i try that now, the gear grinds. I have to stomp into 1st. After riding, down shifting into 1st there is no problem...its just start out. Is there something wrong?

Clutch problem - please help - Dirt Rider Magazine

forum.dirtrider.com/discussion/6668452/clutch-problem-please.../p1

18 posts - ‎9 authors
I start the bike in neutral with the clutch pulled in, then I shift into first and it will kill ...bike, if you put the bike in gear and try to roll it (even with the clutch lever pulled ...Started it back up, gave it enough throttle to keep it from stalling, put it in 1st, ... I continue to change the oil in my clutch but almost immediately it turns white.

Re:Always shuts off putting it in first!! - Road Star Forum ...

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Jun 17, 2014 - 10 posts - ‎8 authors
My 99 Roadstar has the habit of always shutting off when I knock it into first ... pull in the clutch and put it in first gear the bike lunges forward and shuts off. ... Hold thefront brake ALWAYS when shifting a cold bike into first. ... What I do on cold starts is to select first gear with the motor off, pull the clutch in and ...

How To: Fix 5 Common Bike Issues ' RideApart

https://rideapart.com/articles/fix-5-common-bike-issues

Jul 21, 2014 - It's easy to assume the worst when your bike isn't opperating perfectly, ...Where's my ignition! ... First, ensure the battery is good and that the engine turns over.... Try starting with the kickstand up, clutch in, and bike in neutral and see if the ...goes away most the time when the bike is put into gear or revved.

Checking Your Yamaha Ultramatic Drive Belt - YouTube

? 9:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgh4TzSgCB0
Oct 9, 2010 - Uploaded by 6speeddakota .

check your neutral switch, it's probably loose or faulty

Instructions

1. • 1 The gears on a motorcycle run in this order: first, neutral, second, third, fourth and fifth. When you are moving, shifting up from first gear will skip over neutral and shift you right into second gear. The only time that shifting up from first will get you into neutral is when you are not moving.
     
   • 2 Pull in the clutch lever and tap the gear lever down until it stops. This will signify first gear. Pressing the gear lever down will shift you down one step and pressing it up will shift up one step.
     
   • 3 Tap the gear lever up one click while still holding in the clutch. This will put the bike into neutral.
     
   • 4 Start the bike. The bike needs to be in neutral to start.
     
   • 5 Hold in the clutch lever and tap the shifting lever down to shift to first gear.
     
   • 6 Release the clutch slowly and give it just enough gas to get moving.
     
   • 7 Listen to the motor to know when you need to shift. If the engine is making a low grumbling noise, then it will need to be shifted down. If it is making a high squealing noise, then it needs to be shifted up.
     

Instructions

1

The gears on a motorcycle run in this order: first, neutral, second, third, fourth and fifth. When you are moving, shifting up from first gear will skip over neutral and shift you right into second gear. The only time that shifting up from first will get you into neutral is when you are not moving.
2

Pull in the clutch lever and tap the gear lever down until it stops. This will signify first gear. Pressing the gear lever down will shift you down one step and pressing it up will shift up one step.

3

Tap the gear lever up one click while still holding in the clutch. This will put the bike into neutral.
4

Start the bike. The bike needs to be in neutral to start.
5

Hold in the clutch lever and tap the shifting lever down to shift to first gear.
6

Release the clutch slowly and give it just enough gas to get moving.
7

Listen to the motor to know when you need to shift. If the engine is making a low grumbling noise, then it will need to be shifted down. If it is making a high squealing noise, then it needs to be shifted up.

It could be the clutch needs adjustment or the reverse syncro is not there or needs to be replaced. good luck.

you can ride the cluthch on a bike un like a car you wont hurt it its oil lubricated constantly, sitting on the bike pull the clutch in with your left hand and click the left foot lever down in to 1st, then learn how to click it back up 1 half movement in to neutral. the neutral light will come on sfter the bike enters neutral. in first gear give the throttle on the right hand a squeeze and pull the clutch in with your left hand put foot gear selector down in to 1 st and begin to release clutch slowly. hold on as bike will engage may be jerky balance yourself! when you get moving stop! by pulling the clutch in and the hand brake as you close the throttle to stop! practice your take off many times some where safe! when you get your balance in 1st gear pick up speed and begin shifting the foot gear selector up in to 2nd gear and practice closing the throttle and breaking to a safe stop. gears are generslly 1st down 1 click 2345 and6th all up from there and neutral is 1 half a click up from 1st between 2nd gear. And dont put it in gear with the kick stand down t may stall on you

hope this helps

A slight grinding noise is common when sitting idling with the clutch out and then trying to put the transmission is first gear, especially when the transmission is cold. You can try holding the clutch in for a short while and then try putting it into gear to see if that stops it. I'm not sure adjusting the clutch is going to help much. It's a matter of stuff spinning and other stuff not spinning in the transmission.

If you want to adjust the clutch, find the "bellows" type cover that covers the adjuster in the middle of the cable. Work this cover up or down and uncover the cable adjuster. Break the lock nut loose and adjust the adjuster inward making the cable shorter. Adjust it all the way in.

Remove the derby cover. You may want to stand the bike up fairly straight up to do this to make sure you don't have any oil running out of the primary. With the derby cover off, you'll see the clutch pressure plate. In the middle of the plate, you'll see a screw with a lock nut on it. Make sure the bike is in neutral. Break the locknut loose. The engine may try to turn a bit when you try to break the nut loose. Turn the screw inward until you feel a resistance. I usually do this then back the screw back out a bit and then back in several times to make sure I'm at the point of resistance, no further. You don't want to start releasing the clutch with the screw. Once you've turned the screw inward until you feel the resistance, back it back out 1/2 to 1 turn. Lock the lock nut back down and reinstall the derby cover.

Then, adjust the cable adjuster out until you have about an 1/8 inch of free travel at your clutch lever pivot. I usually use a nickel between the clutch lever and the lever stancion.

Now you know why the prior owner sold the bike. The problem is a bent shift fork. The engine comes out of the bike then the bottom end gets disassembled to a point where a new shift fork can be installed. The "grinding" is the dogs on the slider gear not fully engaging into first gear.
Your local Honda dealer will charge you $1000 to $1500 to do the repair. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Please rate my answer. Thanks!

Does the bike have a sidestand switch that cuts the power if the stand is left down? If it does, disconnect it and temporarily join the ends together and try starting....

does not seem like the waterpump. is the clutch set too loose?
usually in wire based clutches, if the clutch cable is set to be too loose, or if it is frayed, and needs replacement, the bike will jump and stall.
check that.