I just bought my first bike yesterday, a 2008 sportster 1200. I drove it home and it gave me 0 issues. But when I went back out for a ride with my dad and brother I tried to down shift to turn a corner and the shift lever won't budge. so I shift up and it shifts smooth and I try to down shift again and still won't budge so now trying over and over I now have it stuck in 5th or 6th gear I'm not sure how many gears it has but I have it stuck in the highest gear and the shift lever will not click down at all. I made it home and parked it for a bit before I went back out to try and get it to down shift again and still same thing it won't budge, but now it seems to act as if its neutral I can completely disengage the clutch and the bike won't move forward or die like it's in neutral but I'm positive the bike is in the highest gear. And when I turn it off I can push the bike without engaging the clutch but I'm positive it's in gear. Please help me!!!!

SOURCE: 99 hd 1200 sportster sport 4th gear acts like neutral

low engine oil will cause this hope it helps

Sudeep Chatterjee

• 3267 Answers
• Posted on Aug 19, 2009

SOURCE: While riding, the 4th and 5th gears do not engage

This behavior is the symptom that your clutch plates are getting worn out. Since power is transmitted from the cam shaft to the front sprocket (smaller dia) is better at lower gears but once the rpm increases the clutch plates do not catch up with the cams rotation, hence slipping at higher gears & in between 4th & 5th gears the pulling power of the engine seems to go to neutral before engaging again. Check your clutch plates as well as the sprocket-chain- rear sprocket for wearing out of the gear teeth & replace if required. You will get back full power & acceleration as when the bike was new.............sodeep

SOURCE: My Harley 883 Sportster suddenly became stuck in 5th gear.

More than likely the shifter pawl has broken. Breaking in 5th gear is kind of unusual however, they usually break between first and second.

You'll have to remove the outer primary cover to look at the shifter pawl. It's partially covered by the clutch assembly.

Testimonial: "Thankyou for your help, I have been looking at an exploded drawing of the Sportster gearbox, so I can see what you mean."

SOURCE: i have a 2001 harley davidson 1200 sportster. while riding it,it

G'day mate , sounds like primary drive / clutch basket. to find where the fault is turn the engine OFF , put it into gear and spin the rear wheel either by pushing or suspend the rear wheel , where the noise of spinning stops thats where the break in drive will be , fixing it may be a whole diferent matter but hope its just simple like clutch adjustment, ( to tight holding basket open )

SOURCE: Dirt Bike Shifting gears problem(1972 yamaha dt 250 2stroke)

it will be down to adjustment, there are 2 ways to adjust one close to the engine casing and one at the lever just have to get a good balance :)

Testimonial: "Exactly what i needed to know thankyou!"