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Three days ago I purchased a bright yellow 2001 Katana 600 with 5300 miles! And have only driven it hard only a few times. Overall I like the bike and think I may have found a keeper.
I have a couple of gripes/issues though I'd like to discuss with the forum, and see if these are "normal":
1) Coming off the freeway, at the first light, I have a very hard time finding first gear. I think I have downshifted all the way, but when I take off I find the bike is in second, or even worse, 'stealth' neutral (indicator light not on). Very unnerving. Is this something that needs adjustment?
2) Another transmission issue... Sometimes when I accelerate hard off the line the bike comes out of gear, or more precisely, does not shift to the higher gear and I'm left at the end of the lower gears power band. I have to be very deliberate and forceful with my toe to get into the next gear...of course I could slow down, but having acquired a 'new' bike, I want to put this Kat through it's paces. So again, do you think this is something that needs adjusted.
3) Not really an issue, I do find my right hand goes numb after ten to fifteen minutes. I've had bikes before with this riding position, but this hand numbness seems more acute with my Kat. What would be the thickest, softest gel handgrips recommended?
4) My front plastic fender bangs around a bit as if it is loose, and it is sorta loose. I'll have to look into this further but at first glance everything seems in place.
4) finally, and this is a bit nitpicky, I hate where the kickstand resides when in the riding position. It gets in the way of the shift pedal when I put my feet back up after a start from stop. I suspect though with more time on the bike this "issue" will resolve itself.
Well that sounds like a lot of bitching... but truthfully I'm fairly excited to have my 'new' Kat. Hope to find some Givi mounts, install some sidecases, install a laminar lip windscreen, and hit the highway into the mountains above Denver before the weather craps out.
I have a couple of gripes/issues though I'd like to discuss with the forum, and see if these are "normal":
1) Coming off the freeway, at the first light, I have a very hard time finding first gear. I think I have downshifted all the way, but when I take off I find the bike is in second, or even worse, 'stealth' neutral (indicator light not on). Very unnerving. Is this something that needs adjustment?
2) Another transmission issue... Sometimes when I accelerate hard off the line the bike comes out of gear, or more precisely, does not shift to the higher gear and I'm left at the end of the lower gears power band. I have to be very deliberate and forceful with my toe to get into the next gear...of course I could slow down, but having acquired a 'new' bike, I want to put this Kat through it's paces. So again, do you think this is something that needs adjusted.
3) Not really an issue, I do find my right hand goes numb after ten to fifteen minutes. I've had bikes before with this riding position, but this hand numbness seems more acute with my Kat. What would be the thickest, softest gel handgrips recommended?
4) My front plastic fender bangs around a bit as if it is loose, and it is sorta loose. I'll have to look into this further but at first glance everything seems in place.
4) finally, and this is a bit nitpicky, I hate where the kickstand resides when in the riding position. It gets in the way of the shift pedal when I put my feet back up after a start from stop. I suspect though with more time on the bike this "issue" will resolve itself.
Well that sounds like a lot of bitching... but truthfully I'm fairly excited to have my 'new' Kat. Hope to find some Givi mounts, install some sidecases, install a laminar lip windscreen, and hit the highway into the mountains above Denver before the weather craps out.
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