Having a problem while trying to put the bike in drive and reverse, ive checked the idle and it is low. When i got it a month ago i got it into gear once and ran like a champ but after replacing all the needed parts i cant get it and stopped to not break anything, has been sitting since i can’t figure out what is wrong, I’ve narrowed it down to two possibilities, either being the timing or the clutch if anyone could help i would be greatly appreciated!

 

The idle has to be as low as possible on those machines and you will still grind the gears as they go in. I noticed this when I got one in for service, so asked a Honda dealership mechanic what to do, he said "they all do that and we never sell them to farmers because they won't stand hard work, you are lucky it isn't a 680 because you can't slow the idle down on them" In my opinion they are a truly awful machine, and why Honda kept making them, while dropping the superb pre 2014 Rubicon Auto is a mystery to me. Perhaps a thicker oil may slow the gears down a bit, could be worth trying a SAE20-50 for motorcycles.

 

I will lower the idle to low as possible and will reply when I attempt. Thank you

 

You were exactly right, put in a new choke cable so i can get it as low as possible while on the bike and goes in like butter. Thanks a bunch