slack in shifter

my bike (07 rwb) got dropped at low speed today. the clutch lever is bent and the bike seems to be shifting funny. by funny i mean, not neccessarily bad but seems different. i know that it could just be that the clutch lever being bent is throwing me off but it even sounds different... seems louder. when i grab the shifter it has slack in it now. not up and down but in and out of the motor. the shaft that goes into the motor/tranny has about an 1/8 of an inch of travel in and out of the tranny. never checked before so i dont know if this is normal. my bike has 5k on it, btw

 

Replace the clutch lever. Remove the shift lever and look at the darn thing for busted off teeth.

 

Feels funny cause it's bent, I wouldn't worry about the end play really that sounds normal. But if it's stiffer/harder to shift, I would say you may be better off taking her apart for some inspection, may have bent the shift rod itself.

 

new levers on the way. upgrading to carbon fiber. no broke teeth on the shift lever or shaft. checked that already. glad to hear that a little play in the shaft is normal, thats what had me worried. gonna wait till i get new levers before i worry too much. bur i swear the click sound when i shift is louder now. no different, just louder. much louder. maybe im just listening harder now. thanks guys

 

Sorry to hear that it got dropped. Chances are that you are just super sensitive to every noise right now. As long as it is shifting into gear smoothly you are okay.

The 07 RWB is my favorite looking later gen--could almost overlook the fuel erection for one...

 

straightened out the clutch lever (couldnt wait on the brown shirts to bring my new ones) and put a few miles on my bike. you guys were right, it was all in my head. bike is running fine. bruised, but not broken

 

How did you straighten your bent clutch lever? With a BMFH>">?? "big-mother-fucking-hammer" held in place by a vice?

Inquiring demented minds want to know!

 

with two box end wrenches. got it pretty straight. BUT, on my way into work this afternoon it seemed to be shifting rough again. told myself that it was just in my head. when i got to work and went to back in to my parking spot, it wouldnt come out of first gear. had to wrestle with it for a bit. turned it off and rocked it, on and off the clutch a few times. finally got it in neutral. checked the oil before leaving work, before startup couldnt see any in the bubble! after warm up and 2 mile ride to the gas station, could barley see a little in the bubble. this really pisses me off considering that i just paid $110 for an oil change at coast cycle world!!!