Planet Minis

d3vilsign

i just bought a barely-used '04 st50 with a 3-speed automatic transmission (requires shifting, but no clutch). It runs just fine, but it seems to have trouble getting in and out of 1st gear. This makes it very dangerous to ride, particularly when making a left turn across traffic.

so...my local motorcycle shop won't touch the bike as it's an unfamiliar foreign import, and i'm a total novice at maintenance. Any advice as to what i should check and how? I do have some friends with bike maintenance experience who can help me, but I'd love to know what to look for before i ask.

also, if anyone does know a mechanic in the Boston area that will work on this type of bike, that info would be extremely helpful!

thanks in advance!

BAJAZBR

You could try and adjust the clutch;prolly a lock nut turn screw on the side of the case.My chinese auto trans z50 copy was a lil tough to shift but got easier after i put some miles on here.Its possible that a manual clutch mod would solve your trans issues

Z

Never seen one of those with a 3 speed gearbox. Aren't they all 4 speed gearboxes?

fatcaaat

Get yourself a honda manual. The motors are virtually the same. I'm betting this is a clutch adjustment item.

To be honest, it could be cheaper to replace the motor than to take it into a shop to work on. You can get motors for like $150-200 if you look around. You can get a big Jialing from SGR for 230 shipped or so.

d3vilsign

thx for the quick responses!!

sweet, i'll definitely get a manual. I will also get the clutch checked out, that makes perfect sense.

on a side note, i did notice today that there is a good deal of slack in the chain. would that contribute to the shifting issue?

as far as a new motor...yeah, i've considered that, esp since this one has 0 torque and i feel like i'm gonna get run down by a line of traffic from behind. but this one is basically brand new, so i figured i'd give it a shot for a bit.