Why Does a Motorcycle Stall When Shifting Gears?
2 Answers
Motorcycle stalling when shifting gears can be attributed to the following reasons: 1. Winter: Typically caused by low external temperatures, which reduce the fluidity of engine oil, leading to incomplete clutch disengagement. Most common motorcycles use wet clutches, also known as oil-bath clutches, where multiple paper-based clutch plates are immersed in engine oil that serves as a coolant. When the external temperature is too low, the oil's fluidity decreases and becomes sluggish, causing incomplete separation of the clutch plates. This results in the engine stalling as soon as a gear is engaged. 2. Spring, Autumn, and Summer: The first consideration should be whether the clutch cable has insufficient free play.
I've seen plenty of motorcycle stalling issues during gear shifts, mainly caused by improperly adjusted clutch and idle speed. A clutch that's too tight overloads the engine, causing it to stall when shifting gears. If the idle speed is too low, the RPM becomes unstable and the engine dies when releasing the throttle - especially common during cold starts. Spark plug carbon buildup causing poor ignition, or carburetor blockage affecting the air-fuel mixture can also lead to stalling. I just helped my neighbor fix his bike - found his idle adjustment screw was loose, and resetting it to 1500 RPM solved the problem. Also, clutch free play should be maintained at 2-3 cm; if it exceeds this, check for clutch cable wear. Don't try DIY adjustments to save trouble - get it checked at a professional shop for peace of mind, safety comes first. This issue can't be delayed - sudden stalling while riding is extremely dangerous, especially when stopping at intersections where rear-end collisions are likely.
