TOPIC:

Hi Folks,
I'm trying to understand a problem I've encountered on a Suzuki DR 200 SE. I poked around the internet but found nothing that related to this bike specifically enough so I cam back home.
Here goes:
When cold this bike shifts fine. Once the bike is hot and rolling it shifts fine, however, if the bike is hot it will not shift out of first after you have come to a stop. Even though the bike didn't seem to want to crawl when in gear with the clutch in I thought that the clutch might be dragging so I tightened the cable. No difference.
Any insights will be appreciated.
Bill

I'd take the cable off and see if it moves freely. I had a cable that was gummed up not long ago. I soaked it in penetrating oil and got it to spin in it's housing where it wouldn't before. I replaced it with a new one and am keeping it as a spare.
Steve

The clutch dragging is the usual cause.
Doesn't take much to stop neutral engagement without the bike creeping.
Amongst other things like the cable etc check the alloy basket for wear and you may have to take a file to the fingers to smooth out any grooves that the plates may be hanging up in.

I just got a hint from a local mechanic. He suggested that too much oil would cause that problem. I have the bike in my van so I checked and sure enough the oil level is way above the sight glass. I'll drain some out and ride the bike this evening to see if that's the issue. I can't imagine why the oil level would have anything to do with shifting but I'm always willing to learn.
Bill

Too much oil or thick oil will cause drag between the clutch plates which in turn can cause your shifting problem.

I dropped the oil level but after letting the bike get well warmed up the shifting problem is still there. I found that if, at a stop, I shut off the engine when it's in first gear the bike did sag back a tiny bit. That told me that the clutch is dragging. I suppose that little bit of loading on the gears is enough to make shifting while stopped difficult. Pretty sure that it's time for a new clutch.
Bill

Check for warped plain plates and notching of the alloy baskets outer fingers.