Background on the bike: '03 636 with under 5,000 miles. I have owned it for the last 1500(about 2 months).

Lately between hardshifts I have noticed the shifter rattling, or worse falling a gear lower causing over revs. I realize that this can be common between 1st-2nd just because neutral is there, but this has happened between 3rd-4th at around 100mph in the last week. I tend to ride it like I stole it on a daily basis, but is it common for a tranny to go under 5K miles? Or is it something less severe?

 

That does not sound good. I hope you get it sorted.

 

Yeah sounds like a Yamaha problem

 

ill save the kawi jokes for later since this sounds somewhat serious. but like CXHatchback said, it sounds like the 1stgen R6 tranny problem. do 636's have any service bulletins?

 

I posted it on kawiforums.com too, they said it was either a faulty detent or I wasn't being firm enough with my shifts

 

Sup bro, i have an 04 636 and since about 500miles my tranny has acted weird...at first it wouldnt go into gear at times and i'd get a rattling sound and have to pull over and pop it in gear...now at higher rpms when going from 1st to 2nd it won't go past neutral...I think kawis are known for tranny probs..i still love the bike tho!

 

Kawasaki has always had horrible transmissions...except for 2005 I hear there is major improvements....I would sell the Kawi and get a Honda

 

my buddies 05 636 did that to him but i think he wasnt firm enough on his shifts

my f2 does it ocasionally

 

Is the bike still under warranty?

 

First off.What oil are you running through it? Always look on the bottle to make sure it's not an "energy conserving oil" before you put it in your bike.Secondly,if you run synthetic too soon there's a slight chance your tranny/clutch could be slipping.Let us know what oil you're using and we'll go from there.

 

03-04 ZX6R's are known to have sometimes difficult shifts but that is mainly when there is not enough engine rpm/momentum to allow a smooth float from one gear to the next.

I have never heard of them breaking or causing major problems, only being tricky to inexperienced riders (on the bike, not in general).

I switched mine over to Mobil 1 and it has been much smoother since, though I never really had enough of a problem to cause me to mis-shift/overrev, I did have the occasional stiff shift.

Maybe I just got lucky with my bike.

There may be an adjustment necessary on your shifting "star" to realign it if it's misaligned, but thats a tough one to troubleshoot if its only at high rpm's

Do you have the manual on CD or paperback?

I have the CD if you need it.