I have never ridden a bike with this problem but I fear my 954 is starting to want to fall out of gear in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, sometimes even 4th or that the shifter fork is bent. At first it was intermittent but is becoming more regular, if indeed that is the issue Im facing. what is happening is a little ways in to the revs off of a stop light if I roll into it too hard its starts stuttering and making a clacking noise until I up shift and then its the same all the way up to 4th where it will stop... 4th, 5th, and 6th have no lack of power and pull just fine, the motors revs and idles just fine and in 6th I can nearly top it out, basically Im saying it will run through its rev range fine so I know its not the motor... also, if I roll into power very slowly it will pull through the entire rev range with out the stutter which is leading me to think the chain is jumping the front sprocket, but upon inspection the sprocket appears to be in good shape although I did discover my chain is loose out of tolerance by about .5"

thoughts anyone?

-also I decided to add that when its cold its nearly impossible to shift up to 2nd, I mean that shifter will not budge, I have bruises on the top of my big toe from this lately, also when its cold if I rev it will roll forward under power with the clutch fully engaged once its warmed up this stops, also it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find neutral, no matter how gentle and delicate I am with it I simply cannot go from 1st to neutral, I usually have to go up to second and lightly tap it down to neutral...

 

Sounds either like bent shift forks or your gear dogs are rounding off, probly both. Either way motor pull and split.

 

How many mile are on it? When was the last oil change?

 

this is more than likely true... you might want to take a look at the hydraulics prior to pulling the cases, but I doubt it's a simple bleed.

while your are in there, get a new clutch and springs also.

the 954 is a good bike.