Motorcycle Won’t Move When Put In Gear? (Solved)

It’s a tired old tale, especially when it’s happening in real time.

You jump in the seat and fire up your motorcycle—she starts up just fine.

But as soon as you put it in gear, the bike stops moving; if you let the clutch out, the bike dies, and if you don’t, the bike won’t move.

Here are the 9 most common reasons why a motorcycle won’t move when put in gear.

1. Your Clutch Plates Are Seized

Motorcycles like to be ridden as much as we like to ride them. After a lengthy period of sitting, especially if stored around moisture, your clutch plates start to corrode.

If they sit for long enough, the rust and corrosion can cause your clutch plates to lock up.

Another misfortune that can result in seized clutch plates is a motorcycle that runs on low oil.

Regardless of whether it’s caused by running low or contaminated oil or from sitting and corroding, once seized, your motorcycle’s clutch plates will stop responding to rider input. As soon as you put your bike in gear, it won’t move–it will stall out instead. 

•  When you put your bike in gear, the engine won’t generate enough power to move the clutch plates.
• Therefore, the bike stalls out instead of moving as soon as you release the clutch lever.

You’ll know a seized clutch plate is your problem if your motorcycle refuses to move even when you’re walking it, with the clutch lever pulled in, when it’s in gear.

What to Do if Your Bike Won’t Move When it’s Gear Because Of Seized Clutch Plates:

• First, keep strolling it around in first gear, with the lever pulled in. This could toil the contamination off and free up your clutch drum.
• Another fast tip is to start it in neutral, put the motorcycle in first but keep the clutch lever pulled in. Then hit the throttle six or seven times before freeing the clutch lever; you might shake the clutch drum loose.
• Unsuitable oil also generates clutch plate friction that sometimes results in a seizure.
• Replace the oil with oil of the correct consistency.
• If none of this works, you might have a seized clutch basket. If that’s the case, you’ll need to swap it out for a fresh part.

2. Your Airflow Is Restricted

While some motorcycle air cleaners can be cleaned and reused, others need to be replaced at particular maintenance intervals—either way, fair filter upkeep is imperative on any motorcycle.

This is because a clogged or contaminated air filter can block airflow, as can a bend in your exhaust system or a dent in your intake manifold.

Restricting airflow affects combustion and therefore causes a loss in power and throttle response. If the restriction is severe enough, your motorcycle won’t move when you put it in gear and release the clutch lever—it will die instead.

What to Do if Your Bike Won’t Move When it’s Gear Because Of Restricted Airflow:

• Clean or replace your contaminated air filter.
• If there is wear to the exhaust, particularly if it’s close to the intake manifold, you may need your pipes replaced.

3. Air Entering Your Hydraulic Clutch Line

If your motorcycle has a hydraulic clutch, the presence of air in the clutch line can stop your clutch from disengaging.

This is generally either the result of a hole in your line or a leaking cylinder. Regardless, if you have a hydraulic clutch and there’s air in your lines, as soon as you put your bike in gear, it will stop moving and stall out. 

What to Do if Your Bike Won’t Move When in Gear Because Of Air in your Clutch System:

You’ll have to bleed your clutch lines.

• Examine the hydraulic clutch fluid reservoir.
• If it’s low, fill her up and try to put it in gear.
• If it still doesn’t start, inspect the hydraulic lines, the master and slave cylinders, and the reservoir for leaks.
• Leaks let air in the system, so if you’ve got some, that could be the culprit of your bike dying when you put it in gear.
• Replace the leaking components and bleed the air from your Hydraulic clutch system.

Source: https://motorandwheels.com/reasons-motorcycle-dies-in-gear

4. Poor Engine Tuning

If your motorcycle starts and idles just fine but won’t move when you put it in gear, it could be because your air-fuel ratio is out of tune.

This could mean clogged or maladjusted jets on a carbureted bike. On a fuel-injected bike, it might be due to clogs in the injectors. But most times, small things like burned spark plugs, valves, or timing belts need some tweaking.

Engine tuning looks different from bike to bike—routine maintenance is complex on some types of motos.

A poorly tuned engine can cause your bike to not move when it’s in gear, which makes following the service schedule in your owner’s manual much more important.

What to Do if Your Bike Won’t Move When in Gear Because Of Poor Engine Tuning:

• If your bike is carbureted, clean your carbs periodically with a carb cleaner.
• If it’s fuel injected or valve-equipped, keep up with routine inspection and maintenance.
• The same goes for your engine timing belts, etc.
• Keep your spark plugs fresh and clean.

5. Your Idle Is Set Too Low

If your motorcycle idle isn’t set strong enough, it won’t have the power required to spin your clutch plates into action.

So, as soon as you put your motorcycle in gear, your clutch won’t spin, and your motorcycle won’t move.

You’ll have to adjust your bike’s idle so that it’s high enough to generate the force needed to turn against the friction of the clutch plate.

There’s no shame in taking your bike to a mechanic for an idle adjustment, as an improper adjustment can worsen the situation.

Related: Motorcycle Idles But Won’t Accelerate (Solved & Explained)

6. Clutch Lever Is Broken Or Not Pressed In All the Way

The basic idea here is that if, for any reason, the rider’s clutch input is hindered, the clutch will fail to disengage, and the motorcycle won’t move when it’s in gear.

In some cases, it’s as simple as the rider’s thumb preventing the lever from pulling in all the way.

In other cases, the clutch lever prematurely pops out of the rider’s hand before they’ve finished shifting.

Sometimes the lever needs to be adjusted; others, the clutch cable prevents the clutch from moving the bike; more on that in the section below.

7. Clutch Cable Has Excess Slack

And finally, a work or stretched clutch cable will prevent the clutch from disengaging even when you pull in the clutch lever.

The cable doesn’t have enough free play to complete the clutch engagement process, so your bike can’t move when it’s in gear.

The clutch cable runs from the left-hand control lever (on most bikes) to the clutch drum inside your bike’s transmission.

If the cable has excess slack, it might just need a simple adjustment. In other cases, the slack results from heat expansion and wear and tear—all clutch cables need to be replaced eventually.

Regardless, your clutch cable should be tight but not too tight, or your bike will fail to move for the opposite reason.

Your clutch cable should have a slight play. The specific specs for your motorcycle’s ideal clutch adjustment should be outlined in the owner’s manual for your particular make and year model moto.

In addition, clutch cable adjustments are part of routine maintenance. Conducting the standard services will ensure your clutch lever isn’t overly slacked, preventing your motorcycle from moving while the bike is in gear.

What to Do if Your Bike Won’t Move When in Gear Because Of Excess Clutch Cable Slack:

• A routine tension adjustment should fix your cable right up.
• You need ample free play on the lever to keep it from wearing the clutch through slippage,
• But you’re looking for a tight enough cable to disengage the clutch plates entirely when the lever is pressed.
• While you are down there, lube up the clutch cable, not just to keep her slipping and sliding but also to prevent any dirt from causing future issues.

Source: https://motorandwheels.com/reasons-motorcycle-dies-in-gear

8. Your Motorcycle Side Stand Safety Switch Is Activated

One of the most common reasons a motorcycle won’t move when put in gear is its side stand safety switch.

Sometimes this happens because the side stand is extended, which is the core function of the safety switch.

The switch is intended to stop the motorcycle from riding off with its side stand extended, as this is a huge hazard to both rider and bike.

The side stands switch functions by wiring into the motorcycle’s neutral safety circuit.

The sensor interrupts the circuit when the side stand is extended in its “parked” position. It does this either by using a physical plunger to press in to impede the signal or by using a call/response sensor system that is interrupted when the two halves are separated by lowering the side stand.

The switch allows the bike to start and idle just fine with the side stand down, mind you, as long as the bike is in neutral.

However, your bike won’t move an inch as soon as you put your motorcycle in gear. Instead, your noble steed will die as fast as it does when you hit the kill switch.

In some cases, a side stand’s safety sensor is damaged or impaired so that it deactivates the circuit even when the side stand is up and ready to ready. A malfunctioning side stands safety switch can make it so your motorcycle won’t move when put into gear.

What to Do if Your Bike Won’t Move When in Gear Because Of a Malfunctioning Side Stand Safety Switch:

Suppose the plunger gets jammed shut due to dirt, grime, or debris. In that case, if its magnet gets contaminated or corroded, or if one of the sensor’s wires is frayed, you’ll have to either replace the side stand safety switch or bypass, reconnecting the circuit.

Related: Motorcycle Won’t Start With Kickstand Down | Here’s Why (SOLVED)

9. Malfunctioning Clutch Lever Safety Switch

Another safety feature common on modern bikes is a clutch safety switch which automatically prevents the motorcycle’s engine from starting when the bike is in gear with the clutch still engaged.

This prevents the motorcycle from lurching forward, damaging the bike’s gearbox and potential rider injury.

If the motorcycle’s clutch safety switch sensor is damaged, impaired, or corroded, or if one of its wires is frayed, your motorcycle won’t move or start when it’s in gear, regardless if the clutch is disengaged. 

What to Do if Your Bike Won’t Move When in Gear Because Of a Bad Clutch Lever Safety Switch:

• Clean your switches with a parts washer.
• If you cleaned the switch, your wires might be worn, and the bike still can’t shift into gear without dying.
• You can either resolder the wires to the safety sensor or bypass it by soldering the circuit closed.

Sources

11 Reasons Motorcycle Dies When Put In Gear

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