I've found the easiest way to get it into 1st from neutral is to slightly let out the clutch while pushing the shifter down into first. It's something I had to do on the MSF ninjas as well. Easier than rocking the bike, I think. Especially when in traffic.
Also, the reason it's hard to get into first isn't because the clutch is slipping, its because the dogs in the transmission haven't lined up perfectly to engage without some motion to align them. In a car, difficulty getting into gear is an indication of a bad master or slave cylinder in the clutch, but that's not the case with our bikes.
Another thing. For those having trouble shifting into 2nd, adjust your shifter peg down slightly to make upshifts easier.
Also, the reason it's hard to get into first isn't because the clutch is slipping, its because the dogs in the transmission haven't lined up perfectly to engage without some motion to align them. In a car, difficulty getting into gear is an indication of a bad master or slave cylinder in the clutch, but that's not the case with our bikes.
Another thing. For those having trouble shifting into 2nd, adjust your shifter peg down slightly to make upshifts easier.
