The Transmission Tech That Makes Kawasaki Motorcycles Unique

Most motorcycle riders understand that different bikes come with different quirks and inconveniences. One common annoyance is the inability to find the neutral gear when parked or stopped at a traffic light. Kawasaki offers a transmission unique from other brands with its Positive Neutral Finder (PNF). It’s a feature now standard across all of its modern motorcycle lineup. Kawasaki’s PNF system is a clever little mechanism that guarantees the transmission hits neutral when the motorcycle is not moving. This works by using three simple ball bearings positioned in a slot on the output shaft of the transmission.
It relies on motion-dependent behavior, which means if the bike is moving, the shaft will be spinning. This causes centrifugal force to push the bearings outward, consequently freeing up the space to shift as normal. When the bike comes to a complete stop, the shaft stops spinning, allowing the bearings to settle back into the slot, preventing any shifts to second gear, while still allowing the transmission to shift to first gear and neutral as normal. Rider feedback have been positive, with one rider stating that without the bearings, finding neutral is impossible without killing the engine. However, some riders have pointed out that overly aggressive shifting or worn bearings can occasionally override the system, resulting in accidental shifting to second gear.