Most bike riders perceive that totally different bikes include totally different quirks and inconveniences. One widespread annoyance is the shortcoming to search out the impartial gear when parked or stopped at a site visitors mild. Kawasaki gives a transmission distinctive from different manufacturers with its Optimistic Impartial Finder (PNF). It is a function now commonplace throughout all of its trendy bike lineup. Kawasaki’s PNF system is a intelligent little mechanism that ensures the transmission hits impartial when the bike shouldn’t be shifting. This works by utilizing three easy ball bearings positioned in a slot on the output shaft of the transmission.
It depends on motion-dependent conduct, which implies if the bike is shifting, the shaft can be spinning. This causes centrifugal power to push the bearings outward, consequently liberating up the house to shift as regular. When the bike comes to a whole cease, the shaft stops spinning, permitting the bearings to settle again into the slot, stopping any shifts to second gear, whereas nonetheless permitting the transmission to shift to first gear and impartial as regular. Rider suggestions have been optimistic, with one rider stating that with out the bearings, discovering impartial is not possible with out killing the engine. Nevertheless, some riders have identified that overly aggressive shifting or worn bearings can often override the system, leading to unintended shifting to second gear.
How the PNF transmission system works
Being the one model in the marketplace to supply this transmission as commonplace on almost all of its bikes and the simple, minimalist design that addresses a common bike criticism make this transmission a well timed enchancment for riders. Its predictable and constant nature in what it does, and with out the necessity for any electronics or further {hardware}, offers Kawasaki’s PNF system an enormous ergonomic enchancment over different trendy bikes. The PNF operation doesn’t have an effect on efficiency both; as a result of it is deactivated as quickly because the bike is in movement, letting the bike shift gears like regular, even whereas aggressive driving.
Due to its easy design, Kawasaki mechanics say the Optimistic Impartial Finder system is fairly dependable, decreasing upkeep, whereas rising reliability for riders who need to keep on the highway reasonably than the restore store. The PNF transmission doesn’t require studying new shifting strategies like in different totally different bike transmissions. It is easy to grasp shifting shortly, making driving extra pleasing. The predictability and luxury of realizing you will not need to fiddle with the shifter when stopped vastly improves the commuting expertise, a key purpose why many riders think about Kawasaki to be among the many greatest bikes for metropolis driving. Older manufacturers like Harley-Davidson and Royal Enfield additionally dabbled in related techniques, however by no means formally provided the function on their bikes.
