I have a 2001 suzuki gsxr 600 shifting problems

Hey Kurama,
Has this bike been dropped on the shifter (left) side? I take that it won't shift up or down?...
... Do you mean check the shift shaft? (the shift fork(s) are inside the engine and cannot be checked without splitting the cases). the shift shaft may be bent...reply back..

Could be ignition fuse. If not that then check the large block connectors which are usually located on the left hand side at the front of the bike behind the cowling beneath the handle bar. These connectors are notorious on GSXR's

worn shifting fork,,,located under sidecase where shift lever is located,,or possibley stretched clutch cable,,not totally dissengageing,,,adjust cable,,,usually wont shift when off unless you rock bike back and forth.

I had a CBR that I had the same issue with. Sometimes it would go into gear, sometimes not. I would recommend lubricating the shifting assembly really good and checking it for proper adjustment. Sometimes adjusting the shift level will sovle this problem. Also changing the transmission oil can help in certain circumstances. If you are not using synthetic oil in your clutch case you can try a semi-synthetic oil and seee if that helps. If it does and you do not experience any clutch slippage then you can gradullay go to full synthetic. If you experience slipping change back to regular conventional. If you are using synthetic now they make additives that you can put in the transmission case to help the tranny shift more smoothly.

Get yourself a repair manual and find out what it says, but I think you are correct, the return spring is either broken or it has slipped. Try this site for a freebie manual:
http://www.carlsalter.com/motorcycle-manuals.asp

The transmission on your bike is not syncronized like a cars trans. When you are trying to shift from neutral at speed you must slow down to allow the gears to mesh. As far as having to rock the bike into gear sometimes, I have owned eighteen motorcycles of different sizes and makes and have had to rock all of them at one time or another to get them in gear. again lack of syncronization. It really doesn't sound as if you have a problem.
bigc

just input , not resolving anything. but i used to have a similar issue with mine, but i had a gs 750t . it has around 20,000 on the clock. sometimes it didnt want to shift into 1st from a dead stop, i had to let out on clutch, then pull clutch again , then it went right in. the gears are so fine cut in the bikes that once they get worn, even the shift fork, it gets a little harder to get into those gears without a little coaxing. by the sounds of it (without knowing the mileage) i dont think id worry too much. especially if its shifting up and down through gears without grinding of any sort. if the clutch is ok on it (being an 03) i assume its still touchy , ull be ok

You need to have your gear box checked, it might be a press or clutch but it needs to be opened to sort out this problem.To start try to see if you can increase the tension of the clutch and if not lucky then you have no other choice but to open the gear box.