I was having some issues with my '98 Hawk slipping out of gear in 1st sometimes. I figured the bike has 77k on the OEM clutches might be time for new ones. I bought a Barnett full kit, now it's still doing the same but also neutral is incredibly hard to get into at a stop. Clutch fluid hasn't been changed in a few years.

 

"Clutch fluid hasn't been changed in a few years."

Dark & manky? Could well be way overdue a service.

Also check the clutch slave cylinder piston seals and bore. Grit can work its way in causing a slow leak by damaging seals / scoring of cylinder leading to a drop in efficiency & altered bite point - easily refurbed or splash out on a blingy Oberon and bleeding with lashings of fresh fluid.

https://www.bike-parts-honda.com/hon...__1000/1/11510

Clutch Slave Cylinders for Aprilia, Buell, Ducati, KTM Motorcycles

 

Popping out of gear can be a bent shift fork. If all thee above doesn’t work, your looking at a more involved fix.

 

Slipping out of gear and or difficulty finding neutral implies an incomplete shift / engagement of gears / rotation of gear selector drum.

That can be as simple as bad technique shifting, to loose shifter arm on shift shaft, worn shift linkage.

IMHO worn clutch plates will have no such symptoms as you described , a dirty, leaking needing service hydraulic clutch system can cause issues with finding neutral, but coupled with "popping out of gear" leads me to think its more than just a hydraulic issue.

By all means start there, bleed, or clean , rebuild, bleed as needed ..,check the shifter arm on the shift shaft for tightness and the rest of shifter linkages for slop.

If not, then you need to dig deeper.

 

Thank you everyone for the replies and advice, I will change fluid and dig deeper if needed. I bought the bike back in '01 with 3500 miles on it, has been pretty much trouble free.