GPz550 won't shift into second gear

I am working on a 1984 GPz550 that I sold to my buddy a few years ago. He's having trouble shifting into second gear.

When the clutch is pulled, it will shift into first and neutral, but you can't upshift into 2nd. I'm guessing it's a bent shift fork, but this is my first time working on transmissions.

Can anyone help me out? Thanks!

Edit: The bike isn't running when I'm trying to shift. I think I read somewhere that you can't shift into second when the bike isn't rolling.
In any case he had an issue where the bike popped out of gear while cruising in second. Maybe a false neutral? I'm not even sure what that is.
I was ruling out it being a clutch issue due to the fact that he said he wasn't revving very high when it happens so I don't think there's any slippage occurring.

That's normal, The bike will not shift from neutral to second unless it's moving or the rear wheel is spinning. It's called a neutral finder, Kawasaki installed 3 ball bearings in the transmission that prevents over shooting neutral while stopped. When the bike is moving those ball bearings fling outwards because of centrifugal force allowing the rider to shift from neutral to secind.

What baldy said plus---

If it slipped out of second only once, it could have been the result of sloppy shifting. If it happens more, then a bent shift fork or damaged engagement dogs are likely the cause.
Sometimes also caused by a broken or weak shifter return spring. This is the easiest to fix.

Kawasaki must really regret putting the benefit of shifting to neutral at a stop without the work of not shifting to second. Question has been hashed over 1,000 times or more just here.

By dpivas7: .... In any case he had an issue where the bike popped out of gear while cruising in second. Maybe a false neutral? I'm not even sure what that is. I was ruling out it being a clutch issue due to the fact that he said he wasn't revving very high when it happens so I don't think there's any slippage occurring.

I wouldn't depend upon anything the previous owner said. some guys don't know what they're going & aren't truthful. and sometimes do the wrong things.

TexasKZ wrote: What baldy said plus---

If it slipped out of second only once, it could have been the result of sloppy shifting. If it happens more, then a bent shift fork or damaged engagement dogs are likely the cause.
Sometimes also caused by a broken or weak shifter return spring. This is the easiest to fix.

Is a bent shift fork as easy to fix as it sounds? Do you just replace the fork or is it no that simple? I'm going to ride the bike and see if I can simulate the issue he had, but I just want to know for future reference.