I'll bet anything it's just an oil viscosity issue plus technique, not the ratchet gear.
If you go to a thinner oil (Type F ATF is thin) and adjust your kicking technique you should find that it's no longer a problem, or a much rarer one.
Before you swing the lever through with full force, put gentle pressure on it so that you find engagement and can feel the resistance. If necessary, back off and try again to get good engagement near the top of the stroke. Then swing it through fast.
If you just jab at the lever like you can with other bikes, you'll often miss engagement altogether and nearly break your foot in half when you slam into the footpeg. You'll get the hang of this technique pretty quickly and not have to think about it too much.