1st gear CLACK

[JustPassinThru_imp]

My wet-clutch TW200 goes in fine.

But I've discussed the Honda clutch with two techs at two Honda bike agencies, and they all agree - mine is normal; and I'm guessing it sounds just like yours.

I don't take it out of gear at lights. If it's a long light, as many near my home are...I kill the engine. Only rarely do I put it in gear with the engine running. If I start it up cold in neutral, I'll kill it to put it in gear and restart it.

I may eventually have to buy a starter - but that's probably cheaper than a transmission rebuild.

Yeah...ummm...don't anyone think that a) it's a good idea to shut off your bike at long lights or b) that starting your bike in gear in any way saves your transmission.

The thunk (aka clack, aka clunk) is normal and is not harming your engine or transmission at all.

It may be; but the force and the jump, show something intense is happening in the gearbox and driveline.

I don't know why shutting the engine down and then restarting it would be harmful. Engine is warm; oil has been up. Those lights near home are LONG - a couple over five minutes, sometimes, to cycle. No, not a dead sensor - an idiot traffic engineer who wants to discourage people from driving; driving ANYTHING. ANYWHERE.

Shutting the engine down and then restarting it, prevents overheating or "over-warming" from long stationary idling. It's not the same as a dry-start, COLD, with no oil on the top of the engine.

I'm sure the starter wear will add up. So be it....

It may be; but the force and the jump, show something intense is happening in the gearbox and driveline.

I don't know why shutting the engine down and then restarting it would be harmful. Engine is warm; oil has been up. Those lights near home are LONG - a couple over five minutes, sometimes, to cycle. No, not a dead sensor - an idiot traffic engineer who wants to discourage people from driving; driving ANYTHING. ANYWHERE.

Shutting the engine down and then restarting it, prevents overheating or "over-warming" from long stationary idling. It's not the same as a dry-start, COLD, with no oil on the top of the engine.

I'm sure the starter wear will add up. So be it....
I don't really care much if you or anyone else chooses to start their bike in gear or in neutral; I just didn't want anyone who was reading the thread to think that doing it one way or another was anything more than personal preference. Your bike will be just fine either way.

I also don't care much if you or anyone else chooses to shut their bike down at a long stoplight; I just didn't want anyone who was reading the thread to think that it's a good idea to trade a nebulous theory that they are saving their engine for the very real risk that they will not be able to move quickly enough to avoid being run over. Again, it's a matter of personal preference, but your bike will be fine if you leave it running.

Uh...okay.

Speaking logically, I think the very-real potential for overheating an air-cooled four with no fan or forced airflow, is a greater concern than the hypothetical that something is going to happen at the rear of the twelve-car line behind me that will make me, again hypothetically, figure correctly it's safer to bust the read and dive in front of that TOWN PUMP double-trailer gasoline tanker that's bearing down on the intersection with the green.

All hypothetical, of course. In a calm moment, I can figure that if the guy twelve cars back gets rear-ended at 20 mph; he'll hit the car ahead, which wil hit the car ahead and the car ahead. Still leaving me with a six-car cushion.

Peace... Out.