03-31-2015, 05:44 AM
"the clunk is normal for all motorcycles, but can be minimized. chain adjustment, motor oil, clutch adjustment, and idle adjustment can all make this worse if they are off. the best way to avoid the clunk (and a safer way to ride) is to shift into 1st as you are rolling up to a stop - no clunk, and you're ready to pull away if you need to.
but that being said, the clunk is kind of interesting. when you are sitting motionless, idling in neutral with the clutch lever out, components of the drivetrain are spinning (becase the clutch is engaged, so the idling engine is turning the clutch, halfshaft, etc). if you pull in the clutch lever, these components will continue to spin from momentum, and so when you engage first gear you are connecting this spinning part of the drivetrain to the chain/rear wheel, which isn't spinning. hence, the clunk. if you rev the engine first while sitting in neutral with the clutch lever out, the clunk will be worse because you will have spun the drivetrain components faster.
if you have been sitting in neutral with the clutch lever out and need to shift to first, you can minimize the clunk by pausing between pulling in the clutch lever and engaging first... this gives the drivetrain components a chance to slow down or stop spinning. i usually shift into first when i'm pulling up to a stop, so it doesn't come up often, but i if i shift out of gear i usually pull in the clutch and then wait about 10 seconds before shifting into 1st. " - Honda 919 rider at Wristtwisters.com
but that being said, the clunk is kind of interesting. when you are sitting motionless, idling in neutral with the clutch lever out, components of the drivetrain are spinning (becase the clutch is engaged, so the idling engine is turning the clutch, halfshaft, etc). if you pull in the clutch lever, these components will continue to spin from momentum, and so when you engage first gear you are connecting this spinning part of the drivetrain to the chain/rear wheel, which isn't spinning. hence, the clunk. if you rev the engine first while sitting in neutral with the clutch lever out, the clunk will be worse because you will have spun the drivetrain components faster.
if you have been sitting in neutral with the clutch lever out and need to shift to first, you can minimize the clunk by pausing between pulling in the clutch lever and engaging first... this gives the drivetrain components a chance to slow down or stop spinning. i usually shift into first when i'm pulling up to a stop, so it doesn't come up often, but i if i shift out of gear i usually pull in the clutch and then wait about 10 seconds before shifting into 1st. " - Honda 919 rider at Wristtwisters.com