Ten Things I like about my CB

[GoldOxide_imp]

Indeed, Honda Clunk is par for the course.

[jtopiso_imp]

Indeed, Honda Clunk is par for the course.

When you have a secuential gearbox, engaging the rotating dogs against the stationary 1st gear will always give you a "clunk". Unless there is a LOT of damping (friction or very thick oil) between them that can give a "head-start" to the gear just before the metal to metal impact.

A clunk is normal. Nothing to worry about.

[dave]

When you have a secuential gearbox, engaging the rotating dogs against the stationary 1st gear will always give you a "clunk".

My 1974 Honda XL250 had the best shifting transmission of any bike I ever owned. When cold, it had only the slightest "clunk" when shifted into first gear. When warm, there was no "clunk" what-so-ever.

[jtopiso_imp]

When you have a secuential gearbox, engaging the rotating dogs against the stationary 1st gear will always give you a "clunk".

My 1974 Honda XL250 had the best shifting transmission of any bike I ever owned. When cold, it had only the slightest "clunk" when shifted into first gear. When warm, there was no "clunk" what-so-ever.

Well, yes, my "always" was a bit of an exageration

If you have now friction on the clutch when it's open -worn clutch, very thin and hot oil-, if you wait long enough (maybe just a second or two before going into 1st) both the mainshaft's and countershaft's rotating speeds will be zero. In this case, you have no clunk, but you also have a chance of not being able to get the 1st gear in unless you keep pressing with the foot while you release the clutch.
Why is this? because when nothing rotates, you can have a dog-to-dog, preventing the gears to engage. (like having the peaks of one gear against the peaks of the other, instead of its valleys. As nothing rotates, nothing will move unless you release the clutch)

So not always, but usually, on a wet clutch not worn out, you have some friction that makes the mainshaft rotate, even when the clutch is fully pressed.

Quick check: put the bike on center stand, press the clutch, put 1st gear, and the rear tyre will rotate (slowly, with no power, you can even stop it with your hand) before you release the clutch: that's the friction between the clutch plates, which causes some of the clunk, but minimises the dog-to-dog situation making it easier to engage 1st when standing still.

The clunk isn't a bug: it's a feature!