Question re drive line lash on CB1100

[dave]

Thanks for your thoughts.

My CB Dlx has the clunkiest transmission of any bike I have ever owned, except my 1968 Triumph 250. (Without counting, I would guess I have owned about 20 motorcycles, including the six in my garage right now). Like others have posted, the CB seems to be extremely sensitive to chain adjustment. I have never owned a bike (other than my pos Triumph) that I had to really, really think about making first to second gear shifts so the transmission / chain wouldn't sound like a Harley shifting. I live with this short-coming, but I am forced to constantly think carefully about each and every first to second gear shift. My Dlx ranks right up there as making one of the loudest "clunks" when shifting from neutral into first gear also. Before anybody asks, I run the Honda 10W30 full synthetic motor oil.

[Bheezy27403_imp]

I'm with you Dave. Mine is the same way. It will even lurch a bit when putting into first at a light.

[olekzap_imp]

This is my only real complaint about this motorcycle. There is so much slack in the throttle/transmission/chain. I have as little slack as I can get away with in the throttle and my chain is tightened to spec. Especially at lower RPMs, you have to be PERFECT with the throttle to shift smoothly from 1st to 2nd. It's just so picky. I find that when the engine is cold and the RPM idles around 1.2k rather than 1k it shifts much nicer. I really wish there was some way to adjust idle on these.

[Rocky_imp]

I'm sorry and surprised to hear this about the shifting problems, and I'm a bit dismayed because I have just the opposite experience.
My '14 CB has a super smooth transmission and engaging first from neutral is only a modest click. Going up and down through the gears is flawless and the bike is a joy to ride.
I'm using Motul 5100 10W30 so no magic there.
I'm not gloating, just voicing my experience.

[kvdv_imp]

I used to think that the 1st to 2nd gear shift was a little clunky too...until I found out from experience that it is 100% smooth 100% of the time if you run in 1st gear to AT LEAST 2800 rpm before attempting to shift to 2nd. Try this and I promise you will be amazed at the difference. This free advice comes with a money back guarantee if you're not completely satisfied - Kvdv

[feralchimp_imp]

^^^ endorsed. 1->2 transmission clunkiness has been 100% "RPM at shift point" related for me. I have a tendency to short-shift (esp in dense residential area) and the torque of the motor tends to invite that, but letting the motor stretch its legs a bit *really* smooths out the shifts.

[the Ferret]

Maybe that's why I don't feel it. My normal shift point is 3200 rpms.

[Rocky_imp]

I used to think that the 1st to 2nd gear shift was a little clunky too...until I found out from experience that it is 100% smooth 100% of the time if you run in 1st gear to AT LEAST 2800 rpm before attempting to shift to 2nd. Try this and I promise you will be amazed at the difference. This free advice comes with a money back guarantee if you're not completely satisfied - Kvdv