First Gear Clunk

[aesmith]

Hi,

I've been wondering for a while, why would my bike sometimes go into gear with barely even a click, and other times with a resounding crash. It doesn't seem to relate to anything I do, for example holding the clutch in for a few seconds doesn't always prevent the clunk, nor does it seem to matter whether it's warm or cold. At the moment the clutch is freshly adjusted, the chain tension is correct oil recently changed - all thing that I used to think made gear changes slicker.

Any ideas? It makes me a bit paranoid in traffic, not wanting to sound like the mad bike abuser when I put the bike into gear.

Tony S

[clarke135]

When I had my 650 I took the sprocket cover off gave it a good clean and took apart cleaned and adjusted the worm gear that helped alot for me

[Bibio]

you want a reassuring clunk when putting/changing gear. put the bike up a paddock stand and let the bike run. if there the rear wheel turns slowly then you have clutch drag and you need to adjust your clutch system or replace the worm drive mech. if no clutch drag then everything is fine.

[Craig380]

My own K6 makes a big clunk when engaging first at a standstill. Oil changed 1,500 miles ago, clutch perfectly adjusted ... it still clunks 75% of the time. All other gear changes are near silent and smooth.

[Flybuster]

Mine used to do it a lot, especially when hot. Adjusted the clutch and now it hardly does it at all.

[Red ones]

If the guy at the lights best to you goes from neutral into first smoothly and without a clunk don't fall into his smug trap. It was a fluke.

The way gears mesh from neutral means there are times when they clunk and there are times they don't. Sometimes you're lucky and hit the gears at just the right times, others you don't.

Apart from making sure the clutch is adjusted, the chain the right tightness etc there is nowt you can do about it. What you should make sure is that you are not faffing about gently trying to get the gear in. Be firm with your foot.

[Tamsen Cooper]

Really glad this post came up as it is a question I have wondered about too, like your my bike sometimes goes no issue and sometimes with a real clunk. I have just ordered a new clutch cable as mine is looking old and worn, I have also changed the front sprocket as my chain was well past its best (of course videos coming soon!) so will see if that makes any difference.

[aesmith]

Thanks for the comments, I've been unable to access the forum for a while. Turns out the clutch is dragging a little. It wasn't apparent when I checked before, from cold, but when the bikes warm it definitely drags. I need to do a proper adjustment starting from the lifter and pushrod. I replaced the lifter a while ago, but was never happy with it as the new one had almost as much lost motion as the old.

Tamsen - it's worth doing this adjustment when you replace the cable.

I've also found that having the chain adjustment correct makes a big difference.