Obadiah Blank Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 When I kick any of the Kawasakis I've ridden into first gear, there is an almighty clunk, like the gearbox is exploding. It's always like this, doesn't get any better, or worse, no matter the miles. Usually worse when cold. What is going on inside? Does it have to be like that? Is it the thick clutch oil 'dragging' one of the gear spindles around? I've ridden loads of different makes of bikes, all bike gearboxes clunk, but not like a Kawasakis. I think this is the best place for this question, sorry if it's not. It's something that's always puzzled me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David W Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 It’s a Kawasaki feature... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkati Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 They all do that sir.... ...fucked if I know why but it's horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger 12 Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 Probably the positive neutral Finder that all kawasakis have. Just a guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobo Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 2 hours ago, hawkati said: They all do that sir.... You get used to it when you've ridden Kawasakis for years...... it's when you then jump on another make of bike and it doesn't do it that worries you....... is it actually in gear ? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazoli Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 My Z1000SX is that loud it makes pedestrians jump! It sounds broken and only has 5k on the clocks. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter_jamie Posted June 20, 2020 Report Share Posted June 20, 2020 clutch gets a bit sticky when it's cold. I used to put the bike in gear with engine off and clutch in and push it backwards to break the stiction in the plates before starting the engine 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obadiah Blank Posted June 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2020 This is the best answer I've got from elsewhere (thanks almost_les). It makes sense, but if others can make their boxes quiet and strong... Leave your bike off and put it in gear. Push it forward, then push it back. You'll notice a lot of drive train slop because the transmission uses dog-type engagement. That "clunk" is all of that slop being taken up. The gap between the dogs is larger than the dogs to allow a lager "window" for all the spinning parts to be lined up enough to let the gears slide into position. The neutral spinning gears slide over into first when the dogs slip into the window, and since they still have momentum, they make that clunk noise when they meet the dogs that they are to engage with. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdunc Posted June 22, 2020 Report Share Posted June 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Obadiah Blank said: This is the best answer I've got from elsewhere (thanks almost_les). It makes sense, but if others can make their boxes quiet and strong... Leave your bike off and put it in gear. Push it forward, then push it back. You'll notice a lot of drive train slop because the transmission uses dog-type engagement. That "clunk" is all of that slop being taken up. The gap between the dogs is larger than the dogs to allow a lager "window" for all the spinning parts to be lined up enough to let the gears slide into position. The neutral spinning gears slide over into first when the dogs slip into the window, and since they still have momentum, they make that clunk noise when they meet the dogs that they are to engage with. Same as every other bike this side of motogp. Bigger bikes have bigger gears with more inertia so do tend to "clunk" more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLRS Posted June 23, 2020 Report Share Posted June 23, 2020 Soo.. dry clutch the bastard and it's fixed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.