clunk!!!

[patonga]

I've heard xs1100s are clunkers when being put into 1st gear but my one i bought last week seems to clunk often through all the gears.
is this typical or should i look at it ?
Thanks.

[81xsproject]

Are you refering to the very heavy shifting? The trans on the 11 is more like a truck tanny, very solid.

[HobbyMan]

Well 1st gear will make noise no matter what. Most of the rest is shifting technique. Sometimes my bikes do that and other times, it will feel very smooth. It all depends on how you do it

[patonga]

practice

So it's just a case of getting it right i guess.
I'll practice.
The clunking while i'm practicing won't hurt it will it?

[HobbyMan]

Everyone does it once in a while. Assuming it isn't something wrong with the bike, a little practice won't hurt too much. When I was first learning to ride on my dad's XS, I did the usual stuff like forgetting the clutch a few times lurching the bike forward to an abrupt halt. His transmission is still ok many miles later after teaching me how to ride. I am sure it wasn't "good" for it, but the transmission are perfectly cabable of taking abuse once in a while. It is the repeat offenders which wear out the gears. And besides, eventually you will be looking at replacing/fixing the gears anyway. I am thinking about just stocking up on new gears so that when the time comes that I need them, price won't be such of a Huge item.

[Hired_Goon]

Generally they clunk if trying to shift too quick. Practice some "casual" shifts. Generally you can get them really smooth going slowly up through the gears in lower revs.

May also be worth checking clutch adjustment and lubing the cable. If the adjustment is not quite right the clunk can be caused by too much drag still in the drive train while shifting.

[The Dutchy]

They do clunk shifting from neatral to first gear at a stop.
Check your rpms at idle. The higher the rpms, the louder the clunck. Mine idles at 950 to 1000 rpm resulting at a very low clunck. if I put it 1100 rpm, the clunck is louder.


Dutchy

[jeffe]

Another thing that is soomon to Yamahas are the "false" nuetrals. AS you shift you need to be not so much quick as firm. If you are not careful you will end up with the bike feeling like the bike is an extra nuetral where one is not supposed to be.

[jeffe]

Meant to say common not soomon. Sorry

[malber]

Originally posted by jeffe
Another thing that is soomon to Yamahas are the "false" nuetrals. AS you shift you need to be not so much quick as firm. If you are not careful you will end up with the bike feeling like the bike is an extra nuetral where one is not supposed to be.

That happens to me all the time. Scary as all hell when it happens when I'm trying to get on the highway. A firm shift is very important.

To the thread starter: I have to chime in with an afirmative: the tranny does make a very loud ka-chunk when shifting into first and this is normal. But don't call them clunky; most people describe them as bulletproof. Except for the 2nd gear issue.

[goldcoastguy001]

THe chatter clunk is normal from neutral to first as we all have pointed out and, shifting gears can be improved with practice, I thought id mention that the upward gear shift should be smoother than the neutral to first gear shift. if you are having XSive'ly hard gear changes make sure your carbs are sync'd and the rpm's drop properly when you clutch it. If it often that badly or miss tuned carbs can hold the revs a bit longer before dropping when you pull the clutch and cause a louder than normal clunk! I have mine tuned like a fine guitar and she shifts gear at any rev smoothly with no clunks at all.....its very pleasant to ride and race....BTW I do agree that practice will make you better but just check the Idle return when you clutch I think you'll be supprised....

[motorheadmarine]

if you don't want tranny to "clunk" at all.. hold throttle wide open and "Bang" the shifter...(power shift)kinda like power shifting a straight shift in a car ..hard to show someone how to do ..but comes easy once you "get it".. don't blame me if you wreck bike or screw up trans..just because i ride that way (sometimes) doesn't mean you need to....nothing you can do about some neutral to 1st gear clunk...but with some seat time you'll get to the point you can ease through the gears,even at lower throttle settings with nary a sound...haven't had a chance to ride in last month or so due to business issues...but i'm riding this saturday no matter what ....supposed to be 65

[TomB]

I've owned my XS for 23 years so I've had a little practice.
The boxes are a little clunky but with practice and knowing the bike you'll get it.
I also find doing clutchless changes also help, up and down the box.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Mine cluncks a lot going into first but if I put it into first before I stop it doesn't. I am going to get beat up on my next statement,I use the clutch from first to second and after that on the up shifts I use or don't use the clutch...both are smooth as silk..not power shifting just a gentle nudge into the next gear...back off on the throttle and start applying pressure on the shifter..takes a little practice and it will slide into the next gear,no clunking or jerking.
Been riding the same bike for almost 27 years,kinda got the feel for it.

[TomB]

Steppenwolf

I guess its something you do naturally when having ridden the same bike for a long time.

And it saves on clutches