Shifts like a Russian tractor - - -

[fredintoon]

- - - and a Soviet era tractor at that.
My newly acquired XS11SG makes a nasty noise on shifting up.
Clunk! into first, super-careful low rpm shift to 2nd can be quiet but 2-3 & 3-4 make a noise regardless while 4-5 is mostly OK. Going back down is fine. Am I like the Bugatti owner who claimed that his engine sounded like a bucketful of ball-bearings being poured onto a steel plate to be told, from what you describe your engine is running perfectly? Or am I heading for trouble unless something gets fixed or adjusted?
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[Underdog]

From what I've been told, that's the way they are. Adjusting your technique can help. Still, I've never been able to get it down consistantly and at higher revs. I suppose that's why you see so many on ebay with bad trans.

[Geezer]

Cannge your oil to Castrol 20-50 and try preloading the lever before shifting. I put a little up pressure on the shift lever to take out the slack then finish the shift when I pull in the clutch. The clunk factor goes way down with this method.

Geezer

[TopCatGr58]

Ya Comrad,

IT's normal for these beasts, but there are a few things you can do like Geezer said to diminish it. Along with using the higher multigrade oil, you can start the bike after shifting into first if it's already warmed up and you've made a stop.

Otherwise, hold the clutch lever in for several seconds NOT reving the engine, this will also help to slow down the free spinning gears before putting it into 1st. Also, downshift into 1st while you are still moving when coming to a stop, and hold it there with the clutch pulled in instead of putting it in neutral!

Also, what engine speeds are you up shifting at? Are you even using the clutch? Although several folks condone the No-clutch shifting technique, I prefer to replace clutch plates instead of gears and shift forks! After revving up to the desired rpm, combining a gentle release of throttle and thoroughly pulling in the clutch before shifting can also help.

But there is a lot of slack in the gear train, so it's quite normal to hear it, had a friend riding a 750 V-twin behind me and he thought he was going to see trans parts dropping behind me from the sounds he heard!!!
T.C.

[fredintoon]

carefully using the clutch

Hi T.C.
coincidentally the bike is already running Castrol 20W50 and for sure the clutch gets used to shift. I typically shift around 5K around town.
Too many years running bikes that were interlocked against electric starting in gear, you mean the XS11 will do that?
Far too many years operating old Britbikes where if you stopped in gear with the clutch pulled for more than a few seconds the clutch overheated has conditioned me against doing that, too.
Live & learn I guess and mebbe get earplugs?
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[2fast]

Brit vs Japan

Hey Fred,
I am and old Brit (Triumph) rider too, and have had a hard time overcoming the "don't hold the clutch in" training. But I have been doing it more lately. I have very good results just holding in the clutch for a few seconds before shifting into first. I still ride my 73 Trident once in a while and the clutch pull on that bike is a real workout compared to the XS11.