Putting it into first gear.

[Troll]

The "clunk" happens because the clutch drags just enough, when completely disengaged to make the main shaft turn. The faster the idle speed, the louder the clunk. It's really no big deal, and won't hurt anything. Some of out training bikes don't have any clutch drag, at all. This causes more problems than you might imagine. Beginners, especially, get caught "stuck" in neutral. If the shafts aren't turning, the engagement dogs sometimes line up, and sometimes they don't. When they don't , you can't get it into gear. The beginners will try over and over, and sometimes stomp on the shifter. This has been known to bend external linkage (notorious on Honda Rebels) and 1-2 forks on others...The cure to being blocked out of a gear is to quit jamming the shifter, and release the clutch, and try again.....

[CDNRatMan]

my 800 makes a clunking sound into first gear but thought it was normal because it is a lot quieter then my brother in laws Harley which sounds like he is dropping the engine out of the bike.

[Ricardo]

I've never experienced this phenomenon on my 800 Drifter, but on my old EN500 I had it frequently. The only way I could avoid it (and this worked about 80% of the time) was to slowly engage the clutch while backing up at the same time.

[Troll]

You guys need to try a Harley...sounds like slamming a chunk of steel into a running punch press...

[drifter-paul]

While warming up, I roll backwards, then forward -  'loading' (put slight downward pressure on the gearshift) and easing in the clutch level, till it drops into gear. Works sometimes, and sometimes it don't.

[49Reo]

That cold oil clunk-and-jerk putting it in first gear is pretty normal with dino-oil. Does it less with synthetic. Pull your clutch in and put it in first before starting the engine, you will feel a bit of a jerk which is the clutch sticking due to cold oil. Goes away when warm.

[Troll]

A little clutch drag is pretty normal, either with a wet or dry clutch..this will make it jump a bit when shifting from neutral to first. I don't want to get into what happens with a Barnett drag clutch on a Harley, but jumping a little would be a big improvement.

[superfragl]

My 99 1500 does the same thing.

[Dubliner]

Well thank you John, South Wales eh? Lovely country. I used to be able to see it from Dun Laoighre on a clear day also as I live in Texas now, I'm not even sure what the choke is for, certainly knew it in Dublin though. Slàn, Neville

[John Hopkins]

The idle speed on a Drifter is slightly slower than a Harley, some owners increase the idle speed to sound more like a Harley and this can cause the jump..also when you first start the bike from cold it will race for a few seconds then slow down to tickover..if you put it into first while the engine is racing it will jump..A small clunk is normal..

John.

[Dubliner]

I'm curious, when standing, and kicking into first, the bike makes a small jump. Clutch doesn't seem to slip under load, and it doesn't jump at all in any gear when moving. Only when engaging first at start up. It's a 99 1500 with 9000 miles on it. Bike is very well kept so it seems the owner wouldn't have abused the clutch. It's not really an issue but I was curious if it was a common thing or indicator of something. TIA dubliner.