If my bike has been sitting for a while e.g. overnight or while I'm at work, when I go to change gear from neutral to first its makes a big clunk, once I get riding it gets less and less noticeable.

I warm the bike for a minute or 2 before hand and I've just done a oil change with fully synthetic 10-40.

Any ideas?

It's normal, harmless and not worth worrying about. Clutch plates tend to be a little sticky when the engine's cold. The clunk is the transmission breaking them loose. Once it's warmed up and the oil is a little heat-thinned the clunk disappears because the plates no longer stick together.

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they all do it.

we need a "they all do it" smiley.

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Welcome to Kawasaki, hold the clutch lever in and give it couple of throttle blips prior to placing in gear.

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pulling and holding the clutch for a minute while the motor warms seems to help a lot.

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Normal newbie

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If it's a Gen1...you can lower your idle rpms to high 9's,1000....that also helps.

Transmission shaft 1 is fixed to the crank is called the main shaft.
Counter shaft is chained to the rear wheel.
The main shaft can be called a fixed gear, being it's fixed to keep spinning.
The main and counter shafts have what is known as free-wheelers and they are not fixed to the shafts.
The sliding gears are fixed and they slide via the forks moving when the foot shift moves up or down, you get side to side so the forks engage.

At this point, you have the 3 Stooges action happening. Moe is the main shaft that is constantly slapping the free-wheelers. The 'slide to side' is a fixed gear 'dog' about to enter a slot. That dog end looks more like an erect nipple. Usually 3 or more are placed around the fixed gear. These are spinning with the crank. The free-wheelers are going to be locked together when the slider dogs enter the slots.

The free-wheeling gears on the main shaft are connected to the fixed gear on the counter shaft. So when you are in N, all the free-wheelers are not engaged so the only shaft moving is the main off the crank. So when you stab the trans into 1st gear, you are stooge slapping the slots with the dogs.

Why is this happening? Well, if you didn't have the clutch plates so close to each other, they keep spinning with the oil being separated from it is one. You have 'lube holes' down the shaft so it cools the plates with oil. The plates sort of drags for awhile when you pull the clutch lever.

So there are a few tricks you can do to either stop the noise, stop the wear at the dogs and slots, is to start out in gear with engine off. Coast to a stop at a light with the engine off and now shift down to 1st. Using a clutch lever with the engine off finding gear~ 'Bleedsquid.' So, you have some rider in a car looking over at you finding N with a dead engine and clutch lever going in and out like that will help... We be laughing from here.

And if that does not cure the problem that is 'normal' as most said, is because of the design and all that. Hold the clutch to the grip and let it sit. This lets the plates stop eventually, maybe. And now after 4 minutes of waiting, maybe it will not clunk. So to recap the 3 options...

1. Engine off = Engage 1st gear says no noise present.
2. Engine on = Engage down to 1st gear before you stop, then hold the clutch in till the light turns green or it is safe to move.
3. Engine running meaning = Hang time before you engage 1st gear is more a crapshoot 50% of the time. Engine off is no noise 100% of the time.

My MO is always option #1. I want zero material floating in the oil pump gears is if it goes thru there it goes upstairs too.

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If it's a Gen1...you can lower your idle rpms to high 9's,1000....that also helps.

If it's a bike generic, no lowering of the idle works. The buzz is still in the bars, it does not go away is the harmonic is the change you don't feel the buzz like you have ears like a dog?

Once again, bow out of Q&A is 3 pages of muck by the time you fuck things up around here. Look at what you did at the pond!!!

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Bite me jerk off...I've DONE it ....lowered the idle on my 07...it made shifting into first from nuetral much smoother.....so there!You 'bow out'...telling a guy to shut his motor off as he approaches a light....WTF?Starters are spendy...you dweeb.Not to mention the built up damage he'll get from coasting without his engine running....GEEJJUSSS...you and yer 'pond'...you mean...your JAIL CELL?BTW Hub...happy Easter Bro! Try thinking these things through before ya give shitty advice...will ya?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/31/2013 @ 11:23 AM *

"If it's a bike generic"... ,it's a zx14 fer God's sake...he said that...FUCK.

All he has to do is motor down,shifting down...till he approaches the light or whatever...and as he's barely rolling,shift to first and hold the clutch...throughout the stop...then take off.FUCK.....unbelieveable.If he starts from a initial startup...he simply holds the clutch in,with bike in 1st,and turns the starter...fuck all the motor off acrobats...geez.

EXCELLENT description of what's going on with the clutch plates and gears and such....FAIL on the way to eliminate it in real life.

KEERIISST...you'll have the poor guy so fucked up...he won't know what's a clutch lever from a muffler bearing....geeeeez.

"Dear Lord...PLEASE...today...show the HUbmiester that the quickest way between two points is a straight line....Thank You"

Excuse me....

Ever consider he just MAY be going through town...and hitting multitudes of stops....yer gonna have him doing it 'your way' all day long?Try it before ya suggest it...will ya?

What if he HAS to get his bike outta the way of some clueless cager bearing down on him.....he's gonna go through 'starting his bike' and all that?Jeez.Coming to a stop with the engine off?YOU do it....tryin to get him killed are ya?

Raise yer hands everyone who..."shuts their engine off while coming to a stop...and leaves it off till the light turns green to avoid having their transmission 'clunk' ".

"the three stooges"...more like...Abbott and Costello

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/31/2013 @ 12:24 PM *

Bite me jerk off. I've DONE it ..lowered the idle on my 07...it made shifting into first from nuetral much smoother.....

WATTan asshole. What you are saying is the same thing as the buzz in the bars. 'I lowered the idle so the buzz is smoother.' That's why you have no mechanicall of the ball. Puff up the pillow on the rocking chair and shithe fucdown.

so there!You 'bow out'...

Correct... NOLTT... LOLOLOL I see you are not listening is it? Well ass you keep opening your wasted posts, continue as I smarten the OP up about what choice to make you clunker.

telling a guy to shut his motor off as he approaches a light....WTF?

Correct. See, greenie, you bleed squid. What you don't see is the discipline it takes. Think about it... Right... fat chance on that one.

Starters are spendy...you dweeb.

You expect something to happen to the starter and have you put 30,000 plus miles on one trying it? I didn't think so. Again, the mantra is... "No investigation, no right to speak" is I keep telling you to bow out of the N theory and now a starter theory. To me you lose at every round wit me... Mechanically.

Not to mention the built up damage he'll get from coasting without his engine running....GEEJJUSSS...you and yer 'pond'...you mean...your JAIL CELL?

I'm in prison withe squiddy no matter wear out I go. You are the classic 'runner upper.' You gotta say anything but know nothing specific. Why do you think I have to write in long hand is to put assholes like you in your place. There won't be oil failure on a bearing that is being splashed upon. The other is, once the pressure stops in the shaft, ain't enough miles to damage a dry free-wheeler. It's only a few yards to stop. That's how stupid you are about every fucking part you talk about.

You are better off with a tire and tinted fairing thread like I said.

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"If it's a bike generic"... ,it's a zx14 fer God's sake...he said that...FUCK.

LOL, greenie. They haven't changed this transmission design since I crack open my first engine case. The shift arm and drum stars, sure, but not gear for gear, clutch for clutch plate. Only thing you open, grn is your gas cap... Too Funny!

All he has to do is motor down,shifting down...till he approaches the light or whatever...and as he's barely rolling,shift to first and hold the clutch...throughout the stop...then take off.FUCK.....unbelieveable.If he starts from a initial startup...he simply holds the clutch in,with bike in 1st,and turns the starter...fuck all the motor off acrobats...geez.

The OP has a 'clunk question' and I have addressed it 3 ways: Dead start/Coast it in rolling/Kill engine you want 1st gear = Clunk Is Gone!... Mechanically.

EXCELLENT description of what's going on with the clutch plates and gears and such....FAIL on the way to eliminate it in real life.

Sit down, fella. Diss is, will always be out of your league is I have to clean up you runner upper's act you act like some tech helper? Didn't smoke and wee mention you weren't qualified to discuss this kind of you know... You've reached the Peter Principal?

KEERIISST...you'll have the poor guy so fucked up...he won't know what's a clutch lever from a muffler bearing....geeeeez.

Ho How is that? How Ho say watt? Hub is a sweeper of the crap you runner uppers all fucup. I won't go head to head with you and a tire war. You got me covered on that. Shields? No way! Anything else, I'ma pull up your trousers, make you cough to the left so hit hurts.

Ever consider he just MAY be going through town...and hitting multitudes of stops....yer gonna have him doing it 'your way' all day long?Try it before ya suggest it...will ya?

You misso muchit in my videos. Ever notice how many times I turn the bike off, am in 1st gear and ready with kill switch back on, thumb down on starter button?

What if he HAS to get his bike outta the way of some clueless cager bearing down on him.....he's gonna go through 'starting his bike' and all that?Jeez.Coming to a stop with the engine off?YOU do it....tryin to get him killed are ya?

And then the runner upper assholes that think they can brake because they have abs have no clue how hard they can stop? Now, your discipline is you are always eying the rear view mirror is how you become street savvy even if you clunk it in gear and never look at the rear view coming at you at all. Go and sit the fuck down like I keep saying. What is this? WATTizz DISS!?!?!?! LOL

Raise yer hands everyone who..."shuts their engine off while coming to a stop...and leaves it off till the light turns green to avoid having their transmission 'clunk'

Eyes Gots Me Hands Up, Greenie!

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Ah! These look fresh.

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See...something for EVERYONE here;)The OP got his answer three or so replies down...the rest....sauce for the goose Mr Savik!

L3 has gotten another Rider struck from behind by a dumb ass cage that don't know his brake pedal from his portable dildo...and poor OP couldn't manage to get his kill switch flicked back on cause he saw the big ass hemi comin up on him at 45 mph and forgot he switched it off....ooopps...too late....ouch.Thanks Hub...ya dweeb.Killed another rider.I'll stick to 'voiding warranties' anytime....

"What you are saying is the same thing as the buzz in the bars"....mine isn't buzzing...YOURS is ya numbnut.Your poor bike's tryin to fuckin tell ya.."HEY...JERKOFF....let me BREATHE will ya?...stop cuttin me off at the knees.Get me outta L3 or I'll fuck you up good down the road.You think my bars are buzzin now..you don't KNOW what I'm capable of doing...just keep me in Grandpa mode...I'll fix yer ass but good ".

"See, greenie, you bleed squid. What you don't see is the discipline it takes"....hey youse guys...ya'll that leave yer engines running on stops and all...bunch of squids...Hub says so....undisciplined.Runner-uppers.Takes real skill to slowly ruin your motor over several thousand rolling stops...but hey...he can tell ya how to do alright...so...LISTEN UP you....squids....(how much are those starters anyway? ...well,at least you'll get to needlessly work on your bikes...)And spend yer goodies money on 'replacement' stuff.Now...if he can only get the parts breakage in line with the service intervals...

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/31/2013 @ 8:41 PM *

I believe L-3 is as quick as a stock 14... AND ... One needs to sea it day fork down on the bike more often. It was funny to see you pull the clutch in and try to brake hard. Where was the clutch action on wheel hop? Well, I wasn't going to go that fast.. Sheeesh... IDK, you wanna kill me like kill switch dead engine I never look in the rear view at all is I'm so lucky I can brake like really, really hard like my limp dick.

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"Where was the clutch action on wheel hop?"....uh...there WASN'T any wheel hop.....I was braking...not downshifting.From 70 or so.ABS will let ya do that....no wheel hop that is,along with the slipper...that put an end to any high rpm hopping skipping jumping munching sliding....well...on anything other than...cobblestones .Try it sometime....well...maybe not...you don't use your rear brake...so that'll kinda fuck off the test parameters a tad;)Nevermind...stay in L3...like your Gen1 bike...it's the same according to you?

'cobblestones'...at 2 mph...testing the abs... ...how DID that go anyway....impressed were ya?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 3/31/2013 @ 8:49 PM *

"Where was the clutch action on wheel hop?"....uh...there WASN'T any wheel hop.....I was braking...not downshifting.From 70 or so.

So, no engine breaking you pulled the plug on that one, pulled the clutch in and kept heading for the car. IKD, what a shitty habit. It's no wonder I don't ride with you squids.

ABS will let ya do that....no wheel hop that is,along with the slipper...that put an end to any high rpm hopping skipping jumping munching sliding.

Sheeeezis-H, now you have the buzz going I'll rev out of it but it's still there, I think I haven't felt the wheel hop because I could never get there being I'm not aggressive enough to find out. The harmonic does not go away, nor the chatter. It cushions the effect, not eliminates it completely. Where is your common sense?

...you don't use your rear brake...so that'll kinda fuck off the test parameters a tad;)Nevermind...stay in L3...like your Gen1 bike...it's the same according to you?

WATT makes you think I have to jump right to full mode for break in? I've already seen how you ride. Guys like you get whipped in L-3. Those buttons exceed your talent and L-3 already is too much for me, so have at it big boy. You seem to be in L-3 at full mode is your talent anyway so that's why guys like you profile in full power mode.

'cobblestones'...at 2 mph...testing the abs... ...how DID that go anyway....impressed were ya?

You couldn't even steer the new geometry around a bend. Where your entry line should have been your shoulder cleaning the back the truck's mirror. Your line was the come out away from the mirror bump, but you made it your entry line on the opposite end of the road like most squids ride when they put up a video. You had no place to drift out but in the dirt, off the edge of the road.

Now you crashed once or twice all your life and now Keith Code are you is train everyone about abs engine braking at a whole whopping 70 mph? I wouldn't even touch the front brake at 70 to go front wheel skidding... Are you Skidding!!!? WE BE 110 to 130 doing some poppies. Those front brake squeaks on the paint were just practice for not letting go of the brake lever ABStyle. If you can squeal the tire over 100 plus, I'd like to see that one, oh Mr. Brakeskills.

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I agree. I'm about sick of it if I wasn't laughing so hard.

You are looking at your classic runner upper that has to be in every fucking thread. You see me in every fucking thread or just tech shit? You want buzz boy to explain it, I have no time for diss place anyway is I have other things to do right now so here comes the quiet.

NOLTT anyway so why make comment at all. And that's just your average website, so I'm not picking on anyone specific, but shit is the same forum wise no matter where you sign up. And I hammer the runner uppers so bad, they wanna leave I start to question their expert type comments. And I'm far from being an expert, but I sure can tell one and well...

If I can pick "The Hand" from here, I sure can pick your classic runner upper knows it all and now you ask do you??? and then..... Silence.

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They think I'm mad at you....I'm not...you think YOU'RE laughing.....I'm having fun listening to your cockamayme comebacks.Guys...I'm not trying to outdo Hub....lightenup .Anyone want to post up about 1st gear clunk that hasn't already been covered here....go for it....the rest is just....FUN!!!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 4/1/2013 @ 8:45 AM *

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Forget the idle adjustment...I imagined all that on my 07;)

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 4/26/2013 @ 9:03 AM *