I just started noticing my bike kind of making a "clunking" sound when i take off in first. It almost seems to be something settling with the rear suspension when it's "loading up". Haven't seemed to notice it in any other gears or at higher speeds, well maybe a little when I load it up in 2nd. Honestly I don't know though cause as I go faster I can hear/feel less of what's going on with the bike. I checked out a couple of bolts back there in the swing arm area to make sure everything was tight. Everything seems to be ok. Any ideas guys?

 

is your chain adjusted correctly?

 

Is it cuz you're not giving it enough gas as you ease off the clutch? I know that when I am coming out of a turn and am in too high of a gear, when I start to give it some gas, it sounds like it clunks alittle bit.

 

Yeah I would check the chain tension and this may sound stupid...but is your chain clean? A dirty chain can make a really crappy sound at the sprockets.

 

yeah, i'm definately not bogging the motor.

I'll give those other suggestions a try. thanks guys.

 

I have noticed that after a while of riding on the same chain (depending on how you ride) the chains have a tendancy to stretch on a certain area and the clunking may be a stretched link that is not staying on the sprocket and half way through it snaps back into place.

I have seen 2 other guys with the same problem including myself and all of us had to get new chains.....we needed new ones anyways.

 

thanks for the suggestion thompson. is there a way to check for a stretched link?

 

I had a similar problem but what I had found was that a couple rollers was wore off on the chain which would cause it to move back and forth on the sprocket. Roll the bike ahead slowly and look closely at the rollers see if you see anything that way.