so I'm still learning about maintenance and adjusting things on my bike.

I have an 01 F4i with 6500 miles.

I have 2 problems. sometimes when shifting into second my bike makes this big loud audible clunk sound..it doesn't sound good..I dunno wat it is. It only happens once in a while and also happens when I'm downshifting back into first.

my second question is my friend who has been riding for years took my bike for a ride and said my clutch almost burnt out and to replace it before it gets any worse and cost me more money to fix. I don't do wheelies and I drive pretty conservatively and to me the clutch lever pull feels exactly the way it does since I got it at 4000 miles.

What are some signs that the clutch is about to go?? the bike still pulls in every gear. I only sign that i've heard of is that u open the throttle up and it goes no where. Is there anything I can check on the bike itself to check if he is right cause I don't know any other riders to go get a second opinion

he also backed up his prognosis with that my clutch cable barrel/screw was backed out a lot. and he does ride a liter bike so maybe he is used to how hard his bike pulls.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

all bikes make a clunk sound going into first! just depends on the oil you have in on how loud it really is!

second gear is a bit of a toughie and you really have to mash it into second period and i've had mine for 25k miles and same sound as first

it's just how these bikes are apparently

 

Your clutch is fine. Itīs a normal sound for our bikes, the tranny just isnīt very smooth.

Thereīs a fix for this clunk and fell, just preload the shifter as if youīre doing clutchless upshifts and it smoothes out real easy.

Try it and your clunk problems will disappear

 

The clunk is normal on all bikes ... well, at least Hondas, Kaws, Zooks and HDs that I've ridden. As was mentioned, you can preload the shifter for smoother 1st to 2nd transition or you can reverse the shift pattern (1 up 5 down) and smash that baby down to upshift and you'll never have another problem.

As far as your clutch slipping the standard test is to put it in 6th gear, rev her up pretty good, hold the front brake and let the clutch out real slow. If it chokes your clutch is fine.

Friends should keep their mouth shut when riding friends bikes unless there is a serious problem with the bike.

Good luck with this and keep us updated!

 

thanks..I'm aware of the initial clunk going into first...but i've neer heard it while going into second..I cringed wen I heard it.

and as far as the clutch test....i don't understand it..sorry

thanks for the replies

 

The cluck going into 2nd usually occurs from lazy shifting. You barely get the shift fork to pop it into gear so it kinda clunks. If done enough times the shift fork will wear or bend and shifting into 2nd becomes iffy.

The test is easy:

1. Put the bike in 6th gear (easy, right?)
2. Pull in clutch and brake (still easy)
3. Start bike
4. While keeping the front brake engaged let off the clutch slowly keeping the RPMs around 5-6K
5. If the bike chokes down and stalls then clutch is GOOD
6. If the bike is still running with the clutch fully engaged then you need new plates

But your friend is eating goofy pills if he thinks running with worn friction plates is gonna hurt your ride. Ride quality, YES. But the biggest risk you run is being stranded.

 

Yup, chainstretcher is right itīs a simple test to see if your clutch is engaging or slipping.~

# clutch in
# put her in 6th
# grab the front brake hard
# rev her at like 6/7 k
# slowly release the clutch

If she starts to choke upon reaching the usual grab point of the clutch itīs all good and if not, it means that she is slipping therefore needing replacement. Itīs not a holy grail but itīs a start point to see if something is wrong with it

 

Oops to fast for me chainstretcher

 

Dats how I stretched dem chains ... fasssssst outta the gate bay-bee!