Is it Normal to Clunk when shifting from Neutral to First??

[valk2128]

When I  shift from neutral to first, I feel and hear a clunk.  Is this normal??

[Foozle]

For what it's worth:  I don't know how normal it is, but my 98 Standard also makes an audible clunk.  Terry

[john]

clunk ...
that is a good description ...
the big yellow makes that sound every time ...

[RTaz]

....yes.....

[mooserider]

Mine too!

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Mine is pretty quiet,except for the 1-2 shift.
I have lowered my idle to around 650 prm though to save some fuel and some aggravation for my neighbors in the morning.
If the hole next door complains about my bike one more time,I'm buying a harley with some drag pipes.

[SgtBunny]

2 of my 3 Virago's had that clunk but my Valk is quiet as can be.

I have lowered my idle to around 650 prm though to save some fuel and some aggravation for my neighbors in the morning.
If the hole next door complains about my bike one more time,I'm buying a harley with some drag pipes.

Don't waste your money on a HD.

A set of Cobra pipes with the baffles removed are much worse than any HD could think of being.   

[Ricky-D]

Mine is pretty quiet,except for the 1-2 shift.
I have lowered my idle to around 650 prm though to save some fuel and some aggravation for my neighbors in the morning.
If the hole next door complains about my bike one more time,I'm buying a harley with some drag pipes.

Running too low an idle speed can negatively affect the oil pump flow and oil pressure resulting in a oil starvation to the moving parts of the motor.

[Madmike]

I was told that the described "clunk: is actually a design feature that was engineered into the machine as an audible warning of impending launch..........

[R J]

When I  shift from neutral to first, I feel and hear a clunk.  Is this normal??

Yes, it is normal.  When ya release the clutch in neutral you is spinning some gears in the box.  When ya pull the clutch and pop it in 1st, some of those gears are moving and are abruptly stopped when ya hit a go forward cog.   That is the best explanation I can give ya.  Spinning gears vs NON spinning gears make for a clunk.

We have a well manufactured machine here.  I also realize it is not a Porsche, but it is in the ball park.

The damn bike is just like all others.  There is a clunk in all of them when going from neutral to 1st.....  Get one of Chet's kickshifters and shift it like it was designed for.   Bang those gears in, do not shift lazily or it will fly out of gear on ya.

Quit worrying about the bike, it is rock solid and will take all kinds of abuse.   Trust me on that........  MGM has been highly abused and rode hard and put away wet many many times, he will still give many bikes a good run for their $$$$..

[alph]

Well, yes and no. 

First off, how many miles do you have? 
Does it lurch forward when you shift into first?
Do you have problems going into other gears?  You might be in need of a new clutch pad, I've never done one on a Valk, yet that is! 
Have you checked your clutch fluid?  Is it pretty dirty? 
You'll want to get that changed if it is, you may not be getting sufficient fluid to disengage the clutch when shifting.  Some clunking isn't too serious but if your having other issues with other gears I'd definitely would get it checked out. 

Here's a simple test; put your cycle in first gear, turn the engine off, now, hold the clutch in and start it, did it lunge forward?   If it did, You need a clutch job!

Good luck,

[ricoman]

Can't think of a bike that doesn't clunk. Friends have Harleys', VTX's, Wings-all clunk when shifted into first at a stop.
Not to worry.