Is this normal?

[weeder]

Ill get off a ride  for instance for a gas fillup.     


After done and fill up  and ready to go and my Valkyrie is in first gear , side stand up ,  and don't go to neutral for the start ,  I start in 1st gear  with  clutch  fully disengaged  (lever full in)  when I start her up she pulls forward for just a second then  no more pull forward .

Is that normal VRCC?

[Bighead]

My Harley did it all the time but not my Valk.

[gordonv]

Fairly normal.

My 88' GW does that to. Kick it into first from idle when cold, and that grab with clutch lever fully pulled, and it stalls. I think I also had the same issue with my 99' IS, but a lot less so.

I've already flushed the clutch line with a vacuum.

Haven't looked too hard at the lever, to see if any warn parts, and maybe the clutch isn't fully engaged. Only an issue when going from neutral into gear, which is usually when I start my days ridding. Until I park for the night, I usually have it in gear when parked.

[weeder]

Killer lookin Valkyrie Bighead , thanks Gord -- its seems normal  to me. 

[Bighead]

Thanks.

[gordonv]

It's not "nice", but as long as you know what it is going to do, you can start the bike accordingly.

I also don't ever recall it doing it when hot. Stop for gas and take off again. Only when cold, 2-3 hours.

[John Schmidt]

Mine does it a bit, but less if warmed up good. As for starting in gear such as described....not a good habit to get into. I use it only if I happen to stall at a light, kinda embarassing.

[weeder]

Mine does it a bit, but less if warmed up good. As for starting in gear such as described....not a good habit to get into. I use it only if I happen to stall at a light, kinda embarassing.

Thanks for the advice  ,  Not a habit of mine  either,   




STAND TOGETHER OR DIE INDIVIDUALY ON OUR KNEES

[Gryphon Rider]

I wrote the following in response to a topic "lurching on cold start-up". Your engine might not be cold, and the effect is most pronounced when cold, but it explains what you are describing:

Think of how the clutch works.  Alternating disks and plates, every other one keyed either to the driving or driven splines.  What holds them in contact are the clutch springs (or is it one spring; I haven't had mine apart yet?), which you overcome by pulling in the lever.  When the clutch is cold, there is a layer of viscous oil between each plate and friction surface, such that even when the pressure holding them together is removed, they still stay stuck together until they are jarred apart.  In your case, the starter motor turns the engine and jars them apart.  In my case, I have the transmission in neutral when I start it cold and the lurch doesn't happen until I put it in first gear.

[Willow]

Normal would be an improper word to use.  Let's say it's not at all unusual.

Some say you shouldn't start the bike in gear.  I do regularly.   I also habitually have both hands on the bars and a brake applied when I hit the starter.  I also do not dismount the bike to fuel it.

People are different, aren't we?

[Mapper]

When starting cold and in neutral, sometimes I get a small lurch forward when I put it in gear.  Sounds like the same thing to me.

[CajunRider]

I'm with Willow on this one...  "normal" may not be the best word, but definitely not unusual.  Some bikes do it more than others. My dirt bike is BAD about it... and that's lurching with a kick starter!!     

My advice... if you have a habit of starting while in gear (nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned) make sure you add the habit of holding the hand brake while starting.

Basically, squeeze clutch... squeeze brake... start engine.  No problem.

[Ricky-D]

The only thing I see, is that starting the engine while the transmission is in gear, and the clutch lever pulled in,

puts an unnecessary and extra burden on the starter motor.

You already testify about the lurching while starting, so there is the proof, supplied by yourself.

Additionally, my experience has shown me that wet clutches are never free of drag, and again, this is a burden

on the starter motor, if starting while in gear with the clutch lever pulled in.

***

[hubcapsc]

I typically don't start my bike in gear, but it seems to work fine...

I do often pull in the clutch when it is cold-and-in-gear to move it around a
little at home. Seems (this is not a scientific measurement  )
to roll as easily as if it were in neutral...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Add to what Ricky says the fact that much/most of the time when starting, the choke is fully engaged for a short warmup, so revs are high, and punching first when over 3K with clutch pulled does lurch my bike quite hard when still cold........ so don't do it.  Find neutral before the starter button (and push choke off before shifting to first), and save your starter & gears.

Later, when engine is warm, and you stall at a light, just clutch and start in gear, no lurch at all.