I now have 1300 miles on my new 2018 Lowrider. One thing I have noticed is the amount on drive line slack I have noticed. When shifting from 1st to 2nd I notice the drive line slack it feels like the clutch engages suddenly. Also when moving the throttle on and off in 1st and 2nd gear I notice the drive line slack. To me it feels like something that has too much slack in it. Can anybody tell me if you have noticed this with your 2018 Softails.
Thanks

 

I don't notice anything like that on my new 2018 M8 softail Slim. However, I did have to almost immediately, within the first 500 miles, adjust my clutch. It was adjusted too far out from perch for my liking and hard to get into neutral. After I adjusted it everything feels perfect.

 

 

A loose primary chain or a loose belt can cause lash.

But whacking the throttle on and off in low gears on any vehicle is going to cause what you are describing. The torque you are dealing with is a lot more than you think.

A shaft-drive motorcycle has a lot more lash than our Harleys. In fact, I consider the lack of lash in belt-drive bikes to be a plus.

I had a VFR1200F that I sold only because the driveline lash was unbearable.

You can use the clutch during low-speed maneuvers to smooth out the abruptness. Over time you will develop a "soft" throttle hand for this kind of work.

 

Yeah I figured the lash would be more pronounced in the lower gears. But I don't whack the throttle on off. But just the lightest amount of throttle adjustment from on and off causes an abrupt lash feeling in first gear.

 

My gear shift is fine, but the throttle being FBW isn't 1 to 1 I've noticed , there might be the problem for one issue you have.

 

I have 4000 miles on my 2018 low rider and the lash is the lowest I can recall in any bike I've ridden.