I have a 99 Fatboy, is it normal that it surges a little when starting? Its not in neutral when this happens, but I have the clutch all the way in and it gets a little movement when starting.

Normal?

 

yeah that's normal. i'm coming off a 350 day-trip so right now my brain is a bit foggy, so bear with me on this description..

it surges forward when the clutch plates and the transmission are tight together.. you know how if you keep the clutch released, you can move the bike backwards and it'll stop, then forwards and it'll stop? that's the point i'm talking about..

so if you move the bike inbetween those two points, so everything isn't "tight", then pull the clutch in and start the bike, it shouldn't happen as badly (if at all).

 

i'll give it a try.

do you think its taxing the battery if it taking a few times to start and i get this surge on each attempt?

 

not really.. but may make the starter work harder.

 

Mine does the same thing

 

My 09 does the same thing so I just shift it into neutral before I start it.

 

Me too, most of the time. They all seem to do it from the clutch dragging a little bit, and I reckon it puts more load on the starter and the battery.

 

Ditto and I think it does put more stress on the starter and battery. Mine starts much easier in neutral.