Noisy Gear Shifting
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: New Zealand
Noisy Gear Shifting
I’m new to riding Harleys, rode Jap bikes up until now. So Here goes. I now own a Harley 2013 Fort Eight and love it. She changes smooth enough, but I am not used to the clunk when it drops into gear. My Question is does any body know of any tricks to reduce the noise such as a better oil or is it just a Harley trait.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
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From: New Zealand
That’s pretty much the general consensus, another chap I was speaking to just said ride it hard and don’t worry, it won’t break. Kinda hoping someone had a answer, read a few threads onother forums but pretty much what you say. Cheers
Last edited by Steve Hodson; Jul 19, 2013 at 05:49 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Hi Steve from the UK and welcome to HDF. What you should find is that the more you ride, the better your timing will get! It isn't possible to guarantee a quiet change every time, but familiarity should improve it, so your changes will get better.
Coming from various Kawasaki Ninja models I was also surprised by the hammer on concrete shifting noise. I actually like the sound and realize it's normal. I don't know what timing your shifts would actually achieve as for me the loudest is the downshift whether it's at a drastically reduced speed or with the clutch engaged and just dropping the gears rolling to a stoplight. CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK!
The positive aspect is....you're absolutely certain you're in the next gear up or down
The positive aspect is....you're absolutely certain you're in the next gear up or down
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 415
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From: southampton,uk
I know what you mean, ive had mine from new for a year now and the gear clonk and the rattly engine still make me wonder! lol
As others say it seems to be the norm
As others say it seems to be the norm
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: eureka
As mentioned previously, experience (and observing your tach) will produce almost noiseless transitions when upshifting (trick is to learn the RPM difference between gears and let the throttle off, when shifting, just enough to adjust for the lower RPM of the next higher gear.
When downshifting, revving the motor to the higher RPM required by the next lower gear will make for very quiet shifts. Differences in RPM between gear shifts are fairly low in lower gears (less than 1000 RPM difference) and increase to around 2000 RPM difference for higher gears. Various models differ and this is for informational purposes only
If you're referring to the first gear clunk (especially in the morning when the fluids and clutch plates are cold) I don't know of anything except learning to live with it - sorry. Downshifting to first gear when approaching a full-stop situation can be improved by double-clutching (transition from second gear to neutral, let out the clutch and rev the motor before dropping from neutral down to first)
PS if you wait until your speed is less than about 5-8 mph when approaching a stop, just do the double clutch - no need to rev the engine.
When downshifting, revving the motor to the higher RPM required by the next lower gear will make for very quiet shifts. Differences in RPM between gear shifts are fairly low in lower gears (less than 1000 RPM difference) and increase to around 2000 RPM difference for higher gears. Various models differ and this is for informational purposes only
If you're referring to the first gear clunk (especially in the morning when the fluids and clutch plates are cold) I don't know of anything except learning to live with it - sorry. Downshifting to first gear when approaching a full-stop situation can be improved by double-clutching (transition from second gear to neutral, let out the clutch and rev the motor before dropping from neutral down to first)
PS if you wait until your speed is less than about 5-8 mph when approaching a stop, just do the double clutch - no need to rev the engine.
Last edited by oh_yeah; Jul 19, 2013 at 09:52 PM. Reason: add PS
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5
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From: New Zealand
Thanks guys, yes I was referring the clunk thing. I kind of thought it was a Harley thing, Rode for years, Dirt riding and road so I know it’s not the rider, just I never experienced this before. Red Line claims there v twin shockproof oils apparently reduce the noise and improve shifting anyone tried there product ?