The problem I am having is hard to put into words. I will try my best. I have a 2011 Street Glide (was a 103 but now is 107). The problem was happening before and after the motor build. When I start moving from a dead stop, as I am letting the clutch out, it seems as if the bike struggles a little to get moving (almost as if the motor is lugging), then at a certain point during the release of the clutch it will lunge forward. At that point when it lunges there is a little bit of noise which seems to be coming from the primary. Its not a loud noise but I can hear and feel it slightly. It has no problems if I am moving, only happens from a dead stop. And seems to be worse the hotter the bike gets and if I'm sitting at a stoplight for a long time. Any idea's what that could be? If so, any suggestions for a fix? Thanks in advance.

 

Has it always done it? If so, with out watching you leave from a stop, it might just be you and normal. If you are little light giving it throttle as you leave, it would lug the engine a little, load up the drive train and then go. There is a little give in the drive train. The noise and little lunge could be attributed to it. The compensator on the crank shaft, the primary chain, the chain tensioner could be between adjustment notches, the clutch grabbing a little, the rubber in the rear pulley. All of this to relieve some of the shock to the motor, and rider, from dumped clutches, hard engine braking or hard braking with out the clutch.

Analyze and play with how you leave a stop. Are you smooth all the way through the clutch release or letting it go when you feel it's moving? Are you giving it enough throttle? It may just be the a matter of a hair more throttle and smoother clutch release. My 08 has a really tall 1st gear and takes a little to get it rolling. My 13 has a different gear ratio and but act similar to yours if it's hot and I have my wife on the back.

If it's still making the noise and lunging, I'd look at the compensator first. They fail regularly but when they do it's usually more of a bang or heavy clunk. There are a million threads here if you search for compensator that discuss it.

Good luck!

 

I watch my son launch his dirt bike like this constantly. It's got a very low 1st gear ratio, so he gets away with it.

He lets the clutch out until it starts to load the engine, then he basically dumps it with a little throttle. So the bike lugs and lurches on his starts.

On the plus side, his clutch will likely last for forever.

 

Reminds me of a time, many years ago, when I helped out on a training scheme for new riders. We had BSA Bantams, similar to Harley Hummers, which could take an incredible amount of abuse. A newcomer, despite all the care we took to describe the process of using the clutch, would routinely rev the engine and let go of the clutch lever. The engine would bog down, but refuse to die, lugging and lurching until it got going properly. Result? The most enormous grin on the face of the pupil who, after their success of moving under power for the first time ever, would now pay attention and learn to do it right.

Mikey, when your bike next starts lugging, give it a little extra throttle, to help it get over that patch. Also try giving it a little more throttle before engaging the clutch, to see if a change of technique improves things.

 

My first two thoughts were #1 the compensator, #2 the ball and ramp. I'd also consider checking the clutch spring and clutch adjustment.
All assuming riding habits include smooth clutch engagement and throttle roll on...

 

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I am not sure that it is my riding style. I have put 35,000 miles on this bike and it seems like the issue has only been present for the last few thousand. However, I will try to take yalls advice and adjust my riding style to see if that helps. If not I will be chasing down a mechanical issue.