I'm glad my 2 year warranty is good until June! The clunk is most worse when I go from neutral to first gear.

 

Imagine you were able to rip your kitchen sink from the counter, faucet and all, and you were then to drop it on the kitchen floor. Ya, that's what a normal downshift sounds like on a HD when you're not wearing a helmet! That includes the shift into first gear.
It's normal. Press on and enjoy the ride!!

 

I only hear the clunk going into 1st. From what I have read here, it's not unusual/uncommon.

 

Your bike really sounds that bad when you downshift? That is not normal. Better get that checked out. My Dyna just makes a little "click" noise, my Sportster makes the same "click" sound and my boyfriends Road Glide also makes the same little "click" The only time it is loud is when going from neutral to first and even that is just sometimes.

 

If you downshift into first (with the clutch in) at a speed greater than first gear would normally be used for (during normal riding), you're gonna get a loud clunk. First gear in all motorcycles is a straight cut gear (also the same reason it whines in first). Straight cut gears are noisier than helical cut gears because the teeth are straight across and the edges of the gear are not beveled. Downshifting into first should be your last downshift just prior to stopping except in Emergency Braking sequences where downshifting and braking simultaneously are required. (in case you need to be able to accelerate right after maximum braking because the car behind you wasn't able to stop)

Stomping the shifter back down into first and getting that loud clunk (even with the clutch in) will eventually hurt the gear set. Hurting the gear set hurts the wallet; hence the stink eye

 

I happen to like the clunk with mine, it reminds me I am riding a beast that has a heart and soul.

 

Clunks, snaps, whines.....all part of the experience. Love the not-so-smooth and homogenized mechanicals of Harleys.

 

I have full Redline oil's and I have the clunk, only sometimes it shifts smoothly.

 

It's a Harley

 

Just to follow up with you I called my dealer. He said the same thing. Now, I can stop worrying. Thanks.