Let me save you a trip to the dealer.

They all do that when they're cold. Start the bike in neutral so you don't put an unnecessary strain on the starter.

OR

Adjust the clutch push rod until it doesn't do it and you won't be able to go anywhere because the clutch won't engage.(Quote)

Well said !

 

Nothing really wrong with your bike or clutch. That's not to say you couldn't adjust the clutch a little better, it's hard to tell without actually being there. The real explanation is that wet motorcycle clutches never *fully* disengage. They release enough to allow enough slip to qualify as "disengaged". While that works, it means that cold, oil soaked, fiber plates will *stick*. That *sticking* will cause a bike started in gear to *lurch*, or pull forward, or a bike started in neutral to *clunk* into gear because some of the spin is transferred to the output shaft. Check it yourself, start in neutral & quickly drop it in gear. You'll notice the "clunk". Ride long enough to get to full operating temp. then stop & put it in neutral. When you shift back into first the "clunk", if any, will be less or none at all.

 

I always start in neutral, otherwise when in gear it drags hard on the starter, especially when cold.

I generally want to start the bike and roll it out of the garage before I smell like exhaust. What works for me, and my ride, is actuating the clutch lever a few times before dropping it in gear. It slips right into first with no clunk or lurch.

No issues ever with clunking, lurch or shifting once it's warm up.

The only time I would ever start in gear is in case of a very rare stall in traffic and an emergency restart.

 

I start mine in neutral especially when it's cold. After some good riding when it's hot it's much less pronounced so I usually will have it in 1st gear just so it won't roll anywhere.

 

I rarely start my bike in neutral. That is the case because I leave it in gear 99% of the time to prevent it from rolling anywhere.

Mine does it from time to time and it all depends on if it is cold or not. My wife's Honda does the same thing when it is cold.

 

Every bike I have ever owned has done that. The crotch rockets, the tourers, etc. All of them do it and it is perfectly normal. Now take the money you are gonna give to the stealership and send half to me and the other half to the charity of your choice.

 

All of the Harleys I've had jump a little when cranking in gear with the clutch in. I think it's just the way it is.

I know that if I don't want that to happen, I will just put it in neutral.

 

There you go Jake. The above and ALWAYS start in neutral. There are dozens or more of threads on this forum for this issue and this is always the solution

 

i always hold the front brake when starting, good habit i guess

 

Completely normal with a wet clutch.