1300 Midnight Star - Possible Clutch Problem

[johns]

I have just got a 1300 midnight star 2008 with 3000 miles on the clock, and really pleased with my purchase.

However, I find that the clutch feels as though it is not disengaging fully as there is a really heavy clunk when selecting gears especially first gear.

Is this just adjustment or is it a characteristic of the bike ?

Cheers

[Mossy]

I have an 09 with 800 miles and 1st & 2nd gear selections are truly horiffic!

I have put it down to a clunky gear box and got used to it. local dealer reckons its all fine but I think the whole engine & tranny set up is noisy. I have been looking for some one else in my area to compair noises.

[grey haired git]

Hi, bought an 09, XVS1300a Midnight Star 3 weeks ago with 500 miles on the clock, added 700 miles to that and have also found the gear change clunky and noisy, I think it might be a standard issue with the machine. But just the same as you I think the bike is fantastic, so pleased I changed from the Dragstar XVS 650 to this one.

[johns]

Thanks folks

Appreciate the feedback.

Been out riding all day on it on the mainland - it just loves the motorways. Gears not too bad when warmed up - brother in law suggests good oil change, flush, filter, fully synthetic oil 10-40 will help. As I don't know when all was changed last will try it.

[midnight61]

i think 'horrific' is going a bit far, many motorcycles clonk into first, and 1st to 2nd has been notorious for years, on many makes of motorcycle... and i admit our's is pretty bad for it, If you paid £8000 for a car and the the gear change was as bad as ours you would instantly return it, unfortunately it's how they are ...mines done 3,500 m now and it's still the same, i find a pair of steel toe capped engineers boots and earplugs tends to mask the sensations a little, the earplugs also help with what i would describe as valve train noise, this is not a sweet,sweet sounding engine and gearbox, acceptable, but not as sweet as we've learned to expect from japanese engineers.

Still better than a harley though

[jimm]

I agree its not the slickest gear selection on 1st and 2nd. I've about 3k miles on mine now, and I think it has eased a little, although it still clonks going into 1st. Gets better when its warmed up.

Going from 1 to 2...you can try and slow this change down, almost pause for a fraction of a second as you pass through neutral, it will go in much more sweetly. Also helps if you don't rev the nuts off it in first

Check the free play on the clutch lever is correct - manual says 5 - 10mm. I've mine set at the minimuml.

Jim