Hey Active -- I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I get a "soft shift" into first and other times I get a real "hard shift". When I get a soft shift I usually stomp on the shift pedal a few times to make sure it's really in gear. I don't know enough about transmissions to know why it happens, but I'm personally not too worried about it. I've been riding it for awhile now and I haven't had any problems.

 

It's just an alignment thing with the trans. The gear is not at the correct position for dog engagement of 1st gear ring. Trans turns till alignment and engagement resulting in a clunk. No problem. Kinda like when you try to shift it when not running. Sometimes it shifts, and other times you have to spin the rear wheel to let it shift.

 

so no matter how loud the clunk it's ok, mine's a little clunkier than my previous bikes...sometimes I'm thinking "damn hope that's ok"....

Most likely when the tranny breaks in more it will shave the tightest interferences, and clunk softer.??????

 

When this happens are you reving the Engine?:beer :beer

 

so no matter how loud the clunk it's ok, mine's a little clunkier than my previous bikes...sometimes I'm thinking "damn hope that's ok"....

Most likely when the tranny breaks in more it will shave the tightest interferences, and clunk softer.??????

Best hope you don't shave anything off. Doubt if it will improve over time. Just a characteristic of the trans. Might try a good syn. oil.

 

When this happens are you reving the Engine?:beer :beer

Not revving the engine. If I am in 2nd, and downshifting into 1st, I never run into this problem.

THis only occurs when at a complete stop.

It's just an alignment thing with the trans. The gear is not at the correct position for dog engagement of 1st gear ring. Trans turns till alignment and engagement resulting in a clunk. No problem. Kinda like when you try to shift it when not running. Sometimes it shifts, and other times you have to spin the rear wheel to let it shift.

The quote above by RTSC1, seems to be what is happening. I wonder if this causes any gear grinding or damage over time? :dunno

 

Not revving the engine. If I am in 2nd, and downshifting into 1st, I never run into this problem.

THis only occurs when at a complete stop.



The quote above by RTSC1, seems to be what is happening. I wonder if this causes any gear grinding or damage over time? :dunno

It's normal gear dog engagement noise. There is no gear grinding at all, as our sequential transmissions are constant-mess.

 

Mine does it too. Try this... pull the clutch in, blip the throttle a bit, then shift into first. I think the clutch plates are sticking. I'll try it tomorrow too. Used to have to do it on old British bikes. Bugs me too!

 

It's normal... as our sequential transmissions are constant-mess.

Yeah,can get messy sometimes...

:crash

 

Yeah,can get messy sometimes...

:crash

Yeah constantly. Uh...I meant constant-mesh LMAO :blush

 

On another note, or is it the same one. I know I have hit a new low when my english is being corrected by a french speaking canadian....:finger

:lol

 

Not revving the engine. If I am in 2nd, and downshifting into 1st, I never run into this problem.

THis only occurs when at a complete stop.



The quote above by RTSC1, seems to be what is happening. I wonder if this causes any gear grinding or damage over time? :dunno

Here's my remedy....

Pull in your clutch lever and hold it for about 5 to 6 secs before engaging first.

It works for me all the time.

 

Here's my remedy....

Pull in your clutch lever and hold it for about 5 to 6 secs before engaging first.

It works for me all the time.

Yeah, this works for me too. but sometimes I dont have the time to hold the clutch in that long. You know?

 

So MAXBG don't the people behind you get alittle pissed while your counting down to gear engagment? Asuming you're at a light or in stopped traffic.

 

someone told me once to check the chain too . a chain whit too much slack in it will make more noise when getting in 1st gear

maybe right maybe wrong :dunno :dunno :dunno

 

Unless I am lane-sharing, which I do less frequently on surface streets, I don't typically sit at stops in neutral...... :crash

 

good point:iamwithst

 

Is it hard on the bike to at stop lights that might be a little longer than normal with the clutch pulled in. I have been told it's better to put it in neutral I have no idea what is right or wrong.:dunno

 

Is it hard on the bike to at stop lights that might be a little longer than normal with the clutch pulled in. I have been told it's better to put it in neutral I have no idea what is right or wrong.:dunno

Either your spinning the trans in neutral, or spinning the clutch on the thrust bearing, something is getting worn. IMO I don't believe either is wrong.

 

Either your spinning the trans in neutral, or spinning the clutch on the thrust bearing, something is getting worn. IMO I don't believe either is wrong.

My preference is not based on any mechanical advantage/disadvantage to the transmission or clutch internals, but one based on the practical matter of street survival. It's one of the little things that helps riders eventually become an old and experienced one :hellobye

 

Just got 1800 miles on my '04. Had factory service at 965. Mine makes the noise like ya'll are saying. But I will try some of the suggestions.....

 

Either your spinning the trans in neutral, or spinning the clutch on the thrust bearing, something is getting worn. IMO I don't believe either is wrong.

I don't know anything at all about mechanical stuff, but this seems right to me.

Just guessing by the sound. This is what I would imagine it to sound like.

 

This sounds like the sticky clutch problem, that a large amount of 2004 R1's suffer from. The clutch is not realising properly causing it to drag, making for the clunking into 1st.
Mine suffered from this to, but on my 600ml service the clutch plates were cleaned under warranty. The gearbox is now amoung the best I've ever used, and snicks into 1st silently now.
You can check if the clutch is dragging by putting the bike on a paddock stand once it is fully warmed up. Start the bike up in neutral. The back wheel should either be completely still, or if still turning, should be easily stopped by hand. If it is moving and still pulls through your hand with force, your clutch is dragging.

 

It's just an alignment thing with the trans. The gear is not at the correct position for dog engagement of 1st gear ring. Trans turns till alignment and engagement resulting in a clunk. No problem. Kinda like when you try to shift it when not running. Sometimes it shifts, and other times you have to spin the rear wheel to let it shift.

:iamwithst
This is what I do so the clunk doesnt happen. If you're at a stop in neutral and shift to first, pull the clutch in and slowly rock the bike forward. While your rolling forward you can feel when the shift lever is gonna slip in smooth, so there's no noise. Every once in a while i'll get the clunk cause i'm in a hurry or just didnt get it right but 9 times out of 10 I can shift into first without the clunk. Its just a matter of lining the trans up and you can do so by rotating the rear wheel.

 

While I am on this issue, let me ask another question. How come sometimes when shifting into 1st gear, the bike makes a loud noise, while sometimes (when the engine is cold) it will make a soft click into 1st. Do you know what I mean. The shift the "click" that it makes into 1st, is sometimes hard and a thump, while other times, it just sorta glides into 1st gear.

Cold engine = cold, thick oil = nice, cushy, velvety shift into first.

Hot engine = thinner oil = etc.

I suppose you cold try different oils. Many have claimed smoother shifting with semi- or full-synthetic.