Ian Farlow
Well-known member
I have searched here and read several threads on clunking, popping, banging, drive lash (what the heck is that?), etc. Some don't seem to apply to my situation, and some are dead ends with no explanations. I also checked the FAQs, but because I might be misunderstanding certain terminology, I might be overlooking the answer I am seeking. This is likely not a big deal, but because I don't know for sure, I wanted to ask around and see what the consensus is.
I have a 2009 FJR. I turn on the key, flip down the engine disable switch, and I hear the priming (if that's what it's called) as I expect. I put the bike in neutral, press the start button, and the engine fires up. I hold in the clutch lever and the front brake when starting, and slowly let go of both once the engine turns over. There is nothing unusual at this point... no sputtering, stalling, long starts, etc. Almost immediately, however, something starts banging or clunking. I can hear it over the noise of the engine, and I can feel it if I am sitting on the bike (although somewhat weak). I want to say that it is coming from the shaft, but with my very limited technical knowledge on motorcycles (especially shaft drives), it might be coming from the gearbox or somewhere else.
I can definitely say that this is not a pop as in an exhaust sound. This has a solid, heavy sound to it. It does not seem to be timed with anything, and happens randomly. Some mornings it happens once or twice and then doesn't happen again, and some mornings it happens several times.
mmmm bang mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm bang mmm bang (In my oh so clever example, "mmm" is the sound of the engine idling)
The engine is idling at about 1100 RPM, where I understand it should be. Once the engine warms up, it doesn't seem to do it any more. And so we are on the same sheet of music, I am not talking about clunking when shifting. This happens when the bike is in neutral after first being started from sitting for a period of time. It does not happen when in neutral (or in gear while holding in the clutch lever) when sitting at a red light, for example, because the engine is warm at this point.
This might be completely normal, and I would be fine with that. I have just never experienced anything like this. My previous bikes were chain drive, so my logic is that this is related to the shaft drive, but again, I have no idea. I would take it to the dealer where I bought it, but I have discovered that they suck, and so I don't feel like I can trust them (long story, but a change in management has led to horrible customer service).
Thanks in advance for any input. As I said, I might have already found the answer but because my level of understanding and use of terminology might be different than others, I don't know for sure if I've found the answer.
I have a 2009 FJR. I turn on the key, flip down the engine disable switch, and I hear the priming (if that's what it's called) as I expect. I put the bike in neutral, press the start button, and the engine fires up. I hold in the clutch lever and the front brake when starting, and slowly let go of both once the engine turns over. There is nothing unusual at this point... no sputtering, stalling, long starts, etc. Almost immediately, however, something starts banging or clunking. I can hear it over the noise of the engine, and I can feel it if I am sitting on the bike (although somewhat weak). I want to say that it is coming from the shaft, but with my very limited technical knowledge on motorcycles (especially shaft drives), it might be coming from the gearbox or somewhere else.
I can definitely say that this is not a pop as in an exhaust sound. This has a solid, heavy sound to it. It does not seem to be timed with anything, and happens randomly. Some mornings it happens once or twice and then doesn't happen again, and some mornings it happens several times.
mmmm bang mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm bang mmm bang (In my oh so clever example, "mmm" is the sound of the engine idling)
The engine is idling at about 1100 RPM, where I understand it should be. Once the engine warms up, it doesn't seem to do it any more. And so we are on the same sheet of music, I am not talking about clunking when shifting. This happens when the bike is in neutral after first being started from sitting for a period of time. It does not happen when in neutral (or in gear while holding in the clutch lever) when sitting at a red light, for example, because the engine is warm at this point.
This might be completely normal, and I would be fine with that. I have just never experienced anything like this. My previous bikes were chain drive, so my logic is that this is related to the shaft drive, but again, I have no idea. I would take it to the dealer where I bought it, but I have discovered that they suck, and so I don't feel like I can trust them (long story, but a change in management has led to horrible customer service).
Thanks in advance for any input. As I said, I might have already found the answer but because my level of understanding and use of terminology might be different than others, I don't know for sure if I've found the answer.
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