I am new to the 14 and noticed the clutch pull is very light. The guy said it was the hydraulic clutch but I wanted to see if everyone elses is the same. I notice it goes into 1 and 2nd gear pretty rough which I have read the zx has a hard shifting transmission. I just want to make sure there is nothing wrong with the clutch. It doesnt slip or chatter. It runs perfect.

Trick is to either start out in 1st with a dead engine or pull the clutch in, wait a touch longer than pull and push in gear. That extra few seconds slow the spinning gears that mash together or clunk once you stab the shifter. The majority of bikes do this. There is no damage because the clutch is in and the sound is stopping the gear on the shaft is all. No harm/no foul or bike's would have transmission problems since day one with all the clunk stabbing it is given. And that is not just the 14, but all types with this generic clutch setup. Cable clutches clunk too. No getting around it but to start in gear with engine off.

This transmission is one of the smoothest. So you have to either shift real fast or work the clutch easier for second gear not to make that sound. It's not the bike = It's YOU!

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Ya, what he said! :)

Thanks for the ffedback. I know about clutches, changed a few myself and this is my 14th street bike but this is different than any other. I know clunks in first are normal but dont recall having them do it in 2nd so bad. I changed the oil and went with synthetic, the guy I bought it from was running semi so that seemed to help a little.
My main concern was the hydraulic clutch. This is my first. Maybe its just being on a harley for a couple of months that there heavy clutch go me used to it. I have put 300 miles on it the last few days and its running great.

Hello Rebus-14's-clunky first gear-normal-HOWEVER-can be lessened some by lowering your IDLE rpm to around 950,1000.It will decrease as you get more miles on it-mine did anyway.I will say-clutching and shifting are better done quickly-not like yer Harley.And you needn't pull your clutch lever all the way in either.Just around the 1/3rd point-you'll get it-just takes some practice.

OK, Try this: Just ride along with your hand on the clutch lever. Start to pull it in until you feel the clutch release. That is as far you want to pull the lever in; as you go after 2nd gear. I was the same way coming off a cable pull. I had to learn a new way.

So, if you are fast on the up-shift, as coordinated one takes to ride a bike, you just tap that lever, shift quick, time the rpm and that should run butter smooth.... OK, close to butter smooth, if they only would fix that tiny blip of a better shift apply.

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I will try that tomorrow.

Anyone ever ride a big bore bike that didn't go "clunk" into first gear???

Suzuki Hayabusa.

Like I said before, my concern is not the clunk into 1st as much as it is into 2nd and 3rd. After checking the bike over the chain was adjusted to tight so I loosened it. Maybe that was the problem, I will find out in the morning.

After checking the bike over the chain was adjusted to tight so I loosened it.

Yes, I Forgot to mention that should have been the very first thing to check; if it is not the trans acting up in the other upper gears or say this happens occasionally, then you might want to check that slack.

In fact, you can tell right away if the shifting does not feel right, it could be a, too loose or too tight a chain. The clunk is a given, unless your hang time is extended before you stab the foot down.

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