Cold Start-up and Integrated Transmissions

In a recent issue of “Cycle World” magazine, Paul Dean discussed the problem of sticky
clutch plates in motorcycles with integrated transmissions and clutches. As Mr. Dean
pointed out, damage to shift forks and gears can occur if you do not first “free up” and
unstick the steel clutch plates from the fiber ones before engaging first gear the first time
after starting a cold engine. This is especially true if you repeat this bad technique
habitually as the damage is usually cumulative.

The simplest way to solve the sticky clutch problem that I know of is to:

 

  • Start the cold engine in neutral and let it run a few minutes (this also lets the oil
    circulate throughout the engine before you put it under load).
  • Pull the clutch lever all the way to the handlebar.
  • “Blip” the throttle two or three times while the clutch plates are not under spring
    pressure.
  • Let the engine idle back down to about 1,500 RPM and move the shift lever
    “quickly” but gently in the direction of 1st gear. (Note: Unless you want bent shift
    forks