CLUNK CLUNK

Yaayuh!

Yaayuh!

Yaayuh!

Soldato
Joined
5 Nov 2010
Posts
24,448
Location
Hertfordshire
Is it just me or are Bandit/GSX-F gearboxes seriously clunky.

1-2 is pretty clunky, they get less clunky as they go and are obviously worse when cold.
I've had the GSX650F (10 plate) for 6 months and only done 400 miles on it, now at just over 1400 miles.. It's always been a bit clunky, but it has the clunkiest gear changes i've ever experienced.

Is it just me and my bike? or are they renowned? (Google says there are quite a few so i'm thinking it's a cheap Suzuki thing).
 
Quite possibly a model specific issue? Suzuki are usually renowned for silky smooth gearboxes, some of the made of cheese granted but not clunky :D
 
It does appear to be a model specific thing. Anything i can do to improve it?

N -> 1 CLUNK
1 -> 2 CLUNK
2 -> 3 Small clunk
3 onwards is generally smooth.
 
Correct grade engine oil?
Oil level? :D

Also might be worth checking the gear selector and make sure its not putting too much or too little pressure before you actually engage it.

Yeah I remember the SV650 gearbox was a bit clunky, but its fairly old now, the worst for modern I rode was the first gen Street Triple :D
 
Fireskull said:
Correct grade engine oil?
Oil level? :D

Also might be worth checking the gear selector and make sure its not putting too much or too little pressure before you actually engage it.
Click to expand...

Assume it's correct oil, bought from Suzuki dealership, haven't changed it since i bought it.
Oil level is good. Though will replace soon anyway.
Might read-up on tinkering with the gear selector.
 
My GSF650 is clunky N > 1 > 2 but ok after. I found that if you slightly lift the gear selector before the gear change it is better (sounds odd but makes the change a lot smoother).
 
could be just the nature of the bike,some are smooth some are clunky but last years

aslong as you change oil and filter regular you'll be ok

EDIT: oh and make sure your clutch cable is properly adjusted aswell
 
wazza300 said:
EDIT: oh and make sure your clutch cable is properly adjusted aswell
Click to expand...

I'd also wonder if the it's dried out as well so check it & lube if needed.
Are you sure you are getting the full movement when applying the clutch ? Maybe the cable has stretched or it's dried out.
 
Down into first is clunky on my bike ( '13 Suzuki Inazuma 250) but apart from that it's fine. I always thought a bit of a clunk going into 1st was normal for most bikes.
 
On my old zx6r b1h there was a bit of a known issue with gear levers. Theyd get full of gunk and would mean the throw was limited and wouldnt be a smooth change at all.

Actually thought my gearbox was on the way out it was that bad. Stripped, cleaned and put back together and it was like a new'un :-)
 
Suzuki normally have some of the smoothest gearboxes of the Japanese bikes. Almost all bikes clunk going from neutral to 1st, that's just the nature of a dog box, especially combined with a wet clutch.

Clunky gear changes are usually caused by one of two things:
1) Incorrect clutch adjustment (very common)
2) Incorrect chain adjustment. Too tight, and especially too loose will make the gearchange noticeably worse.

Less common is using an incorrect, higher viscosity grade of oil e.g. using 15W50 when 10W40 is specified.

Assuming your bike has a cable clutch, then you need to adjust it correctly, and that doesn't just mean messing around with the cable. The pushrod clearance is very important, and must be set with the cable adjuster fully backed off.

FWIW my SV650 had a very slick gear change, nothing wrong with it at all.
 
Last edited:
It's a hydraulic clutch.

I think it's change the oil and filter soon and play with the clutch and gear selector whilst i'm at it.
I don't think it's the clutch though as it's only in the lower gears.
 
My sv650 N ->1 was clunky as was 1-2 but rest were less so and my Vstrom N-1 is clunky but rest are OK.

The Er6-f I had was not clunky unless it was cold.
 
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