Why Do Harley Motorcycles Clunk When Shifting Gears?

Most classic motorcycles make clunky sounds while shifting gears. However, it is common for all Harley motorcycles to make clunking sounds while shifting gears. Some riders love the clunky sound, while others find it irritating. Even if you are a true Harley Davidson fan and do not mind the clunky transmission sound, you must be able to identify whether clunking sounds indicate whether the gearbox is becoming damaged. Read this article to learn why Harley motorcycles clunk when shifting gears.

According to expert riders and Harley Davidson dealers, the gearbox in Harley motorcycles making clunking sounds while shifting gears is normal.

Harley Davidson motorcycles are fitted with Dog Ring gearboxes instead of synchromesh ring gearboxes standard on most motorcycles. The Dog Ring transmission’s design produces loud clunky sounds, especially when shifting gears from neutral. The loud clunky sound becomes more irritating at a high idle speed and in cold weather. The transmission oil becomes more viscous during winter, increasing the friction between the clutch plates and creating a loud clunky sound.

The Dog Ring gearbox is a manual transmission system used in race cars, allowing riders to quickly shift between gears by pressing the clutch lever. The Dog Ring gearbox ensures an uninterrupted power supply to the wheels without engaging the clutch.

Most Harley Davidson motorcycles are designed for long-distance rides and touring. They are powered by large V-Twin engines capable of producing high-end torque. To ensure high-end torque, Harley motorcycles are fitted with larger output shafts and diameter gears. The large gear shafts have higher rotational weights, resulting in a loud clunky noise when shifting gears.

However, Dog Ring gearboxes are usually quiet. Most Japanese sports bikes also come with Dog Ring gearboxes for uninterrupted power delivery to the engine without engaging a clutch. However, because sports bikes’ engines are designed to produce more horsepower and low-end torque, they have smaller output shafts and diameter gears that produce less clunky sounds.

Though Harley motorcycles normally create a clunky sound while shifting gears, if the clunky sound becomes too noisy, it may indicate something is wrong with the gearbox. Louder clunking can occur in cold weather or if bad transmission oil is used. Excessive clunking may occur when the clutch plates are partially engaged when the clutch lever is pressed. Noisy clunking can also mean that there is excessive friction between the clutch plates and causing them to become worn down.

Other than the normal clunky noise from the Harley motorcycles’ gearboxes, other transmission noises may indicate several problems with the motorbike. If your motorcycle has broken shift forks, damaged gears, or worn-out bearings, the transmission will produce an irritating noise. The gearbox produces a constant grumbling sound if you have a worn-out bearing. The worn-out bearing cannot support the shaft and causes the transmission shaft to be knocked slightly out of position, causing the gears to mesh improperly, damaging the gears, and producing an irritating sound.

• Timing when to shift gears can help reduce excessive clunking. Normally, when the rider shifts gears at higher speeds, the clunking becomes noisier. Quickly shifting to the next gear can help reduce clunking sound. If you take too much time to shift gears after pressing the clutch lever, it will cause a major difference between the engine and gearbox’s speeds, resulting in a loud clunky sound.

• You can reduce the clunky sound when shifting from neutral to first gear by lowering the idle speed after engaging the clutch before shifting to first gear.

• Using high-quality transmission oil can help prevent premature wear and tear of your Harley’s gearbox.

Harley Davidson produces powerful and reliable motorcycles. Several characteristics that make Harley Davidson motorcycles popular include the classic and bulky look, powerful V-Twin engines, and chrome finishing. Despite being from a popular brand, most Harley motorcycles produce a clunky sound when shifting gears. The clunky sound coming out of the gearbox is completely normal in Harley motorcycles. However, an excessive and loud clunky sound may indicate a low-quality or unsuitable transmission oil that can damage the clutch plates and transmission.

If your Harley motorcycle produces a loud clunky sound while shifting gears, make sure to visit a professional mechanic. Smooth gear shifting and clutch lever operation ensure a comfortable riding experience. If you want to make long-distance rides on your Harley motorbike more comfortable, Viking Bags has several aftermarket parts, including handlebars , seats , sissy bars , and backrests , to ensure a better riding experience. You can also improve the safety of your Harley motorcycle by installing fairings and crash bars.

If you love motorcycle touring, Viking Bags also has a wide range of motorcycle bags and luggage racks available at its online store specially designed for Harley motorbikes. The different luggage options include saddlebags , sissy bar bags , and tool bags .