Why Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Clunk When Shifting Gears

That "clunk" you get when a Harley-Davidson motorcycle shifts gears, isn't that the best sound? Rest assured, it's not usually a cause for concern: It's just a signature part of the bike's mechanical makeup. In fact, most of the time, that sound is completely normal. It's from the Harley's dog ring gearbox design, which differs from the mesh systems used on many other motorcycles. But still, not even other bikes with dog ring gearboxes have that sound (such as the best Kawasaki motorcycles). It's just a Harley thing, and it's what many H-D riders love about the bikes. 

You see, Harley parts are a lot bigger and a lot heavier than standard motorcycles. Naturally, those bigger, heavier parts would make a deeper noise during gear changes compared to a typical bike. Compare that to sport bikes, which are usually smaller and more lightweight, and you can clearly see (and hear) the difference between the two. The former will have a deep growl, complete with clunks, while the latter will sound more high-pitched.

Of course, while some noise is normal, you should still listen up to pinpoint any changes. A louder or harsher clunk than you're used to? It could mean potential issues with the clutch or something specific to your transmission type. And, over time, excessive friction on any one of these components could lead to harmful wear and tear.

Broadly speaking, if you hear anything out of the ordinary, get an appointment to get the bike checked out by your favorite mechanic or your preferred pro. Using high-quality transmission fluid as well as proper clutch adjustment can go a long way, too. It's never a bad idea to brush up on proper shifting techniques, either. 

You'll want to make sure you're getting smooth coordination between throttle, clutch, and gear lever movements. Timing shifts at the proper engine speed rather than rushing or delaying can also give you much cleaner transitions between the engine and the gearbox speed. Once you find that sweet spot, you'll notice way fewer jolts or stalls (not to mention unnecessary, loud clunking noises).