2009 1st to 2nd gear change - clunk or ka-pow?

[flightdoc]

WALLY4034 SAID:
(Knowing this problem existed, all the dealers I went to did not have any 2009 Nomads to demo ride. But they had and permitted demo rides on the 2009 Volcan Classic for comparison, which is not the same bike.)

Like I said, I thought they were all the same?? I didn't even realize that the classic and Nomad were tuned differently. I thought it was just cosmetic/equipment differences.

vin

[drno]

Riding position on the classic's are a bit more the leg set forward and the Nomad/Voy are more upright seating position.

[rullmark]

I believe if the heal/toe shifter was of a thicker gadget metal(beef it up that would help the problem. If I put my toe down before it bends out( closer to the privet point the is no clunk. In other words if the shifter was shorter it would not make this clunk noise.

[andyvh1959]

Originally Posted by flightdoc

I have a 2005 Nomad. Mine made loud clunking since day one. I never had a "heel-toe" shifter before this bike and it took awhile to get used to it. I read an article about "pre-loading" prior to shifting and I started doing that and it made a huge difference in the noise. Pre-loading is when you apply pressure on the shifter just to the point of almost causing a shift . When I make the actual shift it smoothed things out a great deal.

Big V-twins shift better with preloading the shifter. I prefer the toe shift only, so I removed the heel shifter. Also, I feel using the heel shift is not as accurate as the toe shift. When I shift on my Vulcan, get the RPM up and preload the shifter, then very little clutch lever action and very little throttle chop, and click I get the next gear smooth and quick. Minimal clutch and throttle keeps the rpm which helps the shift. I you habit to let the engine revs drop too much between shifts, the upshift will feel sluggish.