Clunky shifting...

I guess I got used to the R3 and it's BMW airhead like shifting. Honestly, my Bonnie isn't much better. Problem is, now I have the KLR and it shifts like melting butter on a hot corn cob. I ride the KLR and get on the R3 or the Bonnie and I have to think about each shift and the resultant clunk. Just a Triumph quirk I guess.

I had the R3 down at my mechanics shop last week. He fondly refers to it as the 'Winnebago'. He wanted to borrow it to pick up some parts down the street so I obliged. He came back and said to me..'that's the hardest shifting bike I've ever rode'. Nothing like a compliment. he did say the clutch was smooth and progressive so all is not lost I guess.

My wife calls the KLR a lawnmower without a blade. It sounds just like my riding lawnmower.

Once you have a few thousand miles on the R3 (or any Triumph for that matter), the easiest way to improve shifting is to use a premium oil. It costs more, but the shifting definitely improves.

I suggest trying something like the AliSyn ProDrive 21 (type 3, 15w-40 with a GL-4/5 rating) from Aerospace Lubricants, Inc. Or the motorcycle specific oils from Royal Purple and Amsoil.

The problem is actually in the mechanical design, and it will take designing a new part to actually remedy the heavy shifting. I am talking with a company right now that makes similar parts for other bikes, and they seem interested in designing the part needed. We are trying to settle on the number of parts required to make this at a reasonable price.

It has been frequently stated that shifting improved dramatically with a fresh oil change. I've been using Amsoil. It has done a remarkable job of keeping the clunk to a minimum. With 8k on the last change the clunk is exaggerating now. It's time for a change. 8k is my established interval. I clean my Scotts oil filter every 3k and at oil change of course.

W. Tripp said:

Once you have a few thousand miles on the R3 (or any Triumph for that matter), the easiest way to improve shifting is to use a premium oil. It costs more, but the shifting definitely improves.

I suggest trying something like the AliSyn ProDrive 21 (type 3, 15w-40 with a GL-4/5 rating) from Aerospace Lubricants, Inc. Or the motorcycle specific oils from Royal Purple and Amsoil.

The problem is actually in the mechanical design, and it will take designing a new part to actually remedy the heavy shifting. I am talking with a company right now that makes similar parts for other bikes, and they seem interested in designing the part needed. We are trying to settle on the number of parts required to make this at a reasonable price.

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I appreciate your advice but I have more than a few thousand miles on the bike and I already use Amsoil and I change it at 5K intervals.

I had 5K in Nashville last year.

I believe the clunk is here to stay. It's just my rice bike is so smooth....but no power.