Engine starting???

SHUMBA

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When I park my Ten, I always ensure it
is in first gear.
(So, if I'm parked on a downslope it is less likely to get away on me.)
When I start my bike, I have been leaving it in first gear.
At times I can feel the bike want to move ahead on the starter motor. If I start the bike in neutral, clutch in of course, I suspect that it is easier on both the battery and starter motor.
When I shift into first with the engine running the transmission goes "klunk"
What's best?? How do you start your bike??
SHUMBA

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SeaBass

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All the bikes I had, I parked them in 1st and had the same little movement forward when starting them, I do put them in neutral when it is a cold start, to warm up the engine, so most mornings or after work, I start it up by squeezing both the clutch and front brake to stop the little movement forward. Same klunk on all my bikes when going to 1st after starting from cold, it is the gearbox engaging, nothing to worry about unless it refuses to get in gear.
 

Sierra1

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Yup, nothing wrong, she is a clunky girl. I always park in gear, period. And I always start in neutral with the Tenere, period. None of the other bikes I've ridden have the AMOUNT of drag in gear, with the clutch in, that the Tenere has. So, I don't do it.
 
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SHUMBA

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Have owned 13 motorcycles and they all did that.
I usually park in gear to prevent possible rolling except at home in my garage where I park in neutral.
If the engine is cold I will put it in neutral and start it and let it run while putting on helmet, gloves etc.
Ok thanks much appreciated. I start my bike in neutral when cold and roll it out of the garage. I think going forward I'm going to shift into neutral for all starts despite the clunk when shifting into first with the engine running.
Thanks to all for your comments
SHUMBA



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Yep. Totally agree. Much like if you park your vehicle on a slant, my driveway has a good slope, and you don’t put on the parking brake before you shift into Park, then disengage your brake pedal, then you will hear that same clunk when going from Park into the next gear, usually reverse.

It’s natural and if you never use your E-brake Parking brake then you have certainly heard this clunk. My wife and daughters never use the parking brake. The clunk bugs me, so I always use mine, even if it’s completely flat.

I think every motorcycle does this as well, when parked as you described.

I almost always just pull in the clutch, with my front brake squeezes tight. They turn over but not a big deal if you prefer putting her in neutral.


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SHUMBA

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I imagine the movement when starting in gear is due to the wet clutch dragging. Happens less when the oil is hot. If the bike is cold I normally start in neutral so less drag on our puny starting system and battery.

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Ok, now it's beginning to make sense.
In first gear when I engage the starter and I feel the bike move ahead (very little) this would indicate some friction in the drive system however minimal. In essence this is in fact placing an additional load on both the battery and starter motor.
Thanks again for your input.
SHUMBA


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Clawdog60

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east central "ILL"
I try to make it a point to leave it in 1st while parked. Occasionally 2nd if I do a long roll in. 9 out of 10 times I’ll go to neutral to start. I feel it’s easier on the system.
 

WJBertrand

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When my OEM battery started to go off just a little, I could not reliably start the bike in gear with the clutch pulled in, especially if cold. It got to the point that if I stalled it at a stop light, even with the engine fully warmed up, I would have to put the transmission back in N in order to get good enough cranking to restart the motor. The cars behind me don't seem to be all that patient when that happens. I changed the battery for a Li iron one with a claimed 387 CCA, and it cranks quite vigorously now in N and well enough to restart with the bike in gear with the clutch pulled in. I can still tell the starter is laboring a lot more when starting in gear though. As someone else said, I don't think I've owned another bike with this much clutch drag when starting in gear.

I've tried flushing and bleeding the clutch hydraulics as well as adjusting the lever distance as far from the bar as I can reach in hopes of improving the throw of the clutch release mechanism.
 
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squarebore

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Ok, now it's beginning to make sense.
In first gear when I engage the starter and I feel the bike move ahead (very little) this would indicate some friction in the drive system however minimal. In essence this is in fact placing an additional load on both the battery and starter motor.
Thanks again for your input.
SHUMBA


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Yeah if you put the bike on the centrestand and start I neutral, you will notice the rear wheel usually turns slowly. This is the oil in the wet clutch dragging. You can hold the wheel still quite easily.

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Squibb

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Definitely just cold oil creating a slight clutch drag. Best to always start in neutral, with the clutch pulled in, if you want to give the battery an easy time.

Parking facing down a slope ........ never a good idea if it can be avoided IMHO. OK, you are in gear but it still doesn't take much of a nudge from say a careless driver to roll the bike off it's side stand.

If the same happens with the bike reversed down the slope she should still stay upright, indeed I can confirm that I have had a van driver put this theory to the test with a fully laden bike when I was touring in Germany.
 
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Cities with hills are the bane of many a motorcycle parking on hills. I usually will choose the upside of the hill and use the curb to back my rear tire up against, but any bright gear helps. It’s one of the reasons for buying a hi-vis cover. Nobody wants their motorcycle bumped into the ground. Too many people will just pull away and not take responsibility.

Personally I like wet clutches over dry clutches. You get left Popeye forearm with Ducati and others with stiff dry clutches.


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Cycledude

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In 50,000 miles I only experienced the no start issue on my previous 2013 Tenere twice, both times were at home while the bike was cold, not really a big issue because it was very easy to simply hook it to a charger for awhile.

So far my 2018 seems to start much better than the 2013 ever did even after installing a new battery with more cranking amps in the 2013.

Honestly I believe Yamaha messed up pretty seriously when choosing the start system for the Tenere.
 

AVGeek

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My habit was to start in neutral, then blip the throttle when shifting into 1st. It made a big difference in reducing the clunk....
 
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