My test ride,,, nice,,,

[CAT in HAWAII]

Yeah, the "clunk" is noticeable, but ,,,

I'm *supposed* to be able to pick up my bike tomorrow, but have t gotten a call from FedEx yet,, which makes me think they so t be ready tomorrow ,, but if not then Monday!!!

You must live in a big city, lots of bikes trading hands, I still should sell my HD Sportster ,, just washed it yesterday, so probably put in on the Hickam lemon lot for a couple of weeks ,, if that don't work, the. A much more thorough cleaning, pics, and then put on Craigslist , and wait for the calls to come in,,,

Oh we'll,, not my cup of tea waiting for meeting people, but oh well,,,

[Shinysideup]

Yeah, the "clunk" is noticeable, but ,,,

The clunk really bothered me for the first few days. But I've learned how to minimize it to the point of elimination most of the time. Either it's gone completely, or it's no more jarring than shoving my BMW into first from neutral at a light.

The trick is really easy and has become automatic. If I'm stopped on any surface other than a very steep downhill, I put my feet on the pavement and push the bike back a bit, maybe 6 inches to a foot. This takes the slack out of the drive train, so that when I next roll on the throttle, the bike just goes, smoothly. If I can't roll the bike back (steep hill or car too close behind me) I just very slowly nudge the throttle, while waiting for the light to change, which takes the slack out with just a very faint sound.

Every brand and model has a quirk. These give bikes character. This "feature" is now just another reason for me to really like this bike.

And my Empulse from the same dealer came to $20K, less $2900 in fed and CA tax credits, not $21K. Worth it? Every penny! I guess, by nature, I'm a lover, not a trader. (Same wife 29 years too... might be a keeper!)

[FreepZ]

The trick is really easy and has become automatic. If I'm stopped on any surface other than a very steep downhill, I put my feet on the pavement and push the bike back a bit, maybe 6 inches to a foot. This takes the slack out of the drive train, so that when I next roll on the throttle, the bike just goes, smoothly. If I can't roll the bike back (steep hill or car too close behind me) I just very slowly nudge the throttle, while waiting for the light to change, which takes the slack out with just a very faint sound.

Thanks for that insight. I was getting a little worried about the "clunk". The transition on my Ninja is pretty smooth (I suppose I've had to learn how to do that), and of course there's no clunk at all on a Zero S. I would rather not have some aspect of the Empulse that was significantly worse than other bikes.

I expect the real reason I don't feel that on my gas bike when starting is that I have to ease the clutch out, so the engine is always pushing against the transmission, softly at first.

[CAT in HAWAII]

Yeah, the "clunk" is noticeable, but ,,,

I'm *supposed* to be able to pick up my bike tomorrow, but have t gotten a call from FedEx yet,, which makes me think they so t be ready tomorrow ,, but if not then Monday!!!

Yeah,,, 

No pics! No video ! ,,,  no bike!!!
I never was given a tracking number for my FedEx freight
Shipment, but no worries, the boat didn't land on Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday for that matter,,

It got to port in Honolulu on Friday, and after getting up early from work with
Un-crateing tools and picking up my buddy, it was not to be!

The local lady at the office got my shipment info, and boat was off-loading on Friday, so Monday 8am is the earliest I can pick it up,,

Bummers! It's SUCH a nice sunny day today,,, looks like I gotta do some yard work, since I don't have the excuse of getting to know the new BABY,, oh well!!

Pics, video, and happiness coming on Monday!!!!

PS, ok Gavin,,, so,,, I gotta go to my MSF course TOTAL CONTROL book and figure out
Adjustments since you won't write a little ride adjustment app for me,,, (sigh) ,,,

[Gavin]

Oh I could write you a ride adjustment map...of course there would be a 73% chance your bike would explode...

Which is why I never adjust anything on my rides...I leave that to the professionals...

G

[CAT in HAWAII]

Oh I could write you a ride adjustment map...of course there would be a 73% chance your bike would explode...

Which is why I never adjust anything on my rides...I leave that to the professionals...

G

Yeah,, not enough market in Hawaii to have specialists for bikes for suspension and such,, but I got a friend of a friend who does mobile motorcycle repair,, gotta give him a call,, may e a couple of weeks after I get the bike,,,

Gotta have a point of reference ,,, so,,, explosions not on the horizon!!! 

[frodus]

I know a guy in Hawaii that might know. Jeremiah Johnson, not sure what Island he's on, pretty sure it's the big island. PM me and I can give you his email address.

[CAT in HAWAII]

Ok,,, thanks!!!

[Shinysideup]

I expect the real reason I don't feel that on my gas bike when starting is that I have to ease the clutch out, so the engine is always pushing against the transmission, softly at first.

I think you're right on. Plus there's just more torque hitting the drive train from an electric. No stalling here!

Another aspect of "clunk reduction" is refined throttle control. At 1200 miles, my right hand is starting to tune in to exactly what's needed. In transitioning from deceleration to acceleration while still moving, if my hand twists skillfully, there's very little sensation that's abrupt. Operating a fine machine finely is the ticket!

[Gavin]

Hmmmm, which then raises the suggestion:

Who wants to write the guide on "how best to drive an electric motorcycle with a clutch."

It would be the very first "how to" of its kind....


Gavin

[ttxgpfan]

Jeremiah has been back in Florida for a while.

Pre-load is about sag numbers.  This is how much the suspension compresses under the bike's own and your weight.  Finding out the sag numbers is the first thing you need.  Then you want to run the compression dampening as stiff as you are willing to deal with.  More compression is firmer, less is softer.  Rebound controls how fast the fork and shock spring back after being compressed.  Too much and they will "pack" down.  In other words if you go over successive bumps or dips either end will feel like it is slowly lowering itself to the ground.  Too little rebound dampening and it will feel like a pogo stick. 

Cat, what island are you on?  I will drop a line to Jeremiah and see if he can recommend a place.

[CAT in HAWAII]

On Oahu,, west side,,,

Hot & sunny for my PV to make 'electric ,, to power my Empulse,,

Thanks again,, somebody who knows what they are doing can be a big help,,

I've only been riding about a year,,, but it's been a blast! 

[FreepZ]

Hmmmm, which then raises the suggestion:
Who wants to write the guide on "how best to drive an electric motorcycle with a clutch."

That might be a rather subjective topic. In any case, that information would fit right into the Wiki, and if nobody writes anything in a month or two, I'll probably give it a shot.

[flar]

The trick is really easy and has become automatic. If I'm stopped on any surface other than a very steep downhill, I put my feet on the pavement and push the bike back a bit, maybe 6 inches to a foot. This takes the slack out of the drive train, so that when I next roll on the throttle, the bike just goes, smoothly.

And if you scoot it back about a foot and then let go with your feet when the light turns green it slingshots you across the intersection!  (Sorry, but I just got this image in my brain of the little toy cars with the friction wind-up motors...)

Thanks for the tip Shiny, I've started doing that and it works great.  It actually only takes about 2 or 3 inches to get the slack out.  When I come to a stop I immediately recoil a couple of inches and no more clunks...

[Brammofan]

I'm pretty sure that the brammoforum store will soon have Clunk B Gone in convenient aerosol cans. Keep watching this space.