Clunky Transmission
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- KSRC Member
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- Bike: Z1000
- State: Queensland
- Location: Caboolture QLD
Clunky Transmission
Does anyone on this forum own a 2003 to 2006 Z1000 that occasionally "clunks" into gear when changing from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd ??
- 6maniac
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Re: Clunky Transmission
Peter, a suggestion - put up your location and maybe a local KSRC member will pop around and check the bike out.
I've spent over 40 years of my life riding bikes .... the rest of it, I wasted ..
If it's got wheels or tits, it's gonna give you trouble !
HCST #2
Team Black '09 ..... R.I.P. - 2011.
Back in Black....2011.
If it's got wheels or tits, it's gonna give you trouble !
HCST #2
Team Black '09 ..... R.I.P. - 2011.
Back in Black....2011.
- Saki
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Re: Clunky Transmission
Yes i own a 2003 Z1000. My Z is pretty clunky in gears also but then again so was my 10, 9 and 6 so it think its just a Kawa thing!
It is probbanly also a good sign as your bike has low Km's that your box will be tight still!
hehehe
It is probbanly also a good sign as your bike has low Km's that your box will be tight still!


ZX-2R '88 -> ZX636 '06 -> ZX-9R '99 -> ZX-10R '04 -> Z1000 '03 -> ZX-10R '04 -> ZX-10R '08
- devo
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Re: Clunky Transmission
Sometimes these are made worse from an incorrectly adjusted chain or cush drive rubbers are worn.
If your cush drive rubbers have to much play getan icecream container lid and cut out some shims to take up the slack.
Cheaper than buying new rubbers that will do the same thing anyway
If your cush drive rubbers have to much play getan icecream container lid and cut out some shims to take up the slack.
Cheaper than buying new rubbers that will do the same thing anyway

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- KSRC Member
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- Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:04 pm
- Bike: Z1000
- State: Queensland
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Re: Clunky Transmission
Is your bike consistantly clunky through the gear changes Saki or does it only do it every now and then ?? Which gears does it clunk into and how often ??Saki wrote:Yes i own a 2003 Z1000. My Z is pretty clunky in gears also but then again so was my 10, 9 and 6 so it think its just a Kawa thing!
It is probbanly also a good sign as your bike has low Km's that your box will be tight still!![]()
hehehe
Last edited by Peter on Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- KSRC Member
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Re: Clunky Transmission
I doubt if it's the cush drive rubbers devo as it's only done 10,000km and I have adjusted the chain.devo wrote:Sometimes these are made worse from an incorrectly adjusted chain or cush drive rubbers are worn.
If your cush drive rubbers have to much play getan icecream container lid and cut out some shims to take up the slack.
Cheaper than buying new rubbers that will do the same thing anyway
- Sulli
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Re: Clunky Transmission
What oil you running ??
Motul 5100 improves the gear change and false neutrals on most Kwakas
Motul 5100 improves the gear change and false neutrals on most Kwakas

Nostradamus probably got it right
- Saki
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Re: Clunky Transmission
umm only real times i can recall clunking, is if i knock it into N at the lights, then click it into 1st again. Or, if i am warming the bike up rolling down the hill and knock it into 2nd, then it will knock, otherwise gearbox feels pretty tight and good chances like the other bikes. I assume g'box would be similar to something used in a ZX9 and my 9 gearbox was good too!
My Z has 21,000km's on it and i have Repsol race oil in mine. I've hit a few false neutrals, but thats cause i am being lazy!
If i was you and your concerned about it, do an oil change, not only got the g'box but also for your peice of mind for the motor! Even if they last owner said it was done, just change oil filter and put some good quality oil in, if its got 10,000k's on it, then should be safe to put synthetic in it also!
My Z has 21,000km's on it and i have Repsol race oil in mine. I've hit a few false neutrals, but thats cause i am being lazy!
If i was you and your concerned about it, do an oil change, not only got the g'box but also for your peice of mind for the motor! Even if they last owner said it was done, just change oil filter and put some good quality oil in, if its got 10,000k's on it, then should be safe to put synthetic in it also!
ZX-2R '88 -> ZX636 '06 -> ZX-9R '99 -> ZX-10R '04 -> Z1000 '03 -> ZX-10R '04 -> ZX-10R '08
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Re: Clunky Transmission
Hey Saki, you said earlier your bike is clunky in gear changes and now you say you can only remember it clunking from neutral to 1st ???? I have already changed the oil to Motul 5100. I took it for a 200km ride through the mountains today and the only time it clunked into 2nd gear was when I arrived in traffic on two seperate occasions. Otherwise it didn't even look like clunking and changed perfectly, so I think I just got a bit paranoid and all will be ok. Strangely, mine hardly ever clunks changing from neutral to 1st. Thanks for all the replys.
- Saki
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Re: Clunky Transmission
Yes sounds about right, sounds normal the clunking from N to 1st. Sounds like your bike could have still had some run in oil or a very old oil. Good quality, clean oil is what you need
ZX-2R '88 -> ZX636 '06 -> ZX-9R '99 -> ZX-10R '04 -> Z1000 '03 -> ZX-10R '04 -> ZX-10R '08
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Re: Clunky Transmission
I give up.
- Saki
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Re: Clunky Transmission
Dont give up, u only just started!Peter wrote:I give up.
ZX-2R '88 -> ZX636 '06 -> ZX-9R '99 -> ZX-10R '04 -> Z1000 '03 -> ZX-10R '04 -> ZX-10R '08
Re: Clunky Transmission
the 12 was pretty cluncky for the first 20 thou K's....she's silky smooth now at 40 thou k's, I think they take time to bed in right..
mind you into first there is still a massive clunck, thats just a kaw thing.
mind you into first there is still a massive clunck, thats just a kaw thing.
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- KSRC Member
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- Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:04 pm
- Bike: Z1000
- State: Queensland
- Location: Caboolture QLD
Re: Clunky Transmission
Thanks Hoffy, Is spoke to a guy yesterday that owned a 2004 Z and his bike does the same thing as mine and he has never had a problem so all is good.