"toka toka toka toka"

[glwestcott]

When my 2001 r1100rt has fully heated up, like after a few miles on the slab and I pull over and pull in the clutch lever, I get this toka toka toka sound. If I put the bike in neutral and let the lever out, it stops. Pull the lever in again, even in neutral, and it starts making the noise again. Am I looking at something really bad here, or do I just keep riding?

[lazywizard02]

My 96 RT has similar symptoms. The noise will change abit in between any two clutch pulls, ie sometimes more pronounced.

Another rider once told me that his bike did the same thing and it is normal noise.

So after 40k of my miles on a now 70k bike, I believe him.

[BajaBum]

My '02 R1150RS does the same thing. The bike has 48K miles with the original clutch and runs like a haint. Toka, toka, toka at the stoplights. When I get tired of the extra :nod :twirl racket, I stop in neutral, just for a change.

[glwestcott]

I have a hard time thinking its normal noise, but it has been doing it for about a 10,000 miles. Bike has 85000 miles on her and otherwise runs great. Just hope if it does portend something, it doesn't do it on a long trip.:doh

[Andy VH]

Dry clutches, like the one used in every airhead and oilhead since day one can do that. It is basically a friction plate/pressure plate rattle. But my bet it is more pronounced on clutches with high miles on them, like yours at 85k. My 94 R1100RS, at 136k on the clock is on its third clutch, and it only has a mild "toka toka" sound to it.

I would have gotten over 80k on the 2nd clutch if I had doen the job right and not just replaced the friction plate. My first clutch got oil soaked at about 80k due to a failed main seal. I replaced only the friction plate, and then only got another 30k on it before the "taper wear" effect of the pressure plates caused it to slip under load. I did a complete clutch package replacement at 110k and it is great now, best it has eveer been.