| For my money it'll be cush drives - the 'clonk' is the hub moving due to the circlip groove being worn and introducing some play into the set-up.
Check if this is the case by pushing the bike backwards when you get back from a ride - both times this has happened to me (748BP and 996SPS) you can feel the clunk more pushing it backwards - with the engine off you can eliminat ethe clutch.
The next phase of this little failure will be the cush drives backing out of the hub and chewing the hub adjuster, so best get it sorted. Best solution is a later (998S onwards I think) hub assembly that does away with the circlip altogether and puts a spacer in there instead to keep everything tight and functioning as it should.
On the whole Duc's aren't that unreliable, it's just that everyone's used to soft and soggy Jap bikes that are built to be maintenance free rather than to be providing top handling and feedback like Duc's - there's an extra degree of maintenance and wear to be accepted with the extra precision and feel you get on these bikes.
Cheers
Giles
PS. I'll have a Nastro if you're at the bar...  |