Bike shudders the first few times it starts each trip

[adambee]

The first 2 or 3 times I get my bike rolling from stop each trip, the front end shudders a bunch as it gets into gear.

Got a mystery for you folks:

Every trip I take, the first two or three times I apply throttle each trip (i.e. from the parking spot and the first couple of lights/stop signs), the front end of the bike shudders horribly. The mirrors get all wobbly and it sounds like the damn thing is about to fall apart. Not good, for sure.

I have a feeling it has something to do with the clutch/transmission, as it seems to go away if I give it a tiny bit less gas (i.e. essentially none) or a ton more gas. I usually start pretty gently.

Right now I've got 1800 miles on it. I bought it with 300 miles, so maybe the previous owner did a few WOT starts during break-in? I may have done a handful myself, actually. I've done the first oil change, but not valve check or rear drive oil change or really anything else.

Or maybe it's something to do with the front brake, now that I think about it?

It seems to go away after a few starts from a full stop each trip. It doesn't seem to matter how long it's been running or how warm it is-- it seems like it is how many times I've started from a full stop.

It also seems like there are two gears-- one starting 1st gear from a full stop, then it transitions to the CVT. The problem seems like it's only with that first gear. Once I feel/hear it go to CVT it's all good.

Any thoughts?

Other than that, it's been a blast to ride!

[waspmike]

Dust in the clutch is the usual cause of vibrations at low revs/speed. Take the bike out for a run in the country and get it up to 50- 60 mph that will blow all the dust out of the clutch.

I usually start pretty gently.

This is also not so good. accelerate away decisively and firmly. Back off when at the speed you want. Not only will this be good for the clutch it will make your fellow road users happy.

[6ftMach1Girl]

Sounds like the same thing mine was doing. I'm out of town right now - hoping I do t experience it again when I get back. Just got it back from the shop right before I left, was told it was my front brake, but seemed to feel more clutch or belt-related.

[Slickvic]

Dust in the clutch is the usual cause of vibrations at low revs/speed. Take the bike out for a run in the country and get it up to 50- 60 mph that will blow all the dust out of the clutch.

I usually start pretty gently.

This is also not so good. accelerate away decisively and firmly. Back off when at the speed you want. Not only will this be good for the clutch it will make your fellow road users happy.

Agreed. The same thing happened to my old Honda CH250 after I gave it to my father in-law. He always accelerated gently and after a few weeks he had your symptoms.
Clutch shoes got glazed.

[you you]

Give your bike a really good thrashing every couple of weeks I say

[sendler2112]

Near normal belt shudder in the front pulley. Not a problem if it goes away after the first few take offs.

[wei2go]

Damn it. My 2013 pcx 150 has just started shuddering too after coming back from its first service. Garr. I use my scoot just about everyday on a 16km one way commute to work. Avg 45km/hr for most of the trip except the last 3km on the highway when I'm wot.

[maddiedog]

My PCX has done this as long as I remember (10k+ miles). It's just a weird side effect of the variator and clutch engagement, and is completely normal.

The shudders should go away once you're started -- it shouldn't shudder at speed.

[mboni]

Agreed. The same thing happened to my old Honda CH250 after I gave it to my father in-law. He always accelerated gently and after a few weeks he had your symptoms.
Clutch shoes got glazed.

Glazing of the clutch shoes is a common complaint over on the Honda Silverwing forums. The solution (at least for the SilverWing) is pretty simple:
While stopped in a safe location, grab the left brake lever very firmly, then rev the engine up to 6k rpm for about 10 seconds.
You're essentially burning off the glaze while stopped. It shortens the clutch shoe life a little bit, but gives you much smoother engagement for a few thousand miles.

[Mel46]

Except for the fact that there is no tach, that should help. I have to make an assumption that 1,000 equals 60 mph.

[adambee]

That doesn't stress out the other transmission parts?

Really, if the shudder is not causing any long-term problems then I guess I'm OK with just living with it. The scoot only shudders for the first two or three takeoffs each trip, and after that it's fine. Maybe the shoe gets warmed up and starts sticking better. The scoot never shudders at speed.

[pcx man]

I have a 2013 PCX 150 with almost 9k on it. My scooter shudders when I first start out cold. After a few stop and starts its gone untill it sits and cools down, then it will do it again. Owners having this problem, what is the miles on your scooter? Mine did not start this untill I had about 6-7k. Now it does it every cold start. I am in Ohio if the weather has anything to do with it.

[maddiedog]

My PCX has shuddered as described ever since I got it, over 11k miles ago.

[sendler2112]

It's not the clutch. It's the belt. And it's normal.

[rdonahe]

My PCX has acquired this belt shudder over the past week or so. I've only had the bike about a month but I ride it probably 100-125 miles per week so I have a good amount of saddle time on it so far. It now has around 7800 miles on it.

I wasn't sure what was causing the noise/vibration but it's at startup from stop and again when rolling to a stop seemingly when the clutch disengages. I read the threads on the clutch bearing issue thinking that may be it but that is a far different sound. So I opened up the CVT case and ran the bike on the center stand and I can see the belt slapping the bottom of the CVT case as the source of the noise.

I see on this thread some describe it as normal but in my case the bike didn't do this for the first 2-3 weeks I had it. Any ideas on what would cause the change in behavior? Is it simple belt wear?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[you you]

My PCX has acquired this belt shudder over the past week or so. I've only had the bike about a month but I ride it probably 100-125 miles per week so I have a good amount of saddle time on it so far. It now has around 7800 miles on it.

I wasn't sure what was causing the noise/vibration but it's at startup from stop and again when rolling to a stop seemingly when the clutch disengages. I read the threads on the clutch bearing issue thinking that may be it but that is a far different sound. So I opened up the CVT case and ran the bike on the center stand and I can see the belt slapping the bottom of the CVT case as the source of the noise.

I see on this thread some describe it as normal but in my case the bike didn't do this for the first 2-3 weeks I had it. Any ideas on what would cause the change in behavior? Is it simple belt wear?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Change the belt and see?