1st to 2nd violent clunk

Plutohora said:

2018 DL1000 on 17kmiles.

If I preload the gear shift slightly it helps on 50% of the time it's quieter but not 'snick' or 'click' that 3rd etc is with rhe same method etx however if I'm not 100% gently clutch lever/preload it's a loud violent clunk.

I'd describe it as the same as when you knock it down into 1st at the lights

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Sounds like the clutch isn't completely disengaging. That would be the first thing to confirm.

My older 2007 DL1000 was not a smooth shift from 1 to 2 either. Preloading helped. Ignoring it helped more. It’s a common complaint.

Check chain slack. I tend to leave mine on the loose side of spec but sometimes too loose a chain can exacerbate this issue.

All V-Stroms are clunky into 1st and more difficult 1st to 2nd, especially when the oil is not fully warmed. It's a symptom of a wet clutch.
You could perhaps experiment with different engine oils. Some brands of 10W40 seem less affected than others.

Brockie said:

All V-Stroms are clunky into 1st and more difficult 1st to 2nd, especially when the oil is not fully warmed. It's a symptom of a wet clutch.
You could perhaps experiment with different engine oils. Some brands of 10W40 seem less affected than others.

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I agree with everything said so far yourself, Griff and STCorndog.
I'd like to also mention overfilled of oil can be a problem.

Also, On a SV650 I had, a Shell oil for motorcycles made my shifting throughout the box terrible. Heard from a few others of similar issues. Went back to Motul and issue disappeared within KM. I have also used Penrite 4ST oils with no similar issues.

But as STC mentioned, the neutral to 1st and 1st to 2nd clunck is not uncommon on Suzuki boxes.

As mentioned by Brockie above, they are all clunky. I got smoother shifting with Motul 7100 10-40W oil.

Smooth 1-2 is a little tricky on my bike as well. What usually works for me is preload shifter and pull in the clutch slightly more for 1-2, especially when the bike is cold. (Make sure your chain slack isn't too tight).

If I'm staying on the gas I'll bump up thru the gears without clutch for 2+.

In comparison my SV650 has a wonderfully smooth transmission.

Well I don't have the mileage on my bike that some of you guys do,but I only get clunks for N-1 when stopped waiting for a lite or something.
I used Mobil 1 10w-40 4t racing oil.

Upshifting 1 to 2 is clunky in DL 1000/1050's. Neutral to first at a light...can be a bit rough but not really worse than most bikes.
The 2014 and newer DL 1000/1050 have a different internal clutch hub setup. For whatever reason it is prone to not releasing the discs cleanly if not in perfect working order. So, that normally means the clutch hydraulic system needs flushed and properly bled. This gets overlooked all too often. This WILL help the neutral to first and the bike lurching forward when you go into first from a stop. It can also smooth the 1 to 2 upshift some.
These bikes need the clutch hydraulic system bled annually. I don't care what the manuals say, this makes all the difference in keeping these bikes working properly.