You need to specify the year. Some model years are more prone to different things.

Bubba

 

It sounds like the dreaded "clutch chudder".
More annoying than anything else but there are ways to address it: replace the clutch basket or get it modified.

 

Clutch Chudder is the vibration felt from about 2500 thru 4000 rpms give or take a thousand. It is NOT the noise. I could live with the noise, not the chudder. After riding a Vee with a new/modified basket most would be surprised at how much "chudder" was actually being lived with. Modifying the baskets does decrease noise in many cases however. Not sure if the owners noise described above is related to sloppy basket or if it is just the noise known as "Idle Hammer". Idle Hammer has been discussed at length, I don't know of any real problems from it. Mine does it, some are worse than others. Probably way down on the list of things to concern yourself with. :mrgreen:

 

I keep hearing a knock like sound everytime I have the clutch pulled in.

My V had a pretty hefty shake and knock in neutral with the clutch engaged. That's what you're saying? It lessened somewhat when I pulled the clutch lever back, "throwing out" the clutch. Modification to the clutch basket to cure chudder (chatter + shudder) fixed it on my bike. Presumably, if the clutch lever doesn't affect it, it must be idle hammer.

 

No the clutch in or out does affect it. It does have the chudder as well. I was just going batty over the noises I was hearing.

I'll do some research, but are the noises harmfull or just a pain in the ass

 

My '02 V with 10,000 km. on it does exactly the same thing you are describing. Both the "idle hammer" and clutch chudder. The idle hammer noise goes away as soon as load is put on the engine. Even at idle, if I let the clutch out to the friction point with the brakes on, the hammer goes away. From what I've read these noises are more of a PIA than harmful to the engine.

 

2005 24k dl

 

Tukata, my '03 makes more noises than a washing machine cleaning a tub full of landscape timbers! But I never hear of any related failures. The Vee engine is reliable and sturdy. Compared to other bikes I have owned it may be the most noisy, as far as mechanical noises go. I suspect if you ever replace the basket or do a modified basket some of the noise you have will go away.