Explosion Pending...

[Dr. Love]

So this morning I was stopped at my favorite intersection, first gear, clutch in.  When the light turned green, I released the clutch and rolled on the throttle and... nothing, so I give it a little more rev... it barely moves (feels like the clutch isn't grabbing) - so I nursed it slowly and shift into second.  At this time I had finished crossing the intersection so I can pull over.  As I move toward the shoulder the RPMs suddenly shot up (and with it goes what little power that the gearbox managed to the rear wheel) and there was this horrible cacophony of grinding metals (I can imagine teeth come flying off.... )   I immediately closed the throttle and coasted to a stop; the clacking and clanking died as the gearbox spins down... then the bike stalled with the clutch in.

I fire it back up and rode the rest of the way to school/work, the bike seemed to be acting normal again .  So.. WTF?

[The Buddha]

What ... maybe you've got a transmission that's losing it ... or maybe an isolated incident ... The motor revved up but nothing to the wheel ... yea transmission.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Bluebellylint]

[dgyver]

maybe false neutral?

[Bluebellylint]

Here is a post about false neutral.
thats what it sounds like to me.

Edit: Updated Link

[Roadstergal]

I vote false neutral.  Gears not-quite engaging make a truly awful clattery noise.