After a cold night, sometimes my clutch won't disengage, and shifting into first is met with a horrible bang and the engine cutting out. Before I bend a fork, what's the simplest way to warm up the clutch enough that it won't do that?

you got winter oil in there?? how cold is cold?

start/warm the engine? 

Quote from: J_Walker on October 30, 2017, 12:13:45 PM
you got winter oil in there?? how cold is cold?

It's been getting to 7°C overnight, which is about 45°F. I've got Castrol Power 1 in the bike, 10W40, pretty much standard fare for the British climate, all year round.

Quote from: HPP8140 on October 30, 2017, 12:40:29 PM
start/warm the engine? 

I get the engine to the point it runs without the choke, but it's apparently not enough to warm the clutch up. I've since read online that it's a pretty common problem and to try blipping the throttle a few times while holding the clutch lever, so I'll try that tomorrow and see if the transmission doesn't blow up.

Or whenever you park the bike the night before, use a heavy zip tie / bungee cord / string / whatever to keep the clutch lever pulled in.

Before you start the bike, hold in the clutch, put the transmission in gear, and rock the bike forward and backward until the clutch disengages. Then, you can start and go.

hmm, clutch not freed after engine warm and  45F is not that cold, might also need 3 point clutch adjustment.

Was fine this morning, wasn't so cold last night and I rocked the bike as well as blipped the throttle with the clutch in and it went in better than any previous first shifts of the day. Might be enough to just do the throttle blipping, I'll try that alone tomorrow.

Thing with the clutch adjustment is the clutch is perfect after that first gear shift of the morning. I'm wary of messing that up.

good point

Idk if it will help any but the clutch on my GS has (thankfully) never given me any problems, whether I'm riding in 85F temps or 17F temps.

I hope you get this sorted out Kookas! Best wishes to you!!

Pretty cold last night, but a couple of blips of the throttle with the clutch lever in this morning and the first shift was as smooth as any, so I think I'll just do that through the winter and let it be. Thanks for the tips.

Quote from: ShowBizWolf on October 31, 2017, 12:01:40 PM
Idk if it will help any but the clutch on my GS has (thankfully) never given me any problems, whether I'm riding in 85F temps or 17F temps.

I hope you get this sorted out Kookas! Best wishes to you!!

Might be that my GS500 is outside overnight so it gets the full brunt of any cold weather?

Quote from: Kookas on November 01, 2017, 05:24:15 AM
Pretty cold last night, but a couple of blips of the throttle with the clutch lever in this morning and the first shift was as smooth as any, so I think I'll just do that through the winter and let it be. Thanks for the tips.

Quote from: ShowBizWolf on October 31, 2017, 12:01:40 PM
Idk if it will help any but the clutch on my GS has (thankfully) never given me any problems, whether I'm riding in 85F temps or 17F temps.

I hope you get this sorted out Kookas! Best wishes to you!!

Might be that my GS500 is outside overnight so it gets the full brunt of any cold weather?

I store my GS outside (under a cover) and it's been much colder than 45°F and I've never had clutch problems. If your clutch is sticking after sitting in the cold for an extended period of time, my thought would be that you need to change whatever oil you're using.

Quote from: Kookas on November 01, 2017, 05:24:15 AM

Might be that my GS500 is outside overnight so it gets the full brunt of any cold weather?

Very true, when I come outta work to ride home in those cold temps, the bike has only been sitting outside for about 9 hours tops... can't really call that "overnight" !!