Motorcycle Repair: Nighthawk clutch, clutch replacement, clutch lever

Question
Hey...I have a 91 Nighthawk 750 that is really in excellent shape except that if i put it in nuetral when i come to a stop and shift to 1st to start again it bangs pretty hard. Sometimes you can hear the gears engageing.
I put it on the center standand when i put it in gear the wheel turns with the clutch lever held in. I realize clutch isnt working properly but is this a common breakdown or is it maybe an adjustment i can make myself. Ive worked on cars my whole life and would tackle  clutch replacement but never done it on a motorcycle and i fear i will need  special tools.

Answer
Hi Mike... We have a '92 Nighthawk 750 that we use as a shop bike to run errands and fetch parts, etc. Our bike also makes that same sound, but only when started with the choke on (before the engine is warmed up). So before ya start ripping the clutch apart, I would try lowering the engine idle a little and see if that eliminates the problem. It did with ours. Also, what you described as rear wheel movement while on the centerstand is pretty normal for a lot of bikes, as long as the wheel stops easily. Put it on the centerstand and see if the wheel stops easily or not. Also, if the bike is rolling when you shift from Neutral to first, you can expect to hear a bit a bang and the sound of gears... the engine is trying to mesh with the tranny, and they have a hard time "meeting up" when the bike is in motion. Hope this helps ya Mike!!!

Jack