This may be a no-brainer
and maybe I was just a dumbass
who listened to the guy I got
my bike from.

He told me pull out the choke
at startup. So far, so good.

And then put it into gear and ride for a
block or two and the choke would just slip
back in on it's own.

The problem with that was,
it was really hard on the gear, it gave me
a big clunk every time.

So, I now start it up,
push the choke back in
before setting it into
gear. And wala, the clunk is gone.

BasicCAFE883,

Good post all Harley owners have the same problem. Do you know why this happens. It is because your clutch is in oil and when you start it up when the engine is cold the oil is thicker between the clutch plates so it drags more until it warms up. Even tho you have the clutch in there is still drag on the plates and that is why you get the clunk. When the engine is warm the oil is warm and you get less of a clunk.