2002 Honda Shadow VT 1100 keeps stalling when letting out clutch lever

• 2002 1100 spirit
• stalling

• D

  David

  3/31/26, 11:12 AM

  I have a 2002 Honda Shadow VT 1100 Spirit. Changes I made to it: backdraft exhaust, velocity stacks, and bought the carb rebuild kit to rebuild the carbs. I rebuilt and cleaned the carbs. I changed the intake boots. 

  It starts great, sounds great. I start it in neutral, I put it in 1st gear, and with the clutch lever pulled in still sounds great. As I let out the clutch lever it starts moving forward, but once the clutch lever is fully out it lurches forward and stalls/dies.

  Google results and google ai says it is the sidestand sensor. I don't think it is that because if the kickstand is down, as soon as I put it in 1st gear it dies.

  When I look at the clutch cable behind the left crankcase cover, it looks like it releases all the way. I could be wrong about that though. 

  Anyone have ideas of what the problem could be?

  Thanks

   

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  TJ Admin Staff member

  3/31/26, 3:47 PM

  @David well theres not much info here to go off of so ill offer my best guesses. =) 

  1. you're dumping the clutch with not enough throttle. apply more throttle and ease the clutch out. 
  2. your idle is now too low after the rebuild or it got moved. increase the idle, you should be at around 1100-1200 rpms
  3. adjust the cable free play. it may bee too tight. 
     
     1. if you put it in first are you holding the brake? with the clutch lever pulled in and no brake does the bike pull forward? if so, clutch is too tight. 
  4. the tuning is not complete. 
     1. The Fastest Way to Diagnose (do this in order)
        Raise idle slightly
        Give it a little throttle while releasing clutch
        If still dying - fuel issue (pilot circuit or vacuum leak)
        Check for intake leaks
        Then look at clutch adjustment

  try these things and let me know whats going on

  DO FUN SHIT!
  Check the FAQ's here for tons of tuning info and more!! - t.ly/MA6r6

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