Was the problem ever figured out??
If you keep your foot on the brake while slowly excellerating, there is no clunk.
The clunk is a function of the CVT design coupled with the unforgiving, inflexible drive shaft system, and the way a person accelerates to engage the clutches. For example, if you had a standard transmission and you revved it up and dumped the clutch, you couldn't be upset if you had a jearky, noisy start off. A belt drive would tend to absorb some of the effects of the abrupt engagement. But a drive shaft is the better way to go for the Ryker.
If you learn to do it correctly. You can get a virtually clunk-less engagement. Just takes a bit of finesse. It's really not a big deal unless you let it bother you. Similar to the clunk going from neutral to 1st gear in a constant mesh (motorcycle) transmission. The difference being, it is avoidable on the Ryker.
No help with the downshifting issue but the normal engagement clunk I have learned to handle by anticipating when I'm going to get rolling again and with my foot still on the brake, I increase the throttle a tiny amount and this takes up the slack without much clunking and then when I'm ready to go I simply ease off the brake, give her more gas and away I go smooth as butter. It takes a bit of practice but it's second nature to me now.
The clunk is a signature feature of the Ryker. Embrace the clunk
My wife has a 2023 ryker sport we got her last week. I just picked up a new 2023 ryker rally yesterday. Both bikes have less than 100kms on them. Hers is silent. Mine is superclunk master. Hers is also faster than mine.
Any opinions?