[SteveThackery]

Why not pull the clutch lever in and use the kickstart to try and turn the engine. A few kicks should free a sticky clutch.
Failing that, remove the clutch cover and the 24mm clutch centre nut , this will let you pull of the pack of clutch plates. Separate them and give then a good clean.

Excellent advice.

[Crabsapper]

But this "sticking" is so severe it actually stalls the engine. It isn't normal.

It's normal on my bike, if I haven't ridden it for a while.
How would the engine not stall on a closed throttle if the clutch won't disengage?
Without freeing the plates off (by whatever method) my bike would also lurch forward then stall.
My 2015 B5 was exactly the same. Sample size of two! Or three if you count the OP.
Maybe I shouldn't have said normal, but its certainly my experience.

[tooseevee]

It's normal on my bike, if I haven't ridden it for a while.

Without freeing the plates off (by whatever method) my bike would also lurch forward then stall.

Maybe I shouldn't have said normal, but its certainly my experience.

       All of my bikes, if I didn't kick over/clutch pulled/free the plates, would lurch a bit, or at least klunk pretty bad, on the first shift to 1st gear after starting them.

[JPE]

I have exactly this problem when my bike has been sat for a while. If the engine is cold and idling it is enough to stall the engine and the bike will lurch forward.

As others have said it’s the oil binding the clutch plates when the oil is cold. Raise the revs and hold the bike on the front brake.

You say the oil is relatively new, did you purchase the correct viscosity and additives code. Mine was worse when first purchased, after an oil change to a grade that complied with Enfields spec for the oil it is less frequent and certainly stops when the oil has warmed up.

[SteveThackery]

       All of my bikes, if I didn't kick over/clutch pulled/free the plates, would lurch a bit, or at least klunk pretty bad, on the first shift to 1st gear after starting them.

Same here.  I got into the habit of always pulling in the clutch and pushing the kickstart lever to free up the clutch plates before starting it.

[Tony 350]

Hi all, sorry for the radio silence but unfortunately I've been laid up for a month or so.
Anyway thank you all for your suggestions and support. I can now confirm that the problem was as Haggis predicted, stuck clutch plates. A motorcycle doctor attended to the problem and all seems to be good at the moment. Again, I appreciate the help from everyone and when my back recovers I'll be able to put a few miles on the 500 👍😎

[manxmike]

I had this problem on a 1971 Triumph Bonneville, pull in clutch, kick bike over a couple of times, then start the bike. On my Classic 500 I start the bike, pull in the clutch, release the clutch then engage gear - works perfectly.

[tooseevee]

On my Classic 500 I start the bike,

pull in the clutch,

release the clutch

then engage gear -

works perfectly.

     If I did that my bike would shoot out of the garage with me, more than likely, laying on the floor behind it.

[SteveThackery]

On my Classic 500 I start the bike, pull in the clutch, release the clutch then engage gear - works perfectly.

That doesn't sound right. Engaging gear after you've released the clutch?

[Mr Rabbit]

A British Airways engineer told me if i ever lay my bike up squeeze the clutch lever and zip tie it so the plates don't stick,in his youth he had a Matchless.

[tooseevee]

A British Airways engineer told me if i ever lay my bike up squeeze the clutch lever and zip tie it so the plates don't stick,in his youth he had a Matchless.

      The big problem with doing that is that you are putting the clutch cable under constant "stretch". If you do this for a number of weeks or even months, you could find the clutch out of adjustment when you go back to the bike.

    Much easier to pull the clutch, kick it over a couple times & the clutch plates have been "freed"

[Brockett]

After being idle for a week or so my Yamaha XJ600 does it every time.
I don't have a kick starter
With the bike on hard standing - not grass or gravel-
I put the bike in 1st gear, pull the clutch, apply both brakes and thumb the starter.
It always leaps about a bit but is manageable.

The Enfield gets the same procedure but it's nowhere near as bad as the Yamaha.