Clutch Life

[Spike]

Hi guys

Just bought me 1200 adventure last saturday with 39K on th clock.
Now I have never had a bike with this many miles on it and was wondering how long a clutch should last. I have looked through all the service history I got with it, and found nothing about a clutch.
I know it all depends on how its been ridden abused etc etc but just looking for an average sort of milage, that you guys have done or what milage you replaced yours
I have done the usual tests but no slippage at all.
Thanks

Spike

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Mine's at 64k and no worries with the clutch.

 

[TeaPig]

They can easily get to 100k depending on use and abuse. They are not something to bother worrying about unless they start slipping which on early 1200's was caused by rubbish oil seals

 

[Spike]

Thanks thats put my mind at rest alittle.

Spike

 

[jogo]

It will obviously very much depend on use/misuse of the clutch. I remember that there was a 50000 km test of R12GS in a motorcycle magazine before I bought mine in 2006. After that they pulled the bike to pieces, measured and evaluated together with representatives from BMW.
The clutch was evaluated to be good for another 50000km. Anyway, I do not think that they did extensive off-road but used the bike a lot for travelling with luggage and two on.
Lots of stop-and-go would also limit service life of the clutch.

Do you have any information about what the previous owner used the bike for?

As far as I am aware (others may correct me) there is no way to inspect the clutch properly without splitting the bike into two.
As this and the replacement is quite labour intense, maybe just ride as long the clutch lasts as long as you do not plan to go extreme remote areas?

 

[jogo]

This excellent thread may also be of interest for you

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=655998

 

[Pukmeister]

Just replied to your clutch slip thread.

FWIW my first 1200 was an early 2004 ex-demo bike, no doubt ragged senseless by all the curious sports bike jockeys that read all the rave reviews the bike got on release by motoring journalists.

I had clutch slip a few times, once was caused by the hand guard fouling the clutch lever slightly and the other two times were due to a high fluid level through clutch wear.

I had the leaking gearbox seals done under warranty with no need to change the clutch.

I had taken the bike off road a few times and had the clutch smoking and stinking without any further problems experienced when on road.

I part-ex'd the bike with 40,000 miles on it's original clutch with no worries about it making another 40,000.