Clutch Smell

[Topcat502]

Hi all.
Just after some thoughts on the following issue.
Whilst away touring round Cornwall the bike started to make what I can only describe as a hissing frictional noise
which certainly reduced if not disappeared when the clutch was pulled in. There was a strong smell of clutch at one point too..
The bike had certainly been put through it at one point, hills, switchbacks and lots of traffic in warm weather 2 up.
I checked the fluid level on the clutch and the lever wasn't fouled by the hand guard, no signs of clutch slip on overtaking that
I noticed either ..
It's a 2008 GSA with 36,000 on the clock..
Perhaps a warning of a new clutch on the horizon??
Thx for looking.
Kev

 

[StewMcGrew]

Noisy release bearing?

 

[NicD]

Clutch smell is not abnormal if clutch is ok. If clutch needs to be replaced you will get clutch slip. It can be hard to detect at the very beginning but you'll know within a few hundred to a thousand miles if it is that

can't comment on bearing

 

[Packer]

If you are kind to the clutch it should do 100,000 miles, my 1150 certainly did >96,000 despite a bit of off roading. It's car tech. Just use the low rev torque with the clutch fully engaged as much as possible and clutchless upchanges as per the owners manual (1150).