R1300GS clutch lever adjustment

[pbbanks]

Fair points. It would be interesting to know though whether the clutch lever is set up at the factory to a given distance from the hand grip or whether its just down to the bloke doing the adjustment to set the lever to whatever distance he thinks is normal. I'd also like to know why, on my bike at least, the brake lever is set up to be much closer to the hand grip than the clutch lever

Just measured mine.The distance of both clutch & brake from the bar to the levers is roughly the same when both levers are at rest. The adjuster is set at the mid position on both levers.

 

[mikef]

Just measured mine.The distance of both clutch & brake from the bar to the levers is roughly the same when both levers are at rest. The adjuster is set at the mid position on both levers.

Mine were nowhere near the same distance away from the bar. Even now that I've adjusted the clutch lever to better suit me, its still roughly 10mm further from the bar than the brake lever. Before I adjusted it, in the outer 2 positions, the end of the clutch lever was resting against the inside of the handguard and it was only in the innermost position that it didnt touch the handguard. When I showed this to a service advisor at my first service at N Oxford BMW a few days ago he told me there was nothing they could do which is how I ended up finding this thread!

 

[pbbanks]

Mine were nowhere near the same distance away from the bar. Even now that I've adjusted the clutch lever to better suit me, its still roughly 10mm further from the bar than the brake lever. Before I adjusted it, in the outer 2 positions, the end of the clutch lever was resting against the inside of the handguard and it was only in the innermost position that it didnt touch the handguard. When I showed this to a service advisor at my first service at N Oxford BMW a few days ago he told me there was nothing they could do which is how I ended up finding this thread!

Very strange that it touches the hand guard. Don't know how mine could even be made to do that even on the furthest out position.

 

[mikef]

Very strange that it touches the hand guard. Don't know how mine could even be made to do that even on the furthest out position.

Yup its weird. Never come across it before on any of my previous GS/GSAs

 

[botus]

Just to follow on from this thread re: hand Brake recall / cylinder check (?) being carried out under warranty worldwide.

I was only aware of this one

Week 21 2023 – BMW – M 1000 R, S 1000 RR. Production dates: 7 October 2021- 8 February 2023, motorcycles equipped with a milled handbrake lever with part number 37728103376. A dimensionally inaccurate control pin can cause insufficient pressure compensation in and impaired function of the braking system, creating a risk of an accident. Click here for the original listing

 

[vulcan1623]

I installed a set of the VMT levers on a 750GS and they were fantastic. Great adjustment range and the shape made them easy to grip and pull flush to the bars. Excellent product and very well made.

 

[daveparkin]

Be careful when doing this adjustment, the red around the adjuster isn't locktite, it's red paint to show if it's been tampered with. If anything in that area goes wrong, the warranty won't be any good. There is enough movement in the screw to make the clutch slip. If the actuator levers of aftermarket levers aren't in exactly the same position, adjustment will be needed. Im not saying don't do it, I'm just saying be aware of the consequences.

Hi there, the paint is to show that it has been torqued to the correct setting when the bike is assembled. This is common practice in the automotive industry. Go and check your shocks on your car? There will be a dab of paint on the tops of them. I have done a couple of factory tours and all manufacturers do this to show the next stage in the process that they have been tightened. Anyone who tells you otherwise is full of it

 

[GSian]

I used to work or a German company as a mechanical engineer, the factory used to put a dab of paint on the screws that affected crucial settings of certain machinery they made, that should only be adjusted by qualified engineers. If these were tampered with by non-authorised engineers it would void the warranty if that setting caused the problem. Of course it was also used as an indication that this had been set correctly before leaving the factory.

I believe the colour coded blobs on the top of shock springs are to be sure they are balanced in pairs.

 

[TaskMule]

Hi there, the paint is to show that it has been torqued to the correct setting when the bike is assembled. This is common practice in the automotive industry. Go and check your shocks on your car? There will be a dab of paint on the tops of them. I have done a couple of factory tours and all manufacturers do this to show the next stage in the process that they have been tightened. Anyone who tells you otherwise is full of it

Just to tell you otherwise, the screw in question is not an automotive shock bolt, it is a tiny 3mm screw that is turned to a specific point to adjust the relationship between the brake or clutch lever and their respective master pistons. The blob of paint is there because bmw does not want you messing with it as tightening it too much will result in brakes seizing or clutch slip due to the resting position of the master pistons

 

[Geekay]

Has anyone tried the "BMW Enduro black" aluminium levers at all? - they look like they are more of a dog-leg style and may be closer to the bar (and presumably don't have any warranty-issues to contend with as they are BMW parts?)

they look pretty good - but they are nearly £300 for the set!!!

 

[leadfarmer]

Has anyone tried the "BMW Enduro black" aluminium levers at all? - they look like they are more of a dog-leg style and may be closer to the bar (and presumably don't have any warranty-issues to contend with as they are BMW parts?)

they look pretty good - but they are nearly £300 for the set!!!

The bike I tried before buying had the enduro levers, I quite liked them but be aware they were shorties, so 2 or 3 fingers, not full length if that matters to you

 

[TaskMule]

Has anyone tried the "BMW Enduro black" aluminium levers at all? - they look like they are more of a dog-leg style and may be closer to the bar (and presumably don't have any warranty-issues to contend with as they are BMW parts?)

they look pretty good - but they are nearly £300 for the set!!!

brake is good but if you use 3 fingers on the clutch you'll be pressing on the ball end with that third finger

 

[Geekay]

oh - i hadn't realised they are that short - they don't look it in the pics

thanks for clarifying - i might have to find one in a dealer to check out

 

[TaskMule]

oh - i hadn't realised they are that short - they don't look it in the pics

thanks for clarifying - i might have to find one in a dealer to check out

Not pressing on the ball fully but it does crowd 3 fingers. I'm looking for a standard clutch lever

 

[TaskMule]

oh - i hadn't realised they are that short - they don't look it in the pics

thanks for clarifying - i might have to find one in a dealer to check out

Just replaced the clutch enduro lever with a standard (oem) lever and it is so much nicer. Enduro brake is fine but not really better than the standard for me. Bike came with the enduro levers