Should I replace my clutch?

[smaytum]

I have a 12 month old F800GS which has just clocked 13K miles. I ride off road more than on road, so it has spent over half it's life on snow, mud, water, rock, desert etc and nearly all the time i'm feathering the clutch.

So the clutch must be more warn than most. In fact, i'm surprised it hasn't warn out already.

I'm planning a trip to morocco for 4 weeks starting early spring and really don't want clutch problems to spoil the fun.

How long does an F800GS clutch last?
Anyone else done a who load of off road riding?
Should i plan to replace even though there are no problems?
What is the cost of a clutch replacement?

Rgrds,
Steve.

 

[Dave Ett]

Hmmm, tricky one. The clutch on mine burned out with the previous owner half way through Africa, but it has done a further 8000 miles without trouble since.

Best option eould be to buy the plates and take them with you, so IF it went you could replace them. If not, keep against the time when it does...

 

[mechcanico lee]

There has been a few issues on the 800 clutches, a suppose if its not slipping or dragging you could say dont fix it if its not broke....or............ another way to tell how worn the clutch is .....is look at the adjustment on the threaded part of the cable at the engine where it goes to the acctuating lever

As the clutch wears you have to put slack into the cable to stop the bite of the lever getting right to the end of the pull or worse still stopping the clutch from fully realeasing eg. riding as if you where pulling weight on the clutch.

If the adjusting nuts are getting to the end of the travel i.e to the top of the threaded area and your finger adjuster on the clutch lever is wound to its max inwards and the bite of the clutch is still along way off the handle bars you could say the plates have worn some.

I have heard some failure of clutches on the 800s at quite low miles, maybe there one offs i dont know?

 

[Greggers]

If it were me ...

I'd simply whip the clutch off and have a look at the condition of the friction plates - if you've got access to a manual check the service tolerance of the friction plates' thickness - if you have any doubt, then just change the plates.

It's a hard one to call - strictly speaking the clutch should really be considered a 'consumable' as it will wear out with time, but it will wear early if it is abused - does this make it a warranty claim?
Reading between the lines - I doubt that BMW will replace the clutch just to give you peace of mind, so you're going to have to either have faith or have a look...

G