Stiff Clutch

[Baza 07]

Hi all went out for 100 round trip yesterday, everything was fine till coming home, stuck in traffic, anyway my clutch was a nightmare to hold on to stiff as a board, so is there anyway I can adjust it to make it easier to pull in and out, I’ve read about different levers has anyone changed there’s
Thanks in advance Baza
PS It’s a R1200GS 2010

 

[Smiffypr]

Do you mean that it used to be okay, and now it's not?
Do you mean stiff to move, as if something is adding friction to the movement that you feel as you pull the lever or that it feels heavy, like the spring is too strong, that you feel while pulling the lever and when you are holding it?
The usual adjustment is only for reach, that doesn't change the stiffness or weight, but allows you to match the size of your hand to the position of the lever, this can make it easier to use, so feel lighter.

 

[Baza 07]

Do you mean that it used to be okay, and now it's not?
Do you mean stiff to move, as if something is adding friction to the movement that you feel as you pull the lever or that it feels heavy, like the spring is too strong, that you feel while pulling the lever and when you are holding it?
The usual adjustment is only for reach, that doesn't change the stiffness or weight, but allows you to match the size of your hand to the position of the lever, this can make it easier to use, so feel lighter.

That’s a better description Smiffy “Heavy” when I was stuck in traffic riding the clutch was a ,what’s this spring your talking about mate,that might be a good start,the adjustment is adjusted all the way for my stubby fingers
Thanks for your reply mate

 

[Smiffypr]

The spring that you are working against is the one(s) that clamps the clutch plates together. These have to be strong enough to prevent the clutch from slipping, so you can't do anything about that. (Aftermarket ones are often stiffer to reduce the potential for clutch slipping.) So potentially you could increase the leverage at the bars. You can't reduce the movement at the master-cylinder/cable side of the lever as then the clutch wouldn't fully disengage, so all you are left with is extending the hand part of the lever, and you can buy those. But, imagine that your existing lever continues to the left, it is also going to be further away from the bars, and if you have hand-guards, probably hitting them.
Or, (and I'm not joking) you could strengthen your left hand, like I have been advised to do because of arthritis, using bits like these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335450000831

 

[Baza 07]

The spring that you are working against is the one(s) that clamps the clutch plates together. These have to be strong enough to prevent the clutch from slipping, so you can't do anything about that. (Aftermarket ones are often stiffer to reduce the potential for clutch slipping.) So potentially you could increase the leverage at the bars. You can't reduce the movement at the master-cylinder/cable side of the lever as then the clutch wouldn't fully disengage, so all you are left with is extending the hand part of the lever, and you can buy those. But, imagine that your existing lever continues to the left, it is also going to be further away from the bars, and if you have hand-guards, probably hitting them.
Or, (and I'm not joking) you could strengthen your left hand, like I have been advised to do because of arthritis, using bits like these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335450000831

Arthritis is a PITA in the joints mate, and most of mine have it, I’ve been looking at those two fingered levers, they look like they might be the answer as they look closer to the bars, I wonder how easy they would be to fit
Thanks again for your reply

 

[botus]

the air cooled GS' had some of the best levers fitted on bikes - the rubbish junk GSXR owners destroy their bike's with are terrible - uncomfortable and far worse - FYI the GS clutch is light as hell, if you want to try what stiff is, try a Jota

try small quantities of

Naproxen​

once every 3 or so days - bad for your inside but great for inflammation that's out of control

 

[Baza 07]

the air cooled GS' had some of the best levers fitted on bikes - the rubbish junk GSXR owners destroy their bike's with are terrible - uncomfortable and far worse - FYI the GS clutch is light as hell, if you want to try what stiff is, try a Jota

try small quantities of

Naproxen​

once every 3 or so days - bad for your inside but great for inflammation that's out of control

Cheers for your reply mate, so is there anyway I can get the clutch lever closer to the bars

Naproxen eh

 

[Joca]

Is your clutch hydraulic? Does it have a reservoir? Could it just have ran low due to a leak??

 

[botus]

Cheers for your reply mate, so is there anyway I can get the clutch lever closer to the bars

yes, the silly screw adjuster - wind it out = lever closer to the bars

 

[Baza 07]

yes, the silly screw adjuster - wind it out = lever closer to the bars

Silly screw is and always has been right out, levers still to far from bars, me having short fingers

 

[botus]

don't ride a K1300 then they are about an inch further out - they are a big stretch for a long fingered orangutan

 

[Joca]

I'm finding that is a bit of bother now I'm older..
K1300

 

[Baza 07]

don't ride a K1300 then they are about an inch further out - they are a big stretch for a long fingered orangutan

Who the has hands that big,and I’m not riding pillion to an Orangutan
So how do I get the lever back towards the bars, can you bend them

 

[Baza 07]

Is your clutch hydraulic? Does it have a reservoir? Could it just have ran low due to a leak??

Yes mate,and the reservoir is full to the brim,thanks for your reply

 

[Mistacat]

Don`t know if this helps.
I have used a short 2 finger lever for the last 150K miles ( on 2 bikes now a TC ).
It is a cheap Chinese lever with 6 setting positions I have it set on 3 and at this point the bite position shown where the drill blank is is 13mm.

 

[Baza 07]

Don`t know if this helps.
I have used a short 2 finger lever for the last 150K miles ( on 2 bikes now a TC ).
It is a cheap Chinese lever with 6 setting positions I have it set on 3 and at this point the bite position shown where the drill blank is

Don`t know if this helps.
I have used a short 2 finger lever for the last 150K miles ( on 2 bikes now a TC ).
It is a cheap Chinese lever with 6 setting positions I have it set on 3 and at this point the bite position shown where the drill blank is is 13mm.

View attachment 361390
View attachment 361389

Cheers mate that's what i was thinking about,could you do me a favour and measure the distance between bar and lever please,how easy are they to fit ????

 

[Mistacat]

Cheers mate that's what i was thinking about,could you do me a favour and measure the distance between bar and lever please,how easy are they to fit ????

The length of the line that you have drawn is 50mm.
They are straight forward to fit remove the old lever and fit the new, as they are CNC machined they do have some harsh edges which are easy to dress and radius.

 

[Baza 07]

The length of the line that you have drawn is 50mm.
They are straight forward to fit remove the old lever and fit the new, as they are CNC machined they do have some harsh edges which are easy to dress and radius.

Cheers mate