A softer clutch?

[tobes]

Lately the amount of pull it takes to engage the clutch has been making my left arm sore. In light traffic it's okay but in heavy traffic days, especially when lanesharing, it's gotten to the point where I'm having trouble engaging the clutch after a while. Is there a way to lessen the amount of pull it takes to engage the clutch? Thanks.

[lewellen]

A quick and not-thorough web search turned up these:
http://www.u1moto.com/product_info.php? ... _id=100119

Sierra BMW also has several on their site, for instance http://www.sierrabmwonline.com/synto-br ... -1701.html

Bottom line is you need to move the master cylinder X amount to get the slave cylinder to move Y amount, and messing with the lever won't change that ratio. What you might be able to do is to change the amount of lever motion you have to apply to get the master to move by X ... but that will affect the range of clutch engagement etc.

Other than messing with the lever, the only other option I know (for a wet clutch) is to swap out out the clutch springs for lighter ones. In the R1200R, with a single-plate dry clutch ... I looked at the fiche on the Max BMW website and didn't see anything so easily changed.

I do know where you're coming from re the problem with heavy traffic and sore left hands. :-/

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[deilenberger]

It might be possible to lessen the force needed by using a master-cylinder with a smaller bore.. but I have no idea where you'd find one. There is a fair amount of free play in the clutch with the lever in as you start to release it to engage the clutch. Correctly designed, you'd loose that freeplay, but retain full clutch action.

But - dunno where you'd find that. A longer lever on the master cylinder might work if you have big enough hands to use it.. I know some of the aftermarket are adjustable for length.

[lewellen]

I think if you were to change the distance between the pivot point of the lever, and the place where the lever presses the piston into the master cylinder, that would do it. Further out = more displacement of the piston per change in lever angle = more torque needed = "stiffer" ... I think.

Some of the adjusters on the levers might do that. But I don't know for sure.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[tobes]

Thanks for the reply. Not sure I'm ready to do major surgery on the bike but was curious about options. I've heard of this being done on other bikes. This was just a tough week traffic wise. Someday I may need to go to a clutchless bike but that's a ways off.

[Kieran R1200R]

Grow some BALLS

[Don C]

We have a single disc clutch trying to manage the power of a 109 horsepower engine. A stiff spring is needed to prevent slipping. All that you can do is make sure that the clutch lever adjusting screw is all the way in, so that the lever is as close to the bar as it can go, and keep your hand as far to the left as possible for better leverage. I share your pain.

[lewellen]

Thanks for the reply. Not sure I'm ready to do major surgery on the bike but was curious about options. I've heard of this being done on other bikes. This was just a tough week traffic wise. Someday I may need to go to a clutchless bike but that's a ways off.

Ummm.... I wouldn't really count changing out a lever as major surgery. :-) Undo a bolt, remove old lever, insert new lever, tighten bolt (torque wrench), voila!

It's an expensive way (~$200 and up) to see if it solves your problem, but if it makes the bike more usable for you... *shrug*

After a day of taking the MSF Riding and Street Skills on the R12R, I was about ready to do this myself!

Or ... in all seriousness ... go to a sporting goods store and get one of the grip strengthener balls or squeezie things. Keep one at the desk in the office, one at home by the couch. Good for stress relief, helps to build your Popeye physique, etc. Oh, and it strengthens the muscles you use to feather the clutch and brake.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[ShinySideUp]

Somewhere I read about an autoshifter that uses buttons on the left grip to momentarily kill the engine while a solenoid(?) moves the shifter, bypassing the need for a clutch. But of course, only riders without balls would want such a thing. Oh yeah, and racers.

[lewellen]

Somewhere I read about an autoshifter that uses buttons on the left grip to momentarily kill the engine while a solenoid(?) moves the shifter, bypassing the need for a clutch. But of course, only riders without balls would want such a thing. Oh yeah, and racers.

That's also going to be an expensive mod, and somehow I don't think it would help with feathering the clutch in heavy traffic ... the cause of the initial complaint. :-)

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[Mollygrubber]

One possible future answer: a Recluse clutch - too bad they don't make them for R12R's.

http://www.rekluse.com/

Alternatively, squeeze a tennis ball a lot.

[tobes]

http://www.rekluse.com/

That's an interesting set up. I'm a lefty so between using a mouse all day at work, writing, and playing the guitar I may just be overusing my grip. Can always use more strength training so the ball idea is a good one, though the gym is practically my second home now. Think I will investigate alternate levers. Thanks for the suggestions!