Joined
·
66 Posts
Hey Guys,
I am at a Lee Park Total Rider Tech Class in Indianapolis this weekend. Today was slow speed maneuvering in a parking lot setting. Lots of slow riding using the "friction" zone on the clutch. That is where the clutch is not totally engaged or totally disengaged. Basically it's feathering or slipping the clutch with the engine speed at about 2500 RPM's. The problem is that the clutch started smelling and fading after only about 1 or 2 minutes of this activity. I mean really smelling. Other people commented on it. The idea is you keep your clutch in the friction zone, the throttle steady at 2500 or so and modulate your speed with the rear brake. It works very well because you are using the gyroscopic effect of the motor to add stability. But it wasn't long until my clutch was barely disengaging even with the lever pulled all the way in. I would have to go drive around for a couple of minutes to let it cool off and then it would be okay after that. The clutch was not slipping, i.e, if I was in 2nd gear and gave it wide open throttle, it did not slip.
There were other bikes at the class and no one else was having this problem and we were all doing the same exercise. The instructor, who was riding a K1300R was very surprised and thinks there is something wrong with the clutch. After class I rode around town and it felt fine.
I just picked this bike up last week. Only had 1,900 miles on it. I have ridden it about 400 miles. I really, really like this bike. The original owner seemed to take very good care of the bike. This is not my first bike. I have an FJR, Goldwing, Bonneville, R90/6, etc.
Any comments, help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks much,
Chris
I am at a Lee Park Total Rider Tech Class in Indianapolis this weekend. Today was slow speed maneuvering in a parking lot setting. Lots of slow riding using the "friction" zone on the clutch. That is where the clutch is not totally engaged or totally disengaged. Basically it's feathering or slipping the clutch with the engine speed at about 2500 RPM's. The problem is that the clutch started smelling and fading after only about 1 or 2 minutes of this activity. I mean really smelling. Other people commented on it. The idea is you keep your clutch in the friction zone, the throttle steady at 2500 or so and modulate your speed with the rear brake. It works very well because you are using the gyroscopic effect of the motor to add stability. But it wasn't long until my clutch was barely disengaging even with the lever pulled all the way in. I would have to go drive around for a couple of minutes to let it cool off and then it would be okay after that. The clutch was not slipping, i.e, if I was in 2nd gear and gave it wide open throttle, it did not slip.
There were other bikes at the class and no one else was having this problem and we were all doing the same exercise. The instructor, who was riding a K1300R was very surprised and thinks there is something wrong with the clutch. After class I rode around town and it felt fine.
I just picked this bike up last week. Only had 1,900 miles on it. I have ridden it about 400 miles. I really, really like this bike. The original owner seemed to take very good care of the bike. This is not my first bike. I have an FJR, Goldwing, Bonneville, R90/6, etc.
Any comments, help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks much,
Chris