- Joined
- May 1, 2022
- Messages
- 111
- Location
- Chicago, IL
On the few times I've been able to go out and ride, I've noticed clutch slipping on several occasions. I'm trying to figure out if its me, or the bike, or some combination of both. I don't know how much of the following matters but I'm putting as much info out there as possible and please let me know if I've left anything out that may be helpful.
1. This is my first dry clutch bike, but I've been riding it the same way I've ridden my previous wet clutch bikes. That is, I don't abuse the clutch at all and I got the engagement zone on the V4R figured out early on.
2. It has a closed clutch cover (Woodcraft).
3. When the clutch slips, its pretty warm outside, >70F.
4. In milder temps the clutch begins to slip only after a while, and I only notice it when starting from a stop where the lever is almost all the way out before the clutch is fully engaged.
5. When its hot, the slipping is very noticeable. Towards the end of today's 30 minute ride in 78F with some stop-and-go, it'd slip in first gear with the clutch all the way out, and if I gave it too much throttle. I pretty much limped home towards the end.
6. Other than today and my first time riding it, I used the QS at pretty much all times, generally shifting between 4k and 6k rpms. On upshifts, I don't close throttle. On downshifts, the throttle is closed.
7. I'm the second owner, and I got it with about 1800 miles on it. I've ridden it about 150 miles since then. I noticed the slipping on my second ride out, when it was like 90F outside and back then it was only partway through the ride, and starting from a stop, no problems once in gear and accelerating.
8. I did read that its best to let dry clutches fully engage as soon as possible and I've ridden in that way from the get-go.
9. On the first few rides, I'd hold the clutch in at pretty much every light as that's been my habit. Reading around, it sounds like that's not ideal for dry clutches and while I'm not sure if that's true or not, in all my recent rides I've tried to stay in neutral at all stops for as long as possible.
I'm guessing I need to replace the plates. On the off chance that there's something else that may be going on, I'm reaching out to you folks first. Thoughts?
1. This is my first dry clutch bike, but I've been riding it the same way I've ridden my previous wet clutch bikes. That is, I don't abuse the clutch at all and I got the engagement zone on the V4R figured out early on.
2. It has a closed clutch cover (Woodcraft).
3. When the clutch slips, its pretty warm outside, >70F.
4. In milder temps the clutch begins to slip only after a while, and I only notice it when starting from a stop where the lever is almost all the way out before the clutch is fully engaged.
5. When its hot, the slipping is very noticeable. Towards the end of today's 30 minute ride in 78F with some stop-and-go, it'd slip in first gear with the clutch all the way out, and if I gave it too much throttle. I pretty much limped home towards the end.
6. Other than today and my first time riding it, I used the QS at pretty much all times, generally shifting between 4k and 6k rpms. On upshifts, I don't close throttle. On downshifts, the throttle is closed.
7. I'm the second owner, and I got it with about 1800 miles on it. I've ridden it about 150 miles since then. I noticed the slipping on my second ride out, when it was like 90F outside and back then it was only partway through the ride, and starting from a stop, no problems once in gear and accelerating.
8. I did read that its best to let dry clutches fully engage as soon as possible and I've ridden in that way from the get-go.
9. On the first few rides, I'd hold the clutch in at pretty much every light as that's been my habit. Reading around, it sounds like that's not ideal for dry clutches and while I'm not sure if that's true or not, in all my recent rides I've tried to stay in neutral at all stops for as long as possible.
I'm guessing I need to replace the plates. On the off chance that there's something else that may be going on, I'm reaching out to you folks first. Thoughts?
For such a small bolt, it sure was hard as hell to turn! I nearly rounded off the adjustment nut before I gave up. 
