Heavy clutch - SV650.org

10-04-05, 04:41 PM

Picked up my 00 SV650S yesterday, racked up 170 miles on it bringing it home, and scrubbing in the new tyre i bought, towards the end of the day my left hand was in agony due to the insanely heavy action on the clutch, is this normal for the SVs?
After coming from a bandit 250 and haven driven a few other of my mates bikes (Fzr 250, cb400 superfour, various 2stroke dirtbikes) i found the SV's clutch the hardest work of any bike i've ridden, anyone got any suggestions to ease it up a bit, or should i just develop some more powerful forearms

ophic · 10-04-05, 04:46 PM

i thought my clutch was heavy but i hadn't ridden for 8 years. Don't notice it now. Might be the angle of the lever that isn't right for you.

BillyC · 10-04-05, 05:30 PM

oil it

10-04-05, 05:34 PM

My clutch cable had a kink in it that made it extremely hard work. I fitted a new clutch cable recently and now it's lovely a easy to use again.

10-04-05, 05:51 PM

I need to move my levers around a bit I think... After the ride-out we went on a couple of weeks ago, my forearms were like bleedin' Popeye's

What do I need for lubing my cables

northwind · 10-04-05, 07:47 PM

If you remove the clutch "safety switch" that stops the bike from starting with the clutch out, that lightens the action a bit...

As for oiling them, I got one of those hydraulic oiler things, and all I can do with it is pour oil everywhere, so instead I use the same method I used for my mountain bike- plastic bag with a hole in the bottom, cable through the hole, lots of cable ties or elastic bands to stop it leaking, engine oil in the bag, and pull the cable back and forth till oil comes out the other end. Just did this with my clutch cable today as it happens.

Don't use WD40 apparently, it's said to attack the cable linings.

10-04-05, 07:54 PM

When I got my SV (S) last year I was in agony for the first month both with the clutch hand and the wrists. I found soon after that you just get used to it as the wrists toughen up I guess. I have been off my bike for months now due to a slipped disc and have been using one of my kids "crazy putty" to strengthen the wrists. Took the bike out for an hour to test my back and never felt the wrists (or the back!)

10-04-05, 08:13 PM

I've got one of these to help with my guitar playing. The knock on effect is that it helped get rid of my clutch wrist ache

10-04-05, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudge32

I've got one of these to help with my guitar playing. The knock on effect is that it helped get rid of my clutch wrist ache

I'm sure it help with other thing too right

10-04-05, 08:20 PM

not unless you're left handed

10-04-05, 04:41 PM	#1
echomadman Guest Posts: n/a	Heavy clutch Picked up my 00 SV650S yesterday, racked up 170 miles on it bringing it home, and scrubbing in the new tyre i bought, towards the end of the day my left hand was in agony due to the insanely heavy action on the clutch, is this normal for the SVs? After coming from a bandit 250 and haven driven a few other of my mates bikes (Fzr 250, cb400 superfour, various 2stroke dirtbikes) i found the SV's clutch the hardest work of any bike i've ridden, anyone got any suggestions to ease it up a bit, or should i just develop some more powerful forearms

10-04-05, 04:46 PM	#2
ophic Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whyteleafe Posts: 3,395	i thought my clutch was heavy but i hadn't ridden for 8 years. Don't notice it now. Might be the angle of the lever that isn't right for you. __________________ Silver SV650SK3, Fuel exhaust

10-04-05, 05:30 PM	#3
BillyC Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The exiles of Kent Posts: 2,184	oil it __________________ SV650 K3 - Gone. Now a member of the SV650.org Kawasaki brigade!

10-04-05, 07:47 PM	#6
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	If you remove the clutch "safety switch" that stops the bike from starting with the clutch out, that lightens the action a bit... As for oiling them, I got one of those hydraulic oiler things, and all I can do with it is pour oil everywhere, so instead I use the same method I used for my mountain bike- plastic bag with a hole in the bottom, cable through the hole, lots of cable ties or elastic bands to stop it leaking, engine oil in the bag, and pull the cable back and forth till oil comes out the other end. Just did this with my clutch cable today as it happens. Don't use WD40 apparently, it's said to attack the cable linings. __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

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10-04-05, 05:34 PM	#4
Stig Guest Posts: n/a	My clutch cable had a kink in it that made it extremely hard work. I fitted a new clutch cable recently and now it's lovely a easy to use again.

10-04-05, 05:51 PM	#5
Cloggsy Guest Posts: n/a	I need to move my levers around a bit I think... After the ride-out we went on a couple of weeks ago, my forearms were like bleedin' Popeye's What do I need for lubing my cables

10-04-05, 07:54 PM	#7
JohnA Guest Posts: n/a	When I got my SV (S) last year I was in agony for the first month both with the clutch hand and the wrists. I found soon after that you just get used to it as the wrists toughen up I guess. I have been off my bike for months now due to a slipped disc and have been using one of my kids "crazy putty" to strengthen the wrists. Took the bike out for an hour to test my back and never felt the wrists (or the back!)

10-04-05, 08:13 PM	#8
mudge32 Guest Posts: n/a	I've got one of these to help with my guitar playing. The knock on effect is that it helped get rid of my clutch wrist ache

10-04-05, 08:20 PM	#10
mudge32 Guest Posts: n/a	not unless you're left handed