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General => Off Topic => Topic started by: guigui404 on June 14, 2019, 08:24:41 AM

Title: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: guigui404 on June 14, 2019, 08:24:41 AM
Hi guys !
I'm getting in trouble each time I do a multiple day trackday , I explain myself , the second day I always suffer so much from my fingers , and it's really , so much suffering each time I take the clutch lever.
So I just wanted to know if there is a way to soften the clutch lever

(Many people say you'll accomodate to it , but I only do trackday , mean I don't ride this bike enough time to accomodate to this atm)

Thanks for reading :)
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: HornetMaX on June 14, 2019, 11:00:56 AM
If the lever uses a cable, try to lube it, it may help.
Other than that you can exercise at home (hand grips, they have them @ Decathlon).
Or get a quickshifter installed on your bike.

P.S.
Or buy a bike with a hydraulic clutch or a quickshifter ;D
 
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: doubledragoncc on June 14, 2019, 12:33:36 PM
What levers you have is important to. Do you have dogleg levers and are they adjustable for leverage on the lever as making the lever closer reduces the energy needed to use it.

DD
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: guigui404 on June 14, 2019, 03:46:17 PM
Thanks for the answer ! ah shit  so as my father told me it seems that the only real thing to do is exercice my hands
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: doubledragoncc on June 15, 2019, 08:45:52 AM
There is a device that makes it lighter if I remember right. Its like a small gear unit that goes on the clutch lever unit. I will have a look for you

DD
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: teeds on June 15, 2019, 11:01:40 AM
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BJ-Global-Motorcycles-Universal-Kawasaki/dp/B0768CVMWZ/ref=asc_df_B0768CVMWZ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310539137506&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3053340085421374281&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006589&hvtargid=pla-696869146462&psc=1

 :)
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: doubledragoncc on June 15, 2019, 11:14:43 AM
Thats a new one on me teeds but good idea. The one I know of was more for older harleys with their terrible hard clutch and goes directly on the bars but think it was also for jap stuff and more

Although its for offroad its probably useable for a road bike and more just an idea as gives 40% lighter pull

Ballards Pivot Assist Lever (https://www.mxstore.com.au/p/Ballards-Pivot-Assist-Clutch-Lever-Assembly-Withou/14-PIVOT2)

Then a clever hydraulic unit to operate a cable clutch might be modifiable?

https://www.magura.com/en/components/powersports/hydraulicclutchsystems/productdetailpage/?p=1852 (https://www.magura.com/en/components/powersports/hydraulicclutchsystems/productdetailpage/?p=1852)

Just a few ideas you could work with

DD
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: matty0l215 on June 15, 2019, 02:11:37 PM
Quote from: teeds on June 15, 2019, 11:01:40 AMhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/BJ-Global-Motorcycles-Universal-Kawasaki/dp/B0768CVMWZ/ref=asc_df_B0768CVMWZ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310539137506&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3053340085421374281&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006589&hvtargid=pla-696869146462&psc=1

 :)

For £13 that's worth a try...

Don't know how long it would last in a track environment (repeatedly qucik pull and release)
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: doubledragoncc on June 15, 2019, 02:47:19 PM
Thats why I think the hydraulic conversion would be best as it would be reliable. The video of it I watched the guy did no adjustments or work on it in 3 years so for trackdays a good option if you can make brackets to fit your bike as it is mainly for offroad and small road bikes but I think the Idea is great. Not cheap but it depends what you want and you pay for what you get lol

DD
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: matty0l215 on June 15, 2019, 03:50:00 PM
Worth a shot to start with

Oh also, learn how to clutchless shift. At least up the gears. Down is difficult ;D
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: HornetMaX on June 15, 2019, 08:04:52 PM
Quote from: matty0l215 on June 15, 2019, 03:50:00 PMOh also, learn how to clutchless shift. At least up the gears. Down is difficult ;D
The quickshift on my bike works incredibly well when shifting down (actually, even better than when shifting up, IMO).
No matter how shitty a rider you are (I am), when you arrive at a traffic light or at a roundabout, you sound like WSKB/MotoGP :)
I use the clutch just when starting from still and on very rare occasions (shifting up 1-->2 at very low revs, mostly).
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: matty0l215 on June 15, 2019, 08:39:40 PM
Look at Mr fancy pants with his new bike with auto blipper ;D

Unfortunately down blipper a are near impossible to fit to non fly by wire bikes (can be done but prohibitively expensive)
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: Hawk on June 15, 2019, 09:11:51 PM
F*ck me! Listen to you lot. Lol! ;D  ;D

I don't think any of you young-un's would know how to ride a real seat of your pants bike without using modern electronics aids! Where's the pride and raw skills gone in riders these days. LOL! :P ;D  ;D  ;D

Just pulling your chains guys.... Keep your hair on! Hehe!  :P  ;D  ;D 
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: Myst1cPrun3 on June 15, 2019, 10:07:49 PM
Quote from: Hawk on June 15, 2019, 09:11:51 PMF*ck me! Listen to you lot. Lol! ;D  ;D

I don't think any of you young-un's would know how to ride a real seat of your pants bike without using modern electronics aids! Where's the pride and raw skills gone in riders these days. LOL! :P ;D  ;D  ;D

Just pulling your chains guys.... Keep your hair on! Hehe!  :P  ;D  ;D 

HEYYYYY I know how to clutch-less shift, and would hopefully be classed as a 'young-un'. I just can't do it. There's a difference ;)

Although being of an age to be described as a 'Man-Child' I do like the noise some of the quick-shifters make. Never tried one so I can't say if its any use, but still.
Not entirely sure how relevant any of what I said was to the thread so I apologise in that regard

Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: Myst1cPrun3 on June 15, 2019, 10:23:52 PM
In terms of actually softening it, I'm not a motorbike mechanic so I cant actually say what would work for your bike etc, but the methods I thought of, and would hopefully work, would be to:

1.
Reduce the spring tension, (If its a cable clutch it must have a spring to return the cable back, similar to a bicycle wheel brake), and reducing that spring would make the clutch softer hopefully. Either backing the spring tension off a little, or getting a different one.
Downside to this is the bite point on the lever would change I'd imagine, spring may lose shape easier if its changed, meaning the clutch may not disengage/engage properly.

2.
Change master/slave cylinder sizes or ratios. This would only work if its hydraulic, and could be quite costly I'd imagine, not to mention quite a bit of work.

3.
Possibly the easiest depending on your bikes setup, but move the clutch pivot point further away from the hand. The force required to move an object is directly proportional to the perpendicular distance as to which the force is applied from the pivot point, so in theory, moving where you grip the lever away from the lever pivot point would make it softer, but may increase the lever travel slightly, depending on how far you go.

https://isaacphysics.org/concepts/cp_moments

(https://i.postimg.cc/MpfLFpZj/Desktop-Screenshot-2019-06-15-23-19-36-07.png) (https://postimg.cc/87DwFD61)



I'm not sure which would be easier/possible for your setup if they're possible at all, as I have next to no experience working on motorbikes, all cars I'm afraid. Its just a combination of things that could work from physics lessons and my car mechanic apprenticeship. Maybe someone could verify/refute some things for me, always want to learn :)

Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: guigui404 on June 23, 2019, 08:46:21 PM
Thank you all guys , I'll give a try to everything here and give you my feedback !
I actually use the clutch only to downshift to answer some of the questions.
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: guigui404 on June 24, 2019, 10:29:49 AM
Quote from: teeds on June 15, 2019, 11:01:40 AMhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/BJ-Global-Motorcycles-Universal-Kawasaki/dp/B0768CVMWZ/ref=asc_df_B0768CVMWZ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310539137506&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3053340085421374281&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006589&hvtargid=pla-696869146462&psc=1

 :)

"Fitment:
Universal for most motorcycles dirt bikes with cable clutch: For Suzuki For Yamaha For Kawasaki For Aprilia For BMW Beta For Honda GasGas..... " It said this on Amazon , would this fit my ZX6R ? I think no :s
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: teeds on June 24, 2019, 03:38:37 PM
There are many available and I have seen people fit these to road bikes, just search for "Easy Pull Clutch" and your bike, i'm sure there's one out there to fit it.
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: doubledragoncc on June 24, 2019, 06:11:33 PM
Its a cable devise it will actually fit ANY bike with a cable.........think

DD
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: BOBR6 84 on June 24, 2019, 06:46:23 PM
Rotate the lever round so it's facing down further. Just be careful to leave enough room so when you turn the handlebars at low speed the lever doesn't catch the fairing.

This helps because you don't have to lift your fingers up and over the lever as much. It really does help.
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: guigui404 on June 24, 2019, 07:01:23 PM
Ok guys , I've bought one of these easy pull clutch , I'll try and told you my feedback , I'll also try what you advise me BOB , thanks
Title: Re: Soften CLUTCH
Post by: connorhall70 on June 28, 2019, 05:14:20 PM
dont hold on so tight, try to relax and get as comfortable as possible, alot of people push this advice aside but trust me from experience the more you ride the more comfortable you become which results in less fatigue and energy use whilst riding, AND you will go faster the more comfortable you are. its a win win, just keep going, give the cable a lube up, feel others peoples clutch and comapre to yours, if theirs is alot softer and its a similar bike with same clutch mechanism, wire not hydraulic, go from there, try tweaking the wire a bit to make it more comfortable for you.

also practice not using clutch on up shift. just shut throttle change up and get back on it as quickly as you can, with good practice you will almost be as fast as a quickshifter.

main thing, keep riding.