| Author | Message | ||
     Thumper74 |
Once again, I’m thankful to be blessed with the brains to have taken the Rider’s Edge class. My clutch cable broke at 50mph on the way to lunch. I was able to keep it together and get back in 2nd gear to shut the bike off and get stopped. Naturally, it was at the bottom of a hill, a mile from work, with assholes passing me in my lane… I got the bike onto the sidewalk and pushed it the mile back to work…. | ||
| Igneroid |
I hate it when stuff breaks. My clutch cable broke as well. When I pulled the limp lever in, I could engage the starter so I would just stall it at the traffic lights with the brakes in first gear and hit the starter when it was time to go, clutchless shifts of course....cant be good for things but it got me home... | ||
| Thumper74 |
This one broke on a downshift, it wasn't pleasant, but I made it back to work, on time and slightly out of breath. | ||
| Iamike |
Mine broke on the S3 about 2 miles from work. I just kept on riding and shifting without the clutch. I did have to blow one stop sign without a complete stop. I've done it before where you rev it a little in neutral kick it in gear and go. But that was on a bike that was a little more beat than the S3. Of the 3 bikes that I've owned with the hydraulic I have more trouble letting the clutch out than with a cable. I'm not sure why but it just seems to be more abrupt. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I've noticed it with cars too. Cable clutches seem to transmit the feeling and hydraulic clutches feel dead to me. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I'd just replace the cable and keep going then! | ||
| Badlionsfan |
The hydro clutch was the first thing I fell in love with when I demo'd an 1125r. After 900 miles or so with my 25r, still love it. Cable clutches should be outlawed IMO. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Lube your cable regularly, and they don't break as often. Had one break on my FLHP years ago, about an hour from home, in the rain. Upshifts weren't so bad, but downshifts....momentary pucker, every one. Now I lube either after each rainstorm (washes the lube out), or once a month. Haven't broken one since. | ||
| Skinstains |
Cables rule. maintain and replace them and you'll be OK. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I ordered one from American Sport Bike. I was frustrated. I would think that a clutch master/slave cylinder would most likely give some indication that it was failing via a fluid leak, odd feel in the lever, etc. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
ratbuell, I'm supposed to lube them? I'm starting to think the dealer negleted to tell me alot of things when I asked about the maintanance. "just check the oil and bring it in every5K" Really, yes really. Hmm guess I need to talk to somebody else about the maintanance | ||
| Danger_dave |
Clutches is clutches - I don't care either way. | ||
| Doubled |
I prefer the feel of a cable over hydraulic on my bikes. I had a hard time on the 1125 I rode trying to tell when the clutch is actually beginning to engage and I had the same problem on my dad's Ultra Classic. About the maintenance, check your owners manual. My '06 manual has a table that begins on pg 145 that lists all of the regular maintenance items. Most of the things listed in that table I do more often than is recommended. My line of thinking is that a little bit of extra headache now is going to save me a HUGE headache (and hopefully some $$) down the road. | ||
| Rick_a |
2008xb12scg, if your dealer does your servicing, and does things properly, you shouldn't have to worry about it. The owners manual should cover regular maintenance intervals...if you want to see details on what's supposed to be done and/or want to do it yourself, get a service manual (just don't follow the torque specs for drain plugs, apparently). I've never had a problem with the clutch cable. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Agreed, lubeing at service intervals is good for most folks. Me...I ride to work daily, and I'm too dumb to come in out of the rain. After all the miles I've done, I can actually start to feel the cables getting crunchy and I'll give 'em a squirt. I automatically do it after riding in a heavy rainstorm, after the bike dries off. And, I agree with doubled - I don't like the comparably numb feel of a hydraulic clutch. I like my friction point to be noticable  |
