Gen 6 VFR clutch lock-up is weird...

It seems to me you can't feather it reliably. It seems to want to suddenly lock up in an unpredictable fashion.

I notice it most during town driving with lots of starts and stops and low-speed travel. It makes the bike frequently jerky and surge-y and not-so-smooth or pleasant.

I also occasionally notice it on a hard launch, or sometimes in a canyon run. Some of the shifts grab way early.

Is this a known Gen 6 thing? Is there a solution?

I run a valvoline semi-syn and honda or wix filter, and the hyd oil is clear and pale in the master window. Guess maybe I could try to flush and bleed it, but thought I'd ask here first.

FWIW, I have 20+ years on many different bikes. I've put a stock swingarm busa in the 9's many times with oem clutch and my left foot as the shifter. It's not me. This bike has a jerky unpredictable clutch engagement. It likes to lock up prematurely when you're looking to feather it a bit.

TIA for any help.

 

I forgot: 5K original miles. It had 3700 when I bought it couple months ago.

 

I can say two things about this problem; first, my 07 had one of the snoothest and best clutches I've ever had. Second, I have seen issues similar to something like this when someone runs synthetic oil in a bike, and then they (or perhaps the next owner) switch back to a conventional oil. Doing that can cause problems/symptoms exactly like you're having.
Maybe your clutch just doesn't agree with the semi synth you're using....what did the owner before you use? Any way to find out?

 

How does your lever feel?? It doesn't have any air in it does it?

 

I had this problem bad on my 2007. I could not for the life of me launch the bike above 4000 rpms. I bled the clutch fluid, polished the push rod, de burred the teeth in the plates and a bunch of other things, but nothing seemed to cure it. Eventually Toecutter told me about 100 pound barnett clutch springs. That is what fixed the grabby clutch for me. You do get a significantly heavier clutch lever, but if you can handle the higher effort, it makes for a great clutch. Now I can launch at 10,000 rpms, no problem!

 

If you a using Valvoline Semi-Synthetic (DuraBlend) I believe it is NOT wet clutch safe. Use a motorcycle oil. Hope this helps.

 

Hey - thanks for the great replies!

For starters, I'm gonna pull the pack, lightly scotchbrite the faces, and switch to a known oil.

Lever feel is excellent. I don't think there's air in the line, but I'll flush and bleed just to cover the bases.

If this doesn't work, I'll check out clutch springs.

 

Also check the clutch basket fingers for any abnormal wear or notches......that can cause the issue you have as well. If you find any bad spots smooth them out.

 

ill talk to you about the springs in a couple weeks :wink:

 

:biggrin:



CRFan - thx, i'll check it out.