Just had my first ride EVER on an ST1300! Question about Clutch

Ricochet

Ricochet

Joined
Nov 14, 2014
Messages
92
Location
Toronto
Bike
2003 ST1300
Hey Guys! This weekend we had a freak bout of warm weather (3c!) so I hopped on the bike to get the gas tank filled up to the top for storing for the rest of the winter. It was remarkable how deceptively smooth it was, the speed limit on my street was 60kph but I Was doing 80 with out even thinking about it... its as smooth and quiet as a sewing machine! The heated grips were absolutely heavenly...

Acceleration on the bike was alright, I wasn't expecting anything too sporty especially next to my Rocket III but it made up for it in just how smooth and quiet the bike was...

I only have one concern so far from my ride... the clutch. I found that the clutch release/engagement was too close towards the end of the lever throw.

Not to confuse anyone, but the clutch feels fine performance wise, its just the positioning of where the clutch engages through the lever. On all other bikes I've owned they have clutch cables which allow you to make an adjustment towards the lever or near the clutch box where you can adjust the slack a little so you can get the exact clutch feel you want. On my ST1300, there is no adjustment possible from what I can see.


Can someone give some input regarding how to get the clutch to engage/disengage about halfway through the lever release, instead of almost at the end? It makes it easier to feather the clutch and especially when you have a passenger...


I did read briefly that it is possible to swap out the levers for goldwing levers? Is this the best solution?


Thanks for your input!!
 
Sounds like standard OEM feel on the clutch lever.

3/4 of the travel, no movement, then it happens.
Don't think the Wing lever would do anything for you
 
Seat time will fix this. Bikes are different in controls and control feel. You will compare it to the other bike until you are used to it.
 
I would to, as with all fluids of uncertain history.
 
Can anyone give their input regarding using adjustable levers? I'm having a hard time finding those Kuryakin Gold wing levers... If the clutch lever play can't be adjusted I don't mind using adjustable levers at all.
 
Ricochet said:
Can anyone give their input regarding using adjustable levers?
Click to expand...
Uh, maybe before you go down the road of going to all that trouble, you and I should get together and you can ride my ST 1300 and see if there is any difference between your bike and mine.

I'm back in Toronto now - send me a PM and we can make arrangements to get together for a comparison.

Michael
 
You are simply experiencing the way a hydraulic clutch works. There is nothing wrong with it at all, as all ST1100's and 1300's have the same clutch action. As soon as you start to pull in the lever, hydraulic fluid is pushing the clutch actuation rod into the clutch pack, compressing the springs, thus disengaging the clutch.

I see no need to bleed the system, as it sounds quite normal. You will get used to it.
 
Mighty Kind of you Michael! I'll be in touch. Thank you!

CYYJ said:
Uh, maybe before you go down the road of going to all that trouble, you and I should get together and you can ride my ST 1300 and see if there is any difference between your bike and mine.

I'm back in Toronto now - send me a PM and we can make arrangements to get together for a comparison.

Michael
Click to expand...
 
Bush said:
You are simply experiencing the way a hydraulic clutch works. There is nothing wrong with it at all, as all ST1100's and 1300's have the same clutch action. As soon as you start to pull in the lever, hydraulic fluid is pushing the clutch actuation rod into the clutch pack, compressing the springs, thus disengaging the clutch.

I see no need to bleed the system, as it sounds quite normal. You will get used to it.
Click to expand...

The ST1300 is not my first Hydraulic clutch bike, I've had a Yamaha MT-01, Ducati 1098 and back in 2001 a Hayabusa... all had hydro clutches, but all had adjustable levers.. thats the only difference I'm looking to make. I love hydraulic clutches very much compared to the cable variety, I just want the adjustment! :biker:
 
You can put an OEM Gold Wing clutch lever on it. They have adjustable reach and match the brake lever. That's what I did.
 
Ricochet said:
The ST1300 is not my first Hydraulic clutch bike,
Click to expand...

Well, there you go. That's not what your first post led me to believe. "On all other bikes I've owned they have clutch cables which allow you to make an adjustment towards the lever or near the clutch box where you can adjust the slack a little so you can get the exact clutch feel you want."

Hope you find some way to make it more suitable to you.
 
Bush said:
Well, there you go. That's not what your first post led me to believe. "On all other bikes I've owned they have clutch cables which allow you to make an adjustment towards the lever or near the clutch box where you can adjust the slack a little so you can get the exact clutch feel you want."

Hope you find some way to make it more suitable to you.
Click to expand...

My Bad... I've owned many bikes

I didn't mean to sound I only have had clutch cabled bikes...


If I remember my history right I've owned the following bikes...1982 Honda CB900F, 1998 Honda Shadow VT750 Ace, 2000 Suzuki Hayabusa, 2005 Suzuki M50, 2005 Yamaha MT-01, 2006 Ducati 1098 (got stolen.. grr) 2008 Suzuki M109R, 2012 Triumph Rocket III Roadster and now I have a 2003 Honda ST1300.... .Phew!! I think I remembered them all. But yeah as I said I've had both kinds and I do prefer the Hydrualic clutch, but just miss the adjustability of the lever side.. The Hayabusa, Mt-01 and the Ducati has adjustable levers.
 
Ricochet - Throttlejockey has the answer! I guess Ebay, Partzilla or Ron Ayers websites could get you the lever you seek. Hope you get to compare the bike just to see how it compares with another ST1300. Good luck with the bike! Ride safe! :)

Throttlejockey said:
Actually, I just checked. It's a RR1000RR lever. Honda P/N 53180-MEJ-006
Click to expand...
 
The adjustable clutch lever also aids in low speed maneuvers, as you can adjust the friction zone closer to the handlebar.

My wife absolutely loved when I installed the adjustable lever on her bike. I installed an adjustable lever on mine too & like it better than the stock lever.
 
I got me some of these adjustable levers from the2wheels.com for my GSX1250FA, and couldn't be more pleased with them. They'll allow you to adjust the lever throw where you want it, and have some additional mechanical advantage over the stock levers. And at $39.95 for the pair, they're really reasonably priced. And you can choose any color combination you want, should you want colored levers.

http://shop.the2wheels.com/7-Clicks-GP-Levers-Adjustable-HONDA-LE7-HO.htm
 
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