Hey everyone! Got a clutch question- how do you determine when you should replace your clutch?
My 2013 Bonneville has just now 11,000 miles, of which I’ve put 7,000 on the stock clutch. With the bike approaching the 12,000 Maintenence tasks, I got to thinking, what about the clutch?
The bike doesn’t clutch much different, to my estimation, since I’ve had it. Only done some minor free play adjustments. Friction zone seems to be in about the same place, and can’t detect any significant slipping through the gears or at speed.
I ride about 60/40 city/highway. I’m a pretty conservative rider overall and try to treat it well. I’ve read, though I’m not sure the truth of it, that the stock springs are light and are used to make the bike more “ rideable” for the masses, but may contribute to more slipping and wear. This my only bike, so I’ve nothing to compare it to.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
By the sound of your riding style I should imagine that conservatively you should reassess the need to check clutch in maybe 20 years! if you haven't increased hp with lots of mods and ride it like you stole it they will last for many years.
Sounds like your bike is fairly under stressed and taken care of.. If your clutch isn’t playing up then I should (barring adjusting the cable) leave well enough alone.
Mine has about 36,000 miles, no clutch problems once I replaced the original springs with Barnett green springs. I had a little bit of occasional slippage prior to that.
My 05 T100 also had a small amount of slippage. I never bothered with it, then some stupid deer stepped out in front of me and the bike was totaled. That's when I bought my 08.
Thanks everyone for your encouraging and witty comments! Very helpful to read others experiences. I’m just now getting to the point where I’ve ridden and lived with it long enough to feel like I know it. Looking forward to a long relationship!
Stock clutches (with normal operation) should last 30,000 miles or more. Now, defining "normal operation" could take volumes to discuss. The oil you use also has a direct impact on how the clutch operates.
For aggresive riders &/or those who feel a clutch slippage should consider a set of Barnett Green Clutch Springs as a low cost alternative to replacing the entire clutch. Note: applicable to 2001-2015 790 & 865cc air cooled bikes. I have not tried them on water-cooled bikes yet.
Good stuff here, thanks. The Barnett clutch springs seem to have a lot of endorsements among Triumph twin riders. As for oil, I‘m using Castrol=
Power 1 10-40 4T synthetic.
I'm a bit of aggressive rider and kept noticing my clutch slipping on 3rd and 4th gear everytime I gunned it, replaced the clutch springs with green Barnet and it's all good now. I have a few mods on my bike as well.
2007 w 22k miles and rolling!
Enjoy your bike.
Very different bike I know but for information my Daytona 675 R has done 22000 sometimes enthusiastic miles, including quite a lot filtering in traffic and many second gear starts, and when I measured the clutch recently the friction plates were only 20% worn.
Unless you're doing racing starts all the time or your clutch is badly adjusted I don't think you need to worry about a modern clutch for a very long time.
I got 100k miles out of my first clutch, and had 60k on the Barnett replacement when the engine failed. IMHO, the stock clutch is more than adequate for stock power, and will last for longer than most owners will keep their bike.
Lucky you dont have a lambo and change clutch every 10k:laugh2:
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums
3.9M posts
167.7K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to Triumph Motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, racing, cafe racers, bobbers, riding, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!