I'm a pretty big guy, work out, etc, but after a while my hand/forearm starts to get fatigued holding in the clutch.  Like at stoplights.  Even with just regular riding switching gears, my hand starts to ache.  Do I just need to build up "clutch muscles," or is it maybe set too strong?  The bike shifts fine and everything, and I'm not detecting any issues.

I first noticed the clutch was much harder to pull than the Honda Nighthawk at the MSF class I learned in. It really hurt my hand until one day after around a thousand miles of riding I stopped noticing it any more. After not riding over the winter it will bother me for about a week then be OK again

Just give it time. Make sure you pull over if your hand gets too fatigued to shift...happened to me a few times when I was starting out.

I forget where I saw them, but there are clutch assists. It applies leverage to the cable somehow.....maybe it was from denniskirk.com?

Maybe clutch cable needs lubing or the bolt holding on the lever is too tight.

Easiest would be to stop holding the lever in at redlights. As soon as I pull up to a redlight and am sure there's no one coming up behind me that might hit me, I put my bike in neutral and let the lever out. I started doing it for the engines sake, but it definitely makes traffic easier especially considering I live in the city and see my fair share of redlights. Otherwise you could get one of those hand exercisers like outdoor stores sell with rock climbing stuff to work out your left hand when you're sitting on the couch.

buy a new clutch cable. you won't believe how crappy your old one is until you try out a new one... adjust proper, and lube (heavy grease) the heck out of it. it makes a ton of difference.



********

also, the clutch hand will get a work out. might as well build it up. single track on a 2 smoke will make you long for your gs's once-in-a-while shifting

Quote from: tt_four on January 18, 2011, 07:45:55 PM
Easiest would be to stop holding the lever in at redlights. As soon as I pull up to a redlight and am sure there's no one coming up behind me that might hit me, I put my bike in neutral and let the lever out. I started doing it for the engines sake, but it definitely makes traffic easier especially considering I live in the city and see my fair share of redlights. Otherwise you could get one of those hand exercisers like outdoor stores sell with rock climbing stuff to work out your left hand when you're sitting on the couch.

MSF says NOT to do that...........but I do it sometimes.............on my  weekend commute there is one F'ed up light that stays red for about three minutes   (about six roads come together)...I just throw her into neutral and relax and wait........sometimes shut the engine.......it seems to get kinda hot, idling without air thru the fins and oil cooler....fairings work against you when stoped, holding in the hot air.

As for aches and pains, like in the hand or wrist....old age creeps up on you......some days my grip is strong as an ox.....other days there is stiffness the the wrist and hands.......I just deal with it........a long ride usually loosens things up.


Cookie

MSF says not to put it in neutral, people who know motors say not to sit there with the bike in gear. I understand both points, so I just try to compromise just go based on what cars around me are doing.

My clutch is killing me to. After few non stop riding hours i cant push the clutch due the pain 

Hello. Did this problem appear when you bought the bike? If yes, make sure the clutch lever orientation is correctly adjusted. When I bought my bike, it was too low (pointing to the ground) and it hurted a lot. I adjusted it a bit higher and now it's better.

I hope you can understand, I have trouble saying that in english.



Or, if you're left handed...maybe you were single when you bought the bike and now you've got a girlfriend? 

It's just basically going to take some time for me to get used to using a clutch again in the spring (zero riding up in MN during the winter).  I did notice that the hydraulic clutch on my VTX is much easier than the cable clutch on my other bikes.

MSF says NOT to do that...........but I do it sometimes.............on my  weekend commute there is one F'ed up light that stays red for about three minutes   (about six roads come together)...I just throw her into neutral and relax and wait........sometimes shut the engine.......it seems to get kinda hot, idling without air thru the fins and oil cooler....fairings work against you when stoped, holding in the hot air.

As for aches and pains, like in the hand or wrist....old age creeps up on you......some days my grip is strong as an ox.....other days there is stiffness the the wrist and hands.......I just deal with it........a long ride usually loosens things up.


Cookie
[/quote]

MSF says to not do alot of things

Quote from: fraze11 on January 19, 2011, 01:31:54 PM


MSF says NOT to do that...........but I do it sometimes.............on my  weekend commute there is one F'ed up light that stays red for about three minutes   (about six roads come together)...I just throw her into neutral and relax and wait........sometimes shut the engine.......it seems to get kinda hot, idling without air thru the fins and oil cooler....fairings work against you when stoped, holding in the hot air.

As for aches and pains, like in the hand or wrist....old age creeps up on you......some days my grip is strong as an ox.....other days there is stiffness the the wrist and hands.......I just deal with it........a long ride usually loosens things up.


Cookie

MSF says to not do a lot of things
[/quote]

But they are usually correct in what they say to do or not to do......and they give reasons why.......their info is based of lots of experience....

Cookie

Quote from: ohgood on January 18, 2011, 07:49:32 PM
buy a new clutch cable. you won't believe how crappy your old one is until you try out a new one... adjust proper, and lube (heavy grease) the heck out of it. it makes a ton of difference.

Very true, I noticed it when mine snapped and I had to get a new one. I was amazed at how easy the pull was.

Quote from: FrenchGS on January 19, 2011, 01:04:13 PM
Or, if you're left handed...maybe you were single when you bought the bike and now you've got a girlfriend?  

Wow, I lol'ed

Quote from: redhenracing2 on January 19, 2011, 02:49:07 PM

Quote from: ohgood on January 18, 2011, 07:49:32 PM
buy a new clutch cable. you won't believe how crappy your old one is until you try out a new one... adjust proper, and lube (heavy grease) the heck out of it. it makes a ton of difference.

Very true, I noticed it when mine snapped and I had to get a new one. I was amazed at how easy the pull was.

Same for me...when my cable snapped in the fall...after replacement and lots of lube, the clutch was much smoother...

Quote from: redhenracing2 on January 19, 2011, 02:49:07 PM

Quote from: FrenchGS on January 19, 2011, 01:04:13 PM
Or, if you're left handed...maybe you were single when you bought the bike and now you've got a girlfriend? 

Wow, I lol'ed

Beat me to it...I was going to say, when surfing the late night sites...right hand on the mouse, left hand on the "joy stick"...

Later.

Quote from: FrenchGS on January 19, 2011, 01:04:13 PM
Hello. Did this problem appear when you bought the bike? If yes, make sure the clutch lever orientation is correctly adjusted. When I bought my bike, it was too low (pointing to the ground) and it hurted a lot. I adjusted it a bit higher and now it's better.

Hey, this did it!  I was out today fiddling with the bike, noticed the clutch lever was pointed downward relative to the brake lever, so adjusted it up.  Reach is now better, shifts are smoother.

 

Quote from: Suzuki Stevo on February 11, 2011, 07:03:28 PM

A GS that shoots up. Caught in the act !!!

Quote from: tb0lt on February 11, 2011, 11:07:08 PMA GS that shoots up. Caught in the act !!!

That is motor oil in the needle, WD40 actually works better, especially in the cold 

+1 on a new cable if the clutch is stiff. Also a good idea to dismantle the throw-out mechanism in the left side cover and clean and grease it. 1/2 hour job that always gets forgotten, a lot of crud can get in that area.
Also, I don't like WD40 for cables as it dries out over time and gets sticky, I prefer motor oil.