Clutch biting too far out

[Emp_Fab]

Hi - this is my first post on the forum. I'm 61, returning to biking after a gap of 37 years ! I've got a GSX650F that I'm getting on well with, but the bite and release point of the clutch is too far out on the lever for me.

I've got the adjuster dial on the 'shortest travel' setting (4 I think), but it's still too far out for me. My muscle control at that span isn't as accurate as closer-in, so I'm buggering up my pulling away in 1st quite often.

The bike is a '12 plate with 27K on the clock. Surely the clutch plates wouldn't be that thin already ?

Any ideas ? (I could take the lever off and attack it with a Dremel etc, but I was hoping for a less aggressive solution )

Ta !

[jeffyjeff]

Looking at some internet pix, it appears that the GX650F has a hydraulically actuated clutch. In that case, you have no adjustment. Yes, it is possible that the clutch plates are worn out after 27K, but if that were the case, you would experience slippage under hard acceleration. Perhaps an aftermarket clutch lever would be a suitable solution to get your clutch release point closer to the grip.
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[stinkwheel]

If it's a hydraulic clutch, the ony way you'll be able to adjust that is by altering the lever span. If it was the opposite problem, it might have needed bleeding or similar but if that would, if anything, move the bitepoint further from the bars.

Options as I see them are either fitting an after market lever with a different profile, carefully bending the lever so it's closer to the bars (I would anneal it first then heat treat it afterwards to reduce the risk of it breaking) or altering the adjuster so it comes closer to the bars.

The latter is probably easiest. I THINK from looking at google they have an adjuster which has flats on at different heights so if you took that off and filed the lowest one down some, it should move the lever closer to the bar.

If you don't fancy doing that with the OEM one, you could get a cheap aftermarket one to experiment with.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[to v or not to v]

is the clutch lever light enough to be able to operate with 2 fingers?
that should give you better control.
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
Moto Guzzi V7.