Riding with a slipping cluth....?

[Josh]

I know the sensible answer and obviously know what I should do, and I have now got a copy of the bus timetable to cover me for the next three days of work while I wait to get my baby serviced, but I was curious, what are the pitfalls of riding with a slipping clutch if you can ride in normal traffic at normal speeds without it reaching the point of the clutch engaging and stopping the power getting down?
I readjusted the cable to the correct amount (as I should have long ago ) and while it's better there is still the noticable failing at the higher end of the revs/speed, so yeah, if I ride it more will it knacker it or not?


Josh - Just trying to understand about you know, bikes and how they work
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04 Suzuki GSX-R 600 K4 - Sex on wheels :>
https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6178/sig6dc.gif

[Rookie]

To put it in context, I've been riding with a slipping clutch for about a month. I haven't noticed it get worse, and it only happens when I really crank it open.

I don't think, aside from the parts that need to be replaced anyway, that a slipping clutch damages anything. One thing I was concerned about, was that if it gets worse and starts doing it a lot, not only are you going to be using a hell of a lot of fuel, but also you cold be revving the tits off it, just after you started the bike. Not good!

[carvell]

No you won't knacker it.

You risk being stuck somewhere with a non-working clutch, but that's a very small risk. Just get it fixed when you can/when it annoys you too much.

It's one of those things that will annoy you to change it before it mechanically needs changing. You're changing anything you'd damage anyway.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Josh]

Mine only starts slipping about 3k before the power cuts off anyway (restricted) so basically I am in the normal traffic as opposed to progress making speed range now but yeah my concern was it getting worse and revving the nuts out of it or something unimaginable happening involving fiery balls of death and shards of engine insides flying out, mostly I wanted to check if the latter was likely to happen

And yeah it's booked in for a service on wednesday anyway as it was getting annoying, although I can do far more posing at low speed

Thanks for the info guys
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04 Suzuki GSX-R 600 K4 - Sex on wheels :>
https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6178/sig6dc.gif

[MattEMulsion]

A slipping clutch will only get worse. Don't be surprised if it lets you down when you are in the middle of a journey. Make sure you have some decent breakdown cover, cos you might need it. Oh and don't complain if it does let you down cos you now know the consequences of using a vehicle that isn't exactly roadworthy.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[Rookie]

[Rookie]

Here's an update for ya:

I had to ride out to Weston this morning to do some work, and to get there I had to go down an extremely steep hill; the steepest road hill I've ever seen. Going down was fine, brake cover, clutch out, no problem. But going back up, that was a different matter. I stalled about 5 times, ragging the arse off the engine trying to get the clutch right, and kangarooing when I tried to get the clutch out but not roll down the hill at the same time (my rear brake is very ineffective at the moment) .

Anyway, after that experience, my bike is clutch slipping in first (goodbye wheelies ) and a lot more than it was.

So there's a lesson kids; try not to rag your clutch to death, when it's already on the way out.

[Josh]

Yeah I'm going to take the risk and ride it monday/tuesday and leave it at the garage on wednesday morning, luckily it's only about 8 miles from home to work and the garage is right by my work and I have a good recovery service if I do get stuck.
The bike is perfectly rideable and I am just going to take it easy and avoid the slip point, even if those BABs on their R1s want to race (it was hard knowing I couldn't put up a fight, at least he was friendly enough to wave as he went on by)
I'm glad there are no big hills here though I'd probably be in the crap if I had a rough route to work.
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04 Suzuki GSX-R 600 K4 - Sex on wheels :>
https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/6178/sig6dc.gif