AE managable in the loose stuff?

[Brodie]

Greetings,

I am in the market for a new bike and the FJR is on my short list. The electric clutch caught my attention, however, on occation I get my 16 year old Venture on a gravel road and it takes finess with the clutch and throttle to manage the beast. At the top of my mind is 800 pounds, I don't want to have to pick up 800 pounds! Since many of you have opted to be pioneers in this bleeding edge technology, anyone care to share their experences when you get it in the loose stuff? How do you manage throttle controll without a hand clutch?

Thanks

Brodie

'90 Venture Royale 147k

'82 Ascot Thumper 127k

 

[tripletango]

Greetings, I am in the market for a new bike and the FJR is on my short list. The electric clutch caught my attention, however, on occation I get my 16 year old Venture on a gravel road and it takes finess with the clutch and throttle to manage the beast. At the top of my mind is 800 pounds, I don't want to have to pick up 800 pounds! Since many of you have opted to be pioneers in this bleeding edge technology, anyone care to share their experences when you get it in the loose stuff? How do you manage throttle controll without a hand clutch?

Thanks

Brodie

'90 Venture Royale 147k

'82 Ascot Thumper 127k

You can pick up an FJR. Actual weight is a little less. I usually look around for a little old lady to help me pick up my AE.

The bike takes a little finessing to work neatly at slow speeds. It is probably more difficult to ride than a manual clutched version in this situation. However when you get used to it it is fine. In slick stuff I will not change all the way down to first but stay in second if i need to stop and go. This allows the clutch to slip a little more and allows more control of the bike.

Overall I prefer my AE over my 05 ABS.

My favorite difference are the linked brakes! This feature makes the twisties a blast as you can slow the bike safely without standing it up or locking up (ABS rules) if you are going in a little hot.

Riding the AE and flicking up and down in the gears is a blast. In traffic the bike is much easier to handle in stop and go as well.

 

[Rickster]

Brodie -- the AE does take some re-learning. The YCCS controls the clutch and the shift. The clutch engages at approx 1300 RPM (pending engine temp and some other inputs), and 'feathering' the clutch is controlled with the throttle. I haven't had any problems negotiating gravel on streets, or hard packed gravel roads. I haven't ridden in severe loose stuff, but don't think it would be a problem.

My use for the bike is touring, and i don't purposely ride 'off-road' or dirt roads. If that is a large portion of your travels, a large dual sport like the Aprilia CapoNord, Triumph Tiger, V-Strom may be a better solution.

Greetings, I am in the market for a new bike and the FJR is on my short list. The electric clutch caught my attention, however, on occation I get my 16 year old Venture on a gravel road and it takes finess with the clutch and throttle to manage the beast. At the top of my mind is 800 pounds, I don't want to have to pick up 800 pounds! Since many of you have opted to be pioneers in this bleeding edge technology, anyone care to share their experences when you get it in the loose stuff? How do you manage throttle controll without a hand clutch?

Thanks

Brodie

'90 Venture Royale 147k

'82 Ascot Thumper 127k

 

[TheAxeman]

You can pick up an FJR. Actual weight is a little less. I usually look around for a little old lady to help me pick up my AE.

LOL.....he isn't kidding about the old lady....

After riding behind TripleTango at EOM and seeing him negotiate some serious twisties peppered with gravel I can attest to the fact that he doesn't have any problem with his AE...

 

[Brodie]

I s'pose a couple hundred fewer pounds doesn't hurt with the loose stuff.

Does this bike have a neutral on it? If so is it rendered obsolete? I'm curious how the foot lever and the hand switch work in concert. When sitting at a traffic light would it be advisable to shift into neutral (if it had one) or just let it keep the clutch engaged. I wonder about the long term effects are on a throwout bearing thats used quite a bit more than a bike with a hand clutch - at traffic lights I tend to save my hand by shifting into neutral.

You can pick up an FJR. Actual weight is a little less. I usually look around for a little old lady to help me pick up my AE.The bike takes a little finessing to work neatly at slow speeds. It is probably more difficult to ride than a manual clutched version in this situation. However when you get used to it it is fine. In slick stuff I will not change all the way down to first but stay in second if i need to stop and go. This allows the clutch to slip a little more and allows more control of the bike.

 

[grendell]

The AE does have a neutral. It is all the way down instead of being above first. I generally always use the hand control unless I forget to turn on before I start going then I use the foot pedal to change to second and then turn the hand controls on. You can use either the hand or foot controls to switch the gears but you don't need to use them together in any way.

I generally just leave it in first at a light. It is easier than changing gears before going. I don't know if that would cause more wear and tear than changing to neutral every time. Of course, if you like to rev the bike while sitting at the light then you won't want to leave it in first. You would get quite a surprise.

I s'pose a couple hundred fewer pounds doesn't hurt with the loose stuff. Does this bike have a neutral on it? If so is it rendered obsolete? I'm curious how the foot lever and the hand switch work in concert. When sitting at a traffic light would it be advisable to shift into neutral (if it had one) or just let it keep the clutch engaged. I wonder about the long term effects are on a throwout bearing thats used quite a bit more than a bike with a hand clutch - at traffic lights I tend to save my hand by shifting into neutral.

 

[Brodie]

Anybody get so used to the new system that you forget to pull in the clutch on your other bike?

 

[kindofblue]

I s'pose a couple hundred fewer pounds doesn't hurt with the loose stuff. Does this bike have a neutral on it? If so is it rendered obsolete? I'm curious how the foot lever and the hand switch work in concert. When sitting at a traffic light would it be advisable to shift into neutral (if it had one) or just let it keep the clutch engaged. I wonder about the long term effects are on a throwout bearing thats used quite a bit more than a bike with a hand clutch - at traffic lights I tend to save my hand by shifting into neutral.

Staying in 1st gear at a light could save your bacon some day. If you're in first and see someone coming up behind and they're not going to stop before rear-ending you, having it in first gear makes for a faster escape off to the side or in the space between the cars in front of you if there's 2 lanes.

 

[Rickster]

Anybody get so used to the new system that you forget to pull in the clutch on your other bike?

Not yet -- actually, I still find myself reaching for the missing clutch lever on the AE. Transitioning back and forth between a sport bike and the AE has been zero problem -- I think because i have to pull in the clutch to get started on the clutch bike.

I also leave it in 1st at a light -- don't need to keep the clutch pulled in (done for you), and can relax both hands at a light -- when green -- just twist and you're off! (i like it)

 

[jestal]

Not knocking the AE at all.....but.....how would you handle the following on an AE ??

I have had to go down a slippery, gravel/wetgrass hill on several occasions in campgrounds and into my backyard garage. You want to keep BOTH feel firmly on the ground and only use the rear brake as the front brake would mean instant dump. I have always successfully covered this terrain by killing the engine, putting the trans in first and dragging the clutch to use the clutch as a means of rear wheel braking while keeping both feet firmly on the ground. Not that this comes up often but since I've used it a number of times in memory it is not something I'd readily give up. Any clues??

 

[Rickster]

Not knocking the AE at all.....but.....how would you handle the following on an AE ??
I have had to go down a slippery, gravel/wetgrass hill on several occasions in campgrounds and into my backyard garage. You want to keep BOTH feel firmly on the ground and only use the rear brake as the front brake would mean instant dump. I have always successfully covered this terrain by killing the engine, putting the trans in first and dragging the clutch to use the clutch as a means of rear wheel braking while keeping both feet firmly on the ground. Not that this comes up often but since I've used it a number of times in memory it is not something I'd readily give up. Any clues??

Not sure that can be done on the AE as you describe. I believe if you hit the kill switch with the ignition on, the clutch will stay dis-engaged. If you kill the ignition -- the clutch will fully engage after a few seconds

Unsure if taller gearing clutch dis-engagement at low RPM will do it (like 2nd or 3d) - I'll try tomorrow (of course -- on level surface first)

Also -- unsure how you'd push-start an AE... another thing that a chip control may keep you from doing -- haven't looked at how you'd do that either.