Considering used: should I be afraid of the auto-clutch?

[HCB]

Hey, all. I am looking at a used 07 FJR with the auto-clutch. From my light reading so far 1) that was only offered on the 06 to 09 YM, 2) I've not found a lot of posts on this site regarding the auto-clutch, so...apparently it didn't last long (4 model years) and not a lot of people are talking about them.

I'm not sure I want the auto-clutch (one review I read from back in 06 about the "new" auto-clutch said it wasn't really great for low speed u-turns and one event I do each year is endless back and forth with cyclists so I'm doing low-speed U-turns for two days). I'm also concerned about the complexity of the system and the maintenance/parts to fix it.

Love to know what the community thinks and knows.

Thank you.

--HC

 

[gixxerjasen]

look for AE in your searches. Same clutch and transmission as the standard model but with extra stuff to do the work for you. Note that hte 06 and 07 have some issues with the off to on throttle application being a bit abrubt. Some folks find it ok, some find it unrideable. It's fixed with a few mods...throw some $$$ at it and it's pretty darn smooth. The non AE has the same problems but it's more obvious when you can't work around it with the clutch. I have the AE and have applied the fixes and in traffic it really shines. No more clutch hand cramp. Outside of that, unless you have some physical ailment you probably won't care. For me I didn't care one way or another but when I get caught in traffic on my commute it is a blessing. It's a blessing for those with physical ailments that make shifting difficult. Nothing to be scared of though on them, the only real pain is cleaning/changing the air filter becomes a pain because a lot of the AE parts are in the way.

It takes some getting used to and adjustment of your technique. You'll spend some time thinking you don't know how to ride a motorcycle anymore. I've had mine a little over a month and had to flip a U this morning (realized I forgot my backpack with my laptop!!!) and had no issues. You just get used to it. If you are a magazine reviewer, you'll knock it because you don't have that kind of time, but really, it's a darn good bike and if the price is right I'd jump on it. That's how I wound up with mine.

 

[cruppelt]

I am not sure what the guy that wrote that article was smoking (maybe it was some rolled up hundred dollar bills from Honda...). This review turned off so many folks from even trying the bike out, it might have been the main reason why the AE never really caught on in the US.

The AE is absolutely great to have in slow and heavy traffic situations. I am back to a standard clutch bike, and I miss the auto-clutch terribly when going from red light to red light. The new owner of my FJR had read the same article as well, and didn't think he wanted to go for the AE - until he test-rode it.

 

[majicmaker]

Buy it! You'll Love it! You'll never wanna go back to pulling a clutch Lever Again!

 

[garyahouse]

Any issues with changing the clutch fluid... compared to a regular clutch?

Gary

darksider #44

 

[Harald]

look for AE in your searches.

That may be his problem if he's using this forums search engine because you can't search for 2 letter words. A MUCH better way to search this forum is to use google.com. Just type in your search words and then follow it with site:fjrforum.com. For example, use: AE auto clutch site:fjrforum.com

 

[RadioHowie]

Any issues with changing the clutch fluid... compared to a regular clutch?

Gary

darksider #44

Gary...ya gotta yank the swingarm off just to bleed the sucker! No shit! :blink:

 

[cruppelt]

Any issues with changing the clutch fluid... compared to a regular clutch?

Gary

darksider #44

Gary...ya gotta yank the swingarm off just to bleed the sucker! No shit! :blink:

FYI, RadioHowie doesn't like Gen II bikes in general, and the AE indeed has a very special place in his heart... :dribble: :lol:

The AE has the same clutch as the A, and has the same fluid system with the same fluid container under the same fairing piece below the seat. Changing fluids is actually relatively easy on these bikes.

The two main differences mechanically speaking:

1) clutch activation actuator in place of the mechanical clutch lever linkage

2) transmission had neutral moved to below first gear = N,1,2,3,4,5 (vs.1,N,2,3,4,5 in the standard bike)

The other three extra parts consist of finger shifter assembly, foot shifter electronic switch (rather then mechanical linkage), and the YCCS control box.

The only thing that's different when doing regular maintenance is that the location of the clutch actuator is in front of the lower left corner of the air filter lid. That means you have to loosen the actuator, and an extra 30 seconds of fiddling before you're done, not a big deal.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Don't listen to that cruppelt guy. He hated his AE so much he sold it!

Nice to see you still around Chris. Any closer to your FJR replacement?

 

[cruppelt]

Don't listen to that cruppelt guy. He hated his AE so much he sold it!

Nice to see you still around Chris. Any closer to your FJR replacement?

Hi gixxerjasen,

Yep, I still hang out here every so often.

I've pulled the trigger on the new bike (2007 Aprilia Tuono) a couple of months ago. You can't really call it a "replacement" though since it's such a different bike altogether, but it's what I ride these days and it's been a hell of a lot of fun so far.

The exceptions as mentioned above are when it comes to heavy traffic or very long days in the saddle (which I don't have a lot of anymore though); either of these situations and I miss my AE very much.

Tuono1st

Tuono2nd

 

[Ken45]

FYI, Yamaha did not discontinue the AE, it just stopped importing them into the USA because they didn't move on the salesfloor. I believe they are still being made and sold in Europe and other places.

 

[HCB]

Hey, all. I am looking at a used 07 FJR with the auto-clutch. From my light reading so far 1) that was only offered on the 06 to 09 YM, 2) I've not found a lot of posts on this site regarding the auto-clutch, so...apparently it didn't last long (4 model years) and not a lot of people are talking about them.

I'm not sure I want the auto-clutch (one review I read from back in 06 about the "new" auto-clutch said it wasn't really great for low speed u-turns and one event I do each year is endless back and forth with cyclists so I'm doing low-speed U-turns for two days). I'm also concerned about the complexity of the system and the maintenance/parts to fix it.

Love to know what the community thinks and knows.

Thank you.

--HC

Thank you all for your posts. It's been posted that the auto-clutch might still be made for other markets in the world and I find this to be true; a little digging to find the Yamaha worldwide homepage and then drilling down to the European market (arbitrarily chosen market) shows that if you live in Switzerland (or Sweden...it was on of those) or the Netherlands (I think I saw) you can get the AS version.

Still not too sure about losing the clutch operation. I've never found yanking the clutch handle in to be a real problem, even in stop and go riding. Like the bicycle ride I escort each year, I'm doing 400+ miles across two days spending up to 12 hours on my motorcycle each day with almost no breaks, mostly at walking speeds to 40 MPH, sometimes swarmed with cyclists, and the clutch doesn't bother me. I can understand physical ailments but if you don't have a handicap and can't handle the clutch maybe you should put yer purse down and use both hands. I could see the benefit if you were riding in stop and go traffic, all straight-line stuff, and/or you had a handicap that hindered your ability to operate the clutch. But, with going from grass shoulders (this bicycle ride each year is a big deal for me and a machine's ability to work for me for this event is a go/no-go point) to help cyclists and bunches of U-turns on narrow roads and with varying conditions, I'm not sure the auto clutch is my best bet.

I appreciate the post to throw some money at it to make it more rideable but the purchase price isn't compelling enough to make that an enticing option.

It's been suggested to use Google to do the searching here and I will try that. The thing must not be too God-awful, though, or I would think I'd have already gotten an earful from someone.

Thanks again to you all.

--HC

 

[gixxerjasen]

Actually, we've got a few folks with such as ankle injuries that won't let them work the shifter. It was go AE or give up riding. I'll take the AE thanks! Of course this doesn't apply to me, I just couldn't pass up the deal and wanted to give it a try.

Props to you on the bicycle escort thing. I did the Hotter Than Hell 100 last year as an escort. No thanks, not ever again. I can't think of a more boring way to spend time on my motorcycle. I'm sure the bicyclists are happy there's lots of folks like you out there to volunteer.

 

[RadioHowie]

Any issues with changing the clutch fluid... compared to a regular clutch?

Gary

darksider #44

Gary...ya gotta yank the swingarm off just to bleed the sucker! No shit! :blink:

FYI, RadioHowie doesn't like Gen II bikes in general, and the AE indeed has a very special place in his heart... :dribble: :lol:

The AE has the same clutch as the A, and has the same fluid system with the same fluid container under the same fairing piece below the seat. Changing fluids is actually relatively easy on these bikes.

The two main differences mechanically speaking:

1) clutch activation actuator in place of the mechanical clutch lever linkage

2) transmission had neutral moved to below first gear = N,1,2,3,4,5 (vs.1,N,2,3,4,5 in the standard bike)

The other three extra parts consist of finger shifter assembly, foot shifter electronic switch (rather then mechanical linkage), and the YCCS control box.

The only thing that's different when doing regular maintenance is that the location of the clutch actuator is in front of the lower left corner of the air filter lid. That means you have to loosen the actuator, and an extra 30 seconds of fiddling before you're done, not a big deal.

C'mon, Chris.....you're being disingenuous about this and you know it. And it has nothing to do with a Gen I/Gen II or A vs. AE bias.

From mcatrophy's fine thread HERE (complete with copies of the FSM pages)according to the Yamaha Factory Service Manual, which I believe is reasonably close to correct, the entire rear-end of the bike must come off to service the AE clutch:

Now, if there is a shortcut way to do an AE bleed, then that's what it is....a shortcut! Not recommended by the factory.

 

[allrider]

It looks like you have done your initial homework, now go find one to test ride. You know what issues you are concerned with. Some are overcome with mechanical fixes, like low speed throttle issues on the 06-07's. Other things like bleeding the clutch is a PITA, but I only do it every couple years, and if you have a tech meet in your area it will be that much easier with some help. The rest comes with time in the saddle to smooth out your technique.

You'll know if it's for you or not fairly quickly.

The only other issue is Radio Howie chiming in from time to time on all things Gen II or AE. Think of him more like Radio Interference.

 

[RadioHowie]

The only other issue is Radio Howie chiming in from time to time on all things Gen II or AE. Think of him more like Radio Interference.

 

[cruppelt]

Now, if there is a shortcut way to do an AE bleed, then that's what it is....a shortcut! Not recommended by the factory.

OK, Howie, I could not find the smiley that does a bow-down or I would have used it. :hi:

I think I might have even remembered that tidbit from last years post, but must have forgotten about it because of the ridiculousness of taking the swing-arm off for this.

I've changed clutch fluid with subsequent bleed-off twice in my ownership of the AE, neither time with taking the swing-arm off. I guess I took a short-cut and will go to Yamaha hell for it. :evilsmiley:

 

[RadioHowie]

Now, if there is a shortcut way to do an AE bleed, then that's what it is....a shortcut! Not recommended by the factory.

OK, Howie, I could not find the smiley that does a bow-down or I would have used it. :hi:

I think I might have even remembered that tidbit from last years post, but must have forgotten about it because of the ridiculousness of taking the swing-arm off for this.

I've changed clutch fluid with subsequent bleed-off twice in my ownership of the AE, neither time with taking the swing-arm off. I guess I took a short-cut and will go to Yamaha hell for it. :evilsmiley:

Hell, I'd probably do it "the easy way" too, but not having an AE, and what knowledge I have of clutch maintenance ON and AE, I've only known what I've read on the Forum and in the FSM, which is certainly throwing out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to clutch maintenance.

See you in Hell! :lol:

 

[Cavy]

I have blead my '08 AE a couple times useing a mighty vac. It might throw a fault for excessive movement after bleeding with vacuum due to the slave cylinder retracting. Cycle the key a couple times and actuate the shifter and it should reset itself. No need to remove swingarm unless you want to manually exercise the clutch.

I love my bike. Neatest thing since sliced bread!