FJR AE Thottle lacks sensitivity always starting out

[bababang]

All

I have a left over 2009 FJR AE with approx 600 miles. It's become evidant that when I first start off, the throttle is just not as sensitive as I feel it should be, almost like the auto clutch is sticking. It performs better after I have run through some gears and has time to warm up (15 min), it never becomes as sensitive as I would like but works good enough after some time.

I'm newbie to the clutchless systems and not sure how to proceed. The local yamaha dealers I feel have very limited expereience with the AE and repairs in this area. I know they can call yamaha tech support but still, its not so reassuring . I'm not sure who to bring it to.

Does any other AE owners have this experience with at start?

 

[yamatour]

I found that it takes a little getting used to. I have played with various throttle techniques and found that; yes it seems to be temperature sensitive, it works great..Once you are off the line. I have established a technique of trying to always shift into N when at a stop as I feel it reinforces my sensitivity to the engagement variables of the electric clutch. It isn't clutch less...it is an electrically operated clutch.

At low speed operations, I don't think you will find that it ever works like a conventional clutch, can't be feathered, can't be disengaged at will, so it is just a different animal that requires some adjustment on our part.

I have taken mine to the parking lot to do low speed maneuvers...after 4000 miles I am still working out a technique for throttle and braking to make the AE behave like I expect it to...I haven't found "the" technique. So for me, caution is the watchword.

jf

 

[JimNtexas]

I almost never select neutral on my AE, which was also a leftover. That doesn't sound right.

The clutch on the AE is no different than that of the ordinary FJR. I wonder if the OP's bike needs a clutch soak.

 

[Patriot]

check out "G2 Throttle tube"

I hear a great accessory for AE's

https://www.g2ergo.com/ ("more control" category)

google it and then definitely search the forum...lotsa personal experience here

 

[ionbeam]

check out "G2 Throttle tube"

I hear a great accessory for AE's

https://www.g2ergo.com/ ("more control" category)

google it and then definitely search the forum...lotsa personal experience here

The G2 throttle tube was designed specifically for the '06 & '07 FJRs (A & AE) that had a non-concentric throttle pulley on the throttle bodies. The G2 tube has a throttle cable pulley that is mirror imaged to the throttle body pulley to cancel the non-linear ramp making throttle tube movement 1:1 with throttle plate movement. Putting a G2 on any other year FJR actually makes the throttle less sensitive in the 3k rpm area. Glad it works for Patriot, but if you are looking to get rid of a lazy throttle feel, IMO this is the last thing you should do.

 

[wfooshee]

It may be an intentional design, although I'm not sure what you mean by "sensitive," or what you mean by auto-clutch "sticking." Do you meant the clutch engages roughly, or doesn't engage as soon as you think it should?

Since the AE system engages clutch based on throttle input, i.e. hard clutch drop when throttle is hit hard, gentle clutch slip when throttle is eased in, there has to be a certain amount of give-and-take between throttle input and clutch actuation. It may well be that all you need to do is adjust for a bit more throttle, not quite so gentle when moving out.

That said, there are stories of shifting being smoothed out by removing the clutch discs and soaking overnight in clean oil.

 

[MartinH]

I have an 07 AE. The problem you are describing may partly be the slack in the throttle cable. I took all the slack out of mine and it made a huge difference.

 

[bucky]

The only thing I notice on my 08AE, is that on the first start off after a completely cold start, the clutch slippage seems a little "mushy", like more clutch slippage than necessary given engine rpm. Not grabbing or clunky, just mushy. Other than that, it shifts smoothly up and down. Maybe slightly quicker at full warmup, but really hardly noticable. I rarely shift into neutral at stops, unless I know it is going to be a very long one. And I downshift approaching stops, usually ending at 2nd at about 15mph and then into 1st as I roll to stop. You can roll to a stop in 5th or any gear you want, but then going down thru each gear to 1st sometimes can get a little tricky, just like in a regular shift bike as the gears sometimes don't mesh.

 

[allrider]

I have an 07 AE. The problem you are describing may partly be the slack in the throttle cable. I took all the slack out of mine and it made a huge difference.

+1 on the slack adjustment. You have the improved throttle with the 09, so don't go for a G2.

I don't know if anyone is doing a barbarian mod on an 09, but it helped fix the lean spots off idle on the 06, 07's.

AE's are a different animal and there's a learning curve. Give yourself 1k in the saddle to learn the ins and outs and i think you will feel much better about her. She's grabby sometimes when cold or hasn't been run in a while. Clutch plates can get a little dry in spots and that can be annoying at first, but it resolves itself once they get lubed up with starts and stops, and waiting at lights in gear. I wouldn't pull clutch plates and soak em, it's a PITA, and a one time fix. You get the same effect sitting in place idling in gear.

Practicing at slow speeds can be tricky. Some folks have dropped them practicing, like when the clutch releases in the middle of a slow U-turn and your not prepared. I got mine from someone that did just that, put her up for sale and I bought her, cheap.

Practice clutch engagement and disengagement at slow speeds in a straight line until you get good at it without thinking about it. Play around with the rear brake and keeping the rpm's up just enough so it doesn't disengage while your at a crawl.

The real fix is ride her often and hard, just like in any relationship. You will like each other more for it.

 

[JimNtexas]

In this thread inmate Usul has a similar problem on a 2011 ordinary FJR.

Note the link to a clutch plate soak tutorial.

 

[Patriot]

I rarely shift into neutral at stops, unless I know it is going to be a very long one.

I don't grasp why would one want to be in neutral at a stop on a AE???

 

[wfooshee]

While you sit there that 4 or 5 lifetimes minutes, the clutch discs are spinning, maybe against each other, maybe not. A tiny bit of wear and heat, not much, but more than zero. Also, the throwout bearing and pressure plate spring are stressed if stopped in gear, and relaxed if sitting in neutral. Again, not a big deal for a time or two, but possibly a source of cumulative wear.

All the clutch mechanical components are relaxed if the clutch is fully engaged, and stressed if the clutch is disengaged (as in sitting still in gear.)

That said, there is the thinking that you ALWAYS want to be ready to flee the scene of an accident you don't want to be a part of, which would be in gear and holding the clutch (or letting the bike hold the clutch.)

 

[bababang]

I have an 07 AE. The problem you are describing may partly be the slack in the throttle cable. I took all the slack out of mine and it made a huge difference.

+1 on the slack adjustment. You have the improved throttle with the 09, so don't go for a G2.

I don't know if anyone is doing a barbarian mod on an 09, but it helped fix the lean spots off idle on the 06, 07's.

AE's are a different animal and there's a learning curve. Give yourself 1k in the saddle to learn the ins and outs and i think you will feel much better about her. She's grabby sometimes when cold or hasn't been run in a while. Clutch plates can get a little dry in spots and that can be annoying at first, but it resolves itself once they get lubed up with starts and stops, and waiting at lights in gear. I wouldn't pull clutch plates and soak em, it's a PITA, and a one time fix. You get the same effect sitting in place idling in gear.

Practicing at slow speeds can be tricky. Some folks have dropped them practicing, like when the clutch releases in the middle of a slow U-turn and your not prepared. I got mine from someone that did just that, put her up for sale and I bought her, cheap.

Practice clutch engagement and disengagement at slow speeds in a straight line until you get good at it without thinking about it. Play around with the rear brake and keeping the rpm's up just enough so it doesn't disengage while your at a crawl.

The real fix is ride her often and hard, just like in any relationship. You will like each other more for it.

Thanks for your opinions on the subject. It is a different animal and I'm still warming up to the "electronic clutch". Giving it more time to work out the kinks.

thanks

 

[bababang]

I have an 07 AE. The problem you are describing may partly be the slack in the throttle cable. I took all the slack out of mine and it made a huge difference.

Thanks for the reply, but I think if there was slack in the cable I would have the same problem even after warmed up. This happens when the bike is just starting off from the cold start.

 

[phroenips]

Sounds like maybe you're experiencing the symptoms that mcatrophy is describing in this thread: https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=142860

 

[bababang]

It may be an intentional design, although I'm not sure what you mean by "sensitive," or what you mean by auto-clutch "sticking." Do you meant the clutch engages roughly, or doesn't engage as soon as you think it should?

Since the AE system engages clutch based on throttle input, i.e. hard clutch drop when throttle is hit hard, gentle clutch slip when throttle is eased in, there has to be a certain amount of give-and-take between throttle input and clutch actuation. It may well be that all you need to do is adjust for a bit more throttle, not quite so gentle when moving out.

That said, there are stories of shifting being smoothed out by removing the clutch discs and soaking overnight in clean oil.

Sorry for my poor choice of words and description. Electronic clutch is a better description. I have noticed a difference between the way the throttle works when bike is cold vs warmed up. There seems less acceleration with the same amount twist with the throttle at different running times. Once warmed up it acts in a way I would feel is correct, but not so much at start up.

From other comments I collected I feel its just a normal response of this type of system. Thanks for you comments.

 

[mcatrophy]

...

I have noticed a difference between the way the throttle works when bike is cold vs warmed up. There seems less acceleration with the same amount twist with the throttle at different running times. Once warmed up it acts in a way I would feel is correct, but not so much at start up.

...

I'm not too sure what you are trying to describe, but one significant part of the clutch operation is that the engine speed at which the clutch engages and disengages is significantly higher until the engine has warmed up properly.

This can give rise to your changing up into 2nd before the clutch has fully engaged in 1st, and can do so into the higher gears. Feels strange, bike seems to lack performance, engine speed slurs all the time.

To deal with it, either let the engine rev higher in the low gear during this period to ensure full clutch engagement, or let the engine idle until its idle speed has dropped to normal before moving off.

 

[ScottyUSN]

Without a doubt the clutch will slip more when cold -vs- a warmed up wet clutch... I cringe everytime I have to start moving my AE without a few minutes of warmup namely for the sake of the clutch.

Neutral on the AE has very little use other than to allow the AE to run with the kick stand down.

A clutch soak can never hurt as long as you put it back together properly There is a nice how-to on the forum if you google search "clutch soak site:fjrforum.com" . Others have convinced the dealership to do the clutch soak under warranty after describing the clutch slipage.