"You need a new clutch, sir."

[James Burleigh]

Thanks for all the wisdom.

Yesterday I called Berkeley Yamaha and told them I wanted to postpone the work and cancel the order for parts. Parts and labor were quoted at about $500, with $150 for labor. The person said the parts were ordered and there was a 20% "restocking" fee. But he was on another call and said the parts were coming in today and that we would sort it out today.

Me, I'm loaded for bear waiting for that call. A 20% restocking fee is not a fee but a penalty and a lame attempt to dissuade returns by a business trapped in 1970. In this day and age, hassle-free returns and exchanges is standard operating procedure for customer-driven businesses.

On top of everything, I feel the parts are over-priced and that the diagnosis was unjustified.

Stay tuned....

Jb

 

[Bungie]

Thanks for all the wisdom.

JB, did you do a clutch test that we've suggested? Its a simple thing to do, maybe you DO need a clutch, but you won't know without doing a little diagnostics first. Besides, it's an excuse to go for a ride!

Mmm.. go for a ride... my short-term memory is still full of good times this past summer. But a foot of snow on the ground and -20C today. All I have is memories.

Winter sucks balls.

 

[James Burleigh]

^^^^ BZZZZTTT!!
Is clutch. Can be destroyed. Buy an AE and never use less than say, 4th gear. Clutch will last a few hours. Tops.

But you can't feather it in traffic, that's true. (I know you know there's a clutch. I see the smiley.)

To JB, if you're actually feathering the clutch for torque multiplication, maybe you should actually just downshift instead???

No, I feather the clutch when I'm in tight traffic and need to maneuver around, or in stop-and-go and can't get around, or pulling up to a stop sign for a full stop without putting my foot down.

Keep abusing it, Hans. FJR clutch parts is cheap (I think about $100 - 120 for the full monty). Don't know WTF I did to make mine go at 40K miles.

Dude, you're brutal. :blink:

Thanks for all the wisdom.

JB, did you do a clutch test that we've suggested?

Um, yeah. Kinda. I've throttled the goose and gotten good acceleration to match RPMs, at least it appears so.

 

[user 213]

I feather the clutch when I'm in tight traffic and need to maneuver around, or in stop-and-go and can't get around, or pulling up to a stop sign for a full stop without putting my foot down.

Stop doing that. You know this, but apparently you don't know this. Brake parts are cheaper than clutch parts. Stop being a **** and put your foot down and save some clutch life. Look farther ahead, be less of a **** in traffic and hey, you'll still get there in the same amount of time. Just notch the aggression down a tad on the commute.

Glad to hear you still have some life in the parts there now.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I feather the clutch when I'm in tight traffic and need to maneuver around, or in stop-and-go and can't get around, or pulling up to a stop sign for a full stop without putting my foot down.

Stop doing that. You know this, but apparently you don't know this. Brake parts are cheaper than clutch parts. Stop being a **** and put your foot down and save some clutch life. Look farther ahead, be less of a **** in traffic and hey, you'll still get there in the same amount of time. Just notch the aggression down a tad on the commute.

Glad to hear you still have some life in the parts there now.

Gunny. The more you play with your clutch the shorter it'll get last.

 

[dcarver]

JB - what now makes you think it's ok?

OR do you think the dealer is trying to cheat and overcharge you?

Or, have you hit sticker shock and your sphincter has tightened? :lol:

My offer still stands JB, and I know Silent would help too. I can actually bring tools up to you or Silent, I have a clutch basket holder that should work on the FJR, so we can even replace the inner plates. Really, this is no big deal. It will take you longer to soak the new plates and get me n Silent drunk n' fed or fed n' drunk or layed or something than to do the entire job.

or, Plan a trip South to see your son, make a pit-stop, or stay awhile at the Hondarosa.

True, I've not done an FJR clutch, but have done plenty of wet clutches over the years; yammies, hondas, suzukis... they are all about the same.

Your call, Mr. Tighty! :rofl:

 

[Khunajawdge]

Thanks for all the wisdom.
On top of everything, I feel the parts are over-priced and that the diagnosis was unjustified.

Stay tuned....

Jb

OK, then "screw 'em", right JB?

 

[James Burleigh]

OK, then "screw 'em", right JB?

Too subtle for me. Your point?

I feather the clutch when I'm in tight traffic and need to maneuver around, or in stop-and-go and can't get around, or pulling up to a stop sign for a full stop without putting my foot down.

Stop doing that. You know this, but apparently you don't know this. Brake parts are cheaper than clutch parts. Stop being a **** and put your foot down and save some clutch life. Look farther ahead, be less of a **** in traffic and hey, you'll still get there in the same amount of time. Just notch the aggression down a tad on the commute.

Glad to hear you still have some life in the parts there now.

"Aggression"? "****"? Where'd that come from? :blink: With the amount of commuting I do, I don't think I need a lecture in how to ride in urban rush-hour traffic. :nono:

JB - what now makes you think it's ok?OR do you think the dealer is trying to cheat and overcharge you?

Or, have you hit sticker shock and your sphincter has tightened? :lol:

My offer still stands JB, and I know Silent would help too. I can actually bring tools up to you or Silent, I have a clutch basket holder that should work on the FJR, so we can even replace the inner plates. Really, this is no big deal. It will take you longer to soak the new plates and get me n Silent drunk n' fed or fed n' drunk or layed or something than to do the entire job.

or, Plan a trip South to see your son, make a pit-stop, or stay awhile at the Hondarosa.

True, I've not done an FJR clutch, but have done plenty of wet clutches over the years; yammies, hondas, suzukis... they are all about the same.

Your call, Mr. Tighty! :rofl:

I cancelled the parts, am diagnosing the problem, then when it's time, I want to take you up on your offer of yours and Ray's help. Your offer is very generous. Thank you. Who's gonna tell Ray, BTW? :lol:

 

[madmike2]

I cancelled the parts, am diagnosing the problem, then when it's time, I want to take you up on your offer of yours and Ray's help. Your offer is very generous. Thank you. Who's gonna tell Ray, BTW? :lol:

ME.....please, oh please Mr. JB, sir, can I tell him? Huh, can I, huh, huh, huh? :yahoo:

 

[Khunajawdge]

OK, then "screw 'em", right JB?

Too subtle for me. Your point?

To really ride a bike means you assimilate somewhat with the machine, and the collective of informants who also ride the same thing! There are a Lot of "peeps" on this Forum, that "know some serious ****" about how this bike works. This info is Not just "run of the mill ****", IT IS "Serious ****"! Sometimes, ya gotta listen to 'em grasshopper!

Take Don's offer and get ahold of Silent. Get technical! I'll even help out if you need me (although my experience is mostly with yard machinery)!

If you want to ride, then become a gear head!

That's my point!

 

[user 213]

"Aggression"? "****"? Where'd that come from? :blink: With the amount of commuting I do, I don't think I need a lecture in how to ride in urban rush-hour traffic. :nono:

Bay area traffic is fast paced and changes rapidly, but it's not all that different from any other big city. I've ridden in your traffic enough to know that you are displaying poor behavior. Lecture? Not really, just take a long look at yourself from the other side. Feathering the clutch at 6k? What part of you thinks that's a good idea? You're playing squid, not riding to get there. Feathering the clutch at stops? JB, I'd whack you upside the head, but my arm's not long enough. Consider a virtual smack given. That's a bad habit by anyone's standard.

 

[James Burleigh]

"Aggression"? "****"? Where'd that come from? :blink: With the amount of commuting I do, I don't think I need a lecture in how to ride in urban rush-hour traffic. :nono:

Bay area traffic is fast paced and changes rapidly, but it's not all that different from any other big city. I've ridden in your traffic enough to know that you are displaying poor behavior. Lecture? Not really, just take a long look at yourself from the other side. Feathering the clutch at 6k? What part of you thinks that's a good idea? You're playing squid, not riding to get there. Feathering the clutch at stops? JB, I'd whack you upside the head, but my arm's not long enough. Consider a virtual smack given. That's a bad habit by anyone's standard.

You're joking, right? (BTW, who's feathering the clutch at 6K? Time to re-read the posts....)

 

[James Burleigh]

OK, then "screw 'em", right JB?

Too subtle for me. Your point?

To really ride a bike means you assimilate somewhat with the machine, and the collective of informants who also ride the same thing! There are a Lot of "peeps" on this Forum, that "know some serious ****" about how this bike works. This info is Not just "run of the mill ****", IT IS "Serious ****"! Sometimes, ya gotta listen to 'em grasshopper!

Take Don's offer and get ahold of Silent. Get technical! I'll even help out if you need me (although my experience is mostly with yard machinery)!

If you want to ride, then become a gear head!

That's my point!

What planet you on? Why am I getting silly lectures based on jokes and scolders' failure to follow a thread? And how does skill level correlate to the ability to wrench? Get real.

 

[user 213]

You're joking, right? (BTW, who's feathering the clutch at 6K? Time to re-read the posts....)

I don't know if I abuse baby. I do ride, or feather, the clutch constantly while in traffic (like when toodling up to the front of the line between cars ), and I rarely use top gear when in tight freeway traffic, which is 90 percent of my riding. Usually keep it at 6K RPMs so I can get outta Dodge if necessary.

So you're only feathering/riding the clutch 10% of the time?

 

[Bluebullet]

What do you mean guys who wrench aren't better riders? :lol:

I'm just saying that because I work on these.

So if your bike looks like this I can fix that too.

 

[Khunajawdge]

So if your bike looks like this I can fix that too.

So, where is the clutch on that thing, or is it an AE?

 

[Bluebullet]

So, where is the clutch on that thing, or is it an AE?

Dude, I threw that pic up for the turbine but since this is a clutch based post...that's priceless.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Looks like an early OCC project :rofl:

 

[Old Michael]

Looks like an early OCC project :rofl:

...but far more well-conceived.

 

[RadioHowie]

What do you mean guys who wrench aren't better riders? :lol:
I'm just saying that because I work on these.

You work on multi-million dollar aircraft, yet seem unable to grasp the concept of "resizing"? Hope your planes are clearly marked for avoidance. :****: