Newbie to forum, About that clutch thing...

[MDRSV]

I have 350 miles on my new RSV and so far everything is fine. I don't quite understand the clutch problem. Does fluid leak out and air gets in? Does it happen at the master or slave cylinder? Should I just bleed it now and not wait for the problem to happen? This afternoon when I went for a ride as I started the bike with the clutch pulled in, it lurched a small amount foward. After siting the night. Should I just wait till the 600 mile service? I can bleed systems, I have rebuilt brake and clutch systems many times before. Or, am I just paranoid because I never owned a Euro bike before..

[mille-ryan]

For one dont start it in gear , thats just a huge drag in the starter.Most bikes are gonna go forward until the oil gets flowin and warm.Just keep an eye on it, if the fluid goes dark, then its gonna start going flat, so bleed it.Do a search youll figure out what im saying.

[MDRSV]

Trying to get neutral when the bike is cold is next to impossible, and I have a size 12 foot for plenty of leverage. So I am keeping an eye on it, and I may just get the EVO slave anyhow so that if it annoys me I'll just change it.

[Patrick W]

I've heard that a portion of these problems resulted from moving the entry point on the front brake slave. It was located on the top, now it is located on the bottom of the slave(2004) allowing(for some reason) air to enter which of course needs to be bled. I've had this happen twice, bled the line and it has not happened since.

[aprillia]

Originally posted by MDRSV
Trying to get neutral when the bike is cold is next to impossible, and I have a size 12 foot for plenty of leverage. So I am keeping an eye on it, and I may just get the EVO slave anyhow so that if it annoys me I'll just change it.

Is your clutch lever properly adjusted? There should be a little free play on the lever. Set the lever first as far away from the handle bar as possible using the adjustment knob. If this does not help and there is free play on the lever, adjust the free play using the adjustment screw (remember to ease off the allen nut which locks the adjustement screw in place). Proper adjustment solved my clutch problems, no bleeding needed yet at least. Do not overdo the adjustment because then the clutch will start to slip.

[MDRSV]

Once its warmed up I can get it in neutral with little effort. I find that its easier to get it in by going from 1st to 2nd gear, then tapping down to get neutral. And I have been way to lazy to adjust my levers.......I'll do that at lunch. So far 1 week and no problems, now its time for the 600 mile check-up.

[aprillia]

Originally posted by MDRSV
Once its warmed up I can get it in neutral with little effort. I find that its easier to get it in by going from 1st to 2nd gear, then tapping down to get neutral. And I have been way to lazy to adjust my levers.......I'll do that at lunch. So far 1 week and no problems, now its time for the 600 mile check-up.

It seems that this is normal behaviour with these bikes. Some say that the gear box action gets easier with time and mileage.

[DockingPilot]

MDRSV,
I just got back from my dealer who has this really trick bleeder, 100lbs vacumm ! My clutch is back and working fine. 1st gear, no problem. Get the thing bled properly. The RSV rocks.........