2024 Clutch - Just can't get comfortable

[TooWheels]

I have put about 1300km on my brand new 2024 Tenere 700, and I just can't seem to get smooth with this clutch.

 

For reference, my other bikes are a Indian scout bobber (Cable clutch, no issues), DR650 (cable clutch, no issues), Gas Gas ec250f (hydraulic clutch, no issues)

 

I have fiddled with the freeplay with the adjuster and at the motor (that's all you can really do), tried some adjustable levers which helped a little with fine tuning.... but ultimately

 

I feel once the bike is warmed up, the engagement point changes.

When I am turning my handle bars the engagement point changes (I mean it has to mechanically but I find the change quite drastic and I feel will eventually cause me to drop the bike)

It doesn't seem to drag, but I am just having a really hard time getting used to it.

Just find it really inconsistent, even when taking off. I find it likes alot of revs to get any kind of feel.

 

Does anybody have any tips?

 

I am going to try a 1 finger clutch, but I have also heard that the 2024 models have clutch issues, not sure if this is potentially that or I am just needing more time to get a feel for the clutch.

 

Any advice or experiences appreciated,

 

How do you find your clutch?

 

Is this just how they are?

[john_aero]

the Camel 1 finger clutch does help a lot.

 

I find I don't use 1st gear when starting off, I start in 2nd and find it much less jerk.

 

Have been told going up 1 tooth in the front sprocket or down 2 in the rear also helps

[Dougie]

I’d check the cable routing first if it changes feel on the turn, as it might be pulling. Then adjust back to factory starting position manual settings. Changed your oil yet after first service? It should all get easier. Id keep standard levers for now until it’s sorted too. 
idle her with clutch pulled to get some lube on the plates. If it makes a temporary difference then I’d look at soaking the plates overnight. Some guys on here have had dry plates from new. When they soaked them themselves it went away. Some bikes leave the dealers with different amounts of love. 
does sound like a tight cable route to me though. 

[Alan M]

My friend has a 2024 Extreme and it’s going in for its first service this weekend and to have the clutch looked at. He’s been having problems with the clutch bite. 
 

He’s also tried a one finger clutch but felt it was worse.

 

I’ll keep you posted if the dealer finds an issue.

[TooWheels]

3 hours ago, Dougie said:

I’d check the cable routing first if it changes feel on the turn, as it might be pulling. Then adjust back to factory starting position manual settings. Changed your oil yet after first service? It should all get easier. Id keep standard levers for now until it’s sorted too. 
idle her with clutch pulled to get some lube on the plates. If it makes a temporary difference then I’d look at soaking the plates overnight. Some guys on here have had dry plates from new. When they soaked them themselves it went away. Some bikes leave the dealers with different amounts of love. 
does sound like a tight cable route to me though. 

 

 

Is the cabel routed from the factory? Not sure how assembled these bikes are, if the dealer had to do it maybe it was done incorrectly.

 

There is a bit of clutch drag while its cold, but gets better as it warms up, I just find the clutch really inconsistent.

 

Do you have any info on how it should be routed?

 

Also yep, first oil change has been done - didn't make any difference to be honest.

 

Ill throw the stock levers back on.

Edited August 27 by TooWheels

[TooWheels]

2 hours ago, Alan M said:

My friend has a 2024 Extreme and it’s going in for its first service this weekend and to have the clutch looked at. He’s been having problems with the clutch bite. 
 

He’s also tried a one finger clutch but felt it was worse.

 

I’ll keep you posted if the dealer finds an issue.

 

I would love this if you could keep me updated!

 

I have the 1 finger sitting here, havn't fitted it yet - it definitely shouldn't make it worse, that sounds like a mechanical issue. I might try fitting it and see if it does make it worse.

[random1781]

Seems like a lot of people with 24s have dry plates like @Dougiementioned, and I think Yamaha is being pretty liberal with warranty for this if you don't want to do it yourself.

[TooWheels]

I have put the levers back to stock and played around with the freeplay, its not bad but still a little on/off in some situations and i find it a bit unpredictable in slow manuvers.

 

Is it normal for the bike to have clutch drag while the motor is cold?

 

As an example, I just started the bike, was doing some laps in a parking lot and would clutch in (first gear) give it a little rev and it would creep, the motor is still cold. I could feel the resistance when trying to slow down as well.

 

Normally I let the bike idle for quite a bit before riding, but just wondering if this is normal behaviour, once the motor was warmed up the clutch became a bit more predictable but while doing full lock turns its tricky to keep it consistent, or even while doing some balance practice and taking off from a stand still.

 

Just trying to figure out if its a normal quirk.

[AZJW]

My 2021 started exhibiting the dreaded squeal when starting out cold at about 4K. Lots of threads discussing resoaking the clutch plates, but I ( and many others) have adopted an alternative starting method. When starting cold, put the bike into gear,  start it up, then put it in neutral and complete the warm up. The warm up duration is kind of like what oil to use, everyone has a different idea, but I let mine warm up just long enough to put on my helmet and gloves and putt out of my neighborhood.  The initial clutch engagement is quiet and smooth as the initial start with the bike in gear frees things up. YMMV.

 

A couple of more ideas ( throttle related) to help with slow speed handling. 

 

 

https://www.tenere700.net/topic/1063-throttle-free-play-fix/#comment-10242

 

 

[Alan M]

On 8/27/2024 at 12:15 PM, TooWheels said:

 

I would love this if you could keep me updated!

 

I have the 1 finger sitting here, havn't fitted it yet - it definitely shouldn't make it worse, that sounds like a mechanical issue. I might try fitting it and see if it does make it worse.

Bike has just been to dealer.

 

They pulled the clutch and the whole pack was solid, every plate stuck together.

 

They freed everything off and reassembled, it’s just been for a test run and the shop is still not happy with the clutch so looks like they’re going to order a new clutch pack under warranty.

 

Just on the one finger clutch arm. I’d reckon it would make things worse. You’re reducing the mechanical leverage on the clutch pack so any issues there would just be exaggerated.

[TooWheels]

7 hours ago, Alan M said:

Bike has just been to dealer.

 

They pulled the clutch and the whole pack was solid, every plate stuck together.

 

They freed everything off and reassembled, it’s just been for a test run and the shop is still not happy with the clutch so looks like they’re going to order a new clutch pack under warranty.

 

Just on the one finger clutch arm. I’d reckon it would make things worse. You’re reducing the mechanical leverage on the clutch pack so any issues there would just be exaggerated.

 

Was his issues just with clutch bite ?

 

Or was it dragging all the time? Hard shifts?

 

Makes sense re the clutch arm, putting it more into the friction area which would exaggerate issues.

[Alan M]

The  bite point was inconsistent, was dragging especially from cold and hard to get neutral.

 

Part will be the running in period and oil, he says the gear change is better now the oil has been changed, but there’s definitely an issue with the clutch.

 

Guess like everything there’s going to be a few issues on mass produced parts and assembly. It’s not really a big issue and will get sorted. Big engine issues normally start with K T & M

[Dougie]

On 8/27/2024 at 12:14 PM, TooWheels said:

 

 

Is the cabel routed from the factory? Not sure how assembled these bikes are, if the dealer had to do it maybe it was done incorrectly.

 

There is a bit of clutch drag while its cold, but gets better as it warms up, I just find the clutch really inconsistent.

 

Do you have any info on how it should be routed?

 

Also yep, first oil change has been done - didn't make any difference to be honest.

 

Ill throw the stock levers back on.

The cable routing is in the (downloadable) workshop manual, but you should be able to feel it getting tighter when turning the bars. And probably be able to feel any difference in free play at the gearbox end. Sometimes a cable just needs to be in clipped, moved a little and re secured. Undo the clips on the headstock/ bars and see if it improves any. 
obviously there’s also the plates issue the other guys have experience in. 

[TooWheels]

Bit of an update, have fitted a 1 finger clutch (actually have three to go through...making a video about them and their differences)

 

But initial impressions - wow, the bikes clutch feels almost like every other bike I own, it should have been like this from the factory.

 

Will report back after a few more rides.

[406T7]

Came ADV one-finger made the clutch much more user-friendly for me, but I've had shifting inconsistency since new and now with about 2,600 miles there's been no improvement. Sometimes the bike shifts solid and smooth, then it will change and take an inordinate amount of pedal pressure to change up or down, sometimes during the same ride. The only potential pattern I've discerned is that if it's shifting well and I then let it idle in neutral with the clutch out rather than just holding the clutch in in gear at a stop/light, that frequently induces the poor shifting for the remainder of the ride. I've got a clutch pack kit on order. I could probably get away with soaking the plates and putting them back in, but I'm hopefully gonna take no chances starting fresh.

[Shade]

On 8/27/2024 at 7:55 AM, TooWheels said:

I have put about 1300km on my brand new 2024 Tenere 700, and I just can't seem to get smooth with this clutch.

 

For reference, my other bikes are a Indian scout bobber (Cable clutch, no issues), DR650 (cable clutch, no issues), Gas Gas ec250f (hydraulic clutch, no issues)

 

I have fiddled with the freeplay with the adjuster and at the motor (that's all you can really do), tried some adjustable levers which helped a little with fine tuning.... but ultimately

 

I feel once the bike is warmed up, the engagement point changes.

When I am turning my handle bars the engagement point changes (I mean it has to mechanically but I find the change quite drastic and I feel will eventually cause me to drop the bike)

It doesn't seem to drag, but I am just having a really hard time getting used to it.

Just find it really inconsistent, even when taking off. I find it likes alot of revs to get any kind of feel.

 

Does anybody have any tips?

 

I am going to try a 1 finger clutch, but I have also heard that the 2024 models have clutch issues, not sure if this is potentially that or I am just needing more time to get a feel for the clutch.

 

Any advice or experiences appreciated,

 

How do you find your clutch?

 

Is this just how they are?

 

Sadly I have to confirm the bolded part statement above from my own experience: the engagement point moves further away as the oil gets warm. My T7 is 2022, however and out of warranty. I'd appreciate any advice.