What is typical OEM clutch life?

[John Deere Boy]

Hi. Obviously i'm new here. I am about to buy a 99 900rr with 10,000 miles and a toasted clutch. Is this unusually early for clutch failure, and does it mean that the bike was likely ridden hard and/or abused?

Thanks. Feel free to move this post if necessary.

[gixerkiller]

Hi. Obviously i'm new here. I am about to buy a 99 900rr with 10,000 miles and a toasted clutch. Is this unusually early for clutch failure, and does it mean that the bike was likely ridden hard and/or abused?

Thanks. Feel free to move this post if necessary.

you got 10k out of a clutch? on a bike? that's real good life on a clutch.

replace it and check the basket and boss for chatter groves. this usualy means wheelies or race starts.

[John Deere Boy]

Thanks. That's what i was wanting to hear.

[jawhn]

you got 10k out of a clutch? on a bike? that's real good life on a clutch. ...

I've got 20k on my 98 and I've never touched the clutch. (worked on it) Should I? I've tracked and dragraced it, but the clutch seems fine... :confused: Should I be looking into replacing, or wait for a noise? How do you know you need a new clutch? Again, it seems totally unchanged and fine...

[66droptop]

How do you know you need a new clutch?
When it's mush. Mine is soft and has been for a while. For street riding, it didn't really need to be replaced. It could hold that well enough. But it'd give it up on the drag strip.

Roll down the street or freeway, and drop down a couple gears so you're at a high rpm. While holding the front and rear brakes, open the throttle. You're going to try to maintain a consistent speed while using as much brake and throttle as possible. If your rpm climbs but the speed doesn't, your clutch is slipping. If the rpm stays solid, then you're fine for your purposes.

I never tested the bike out like this, but I also never felt it slipping on the road- just when going down the strip. My old rwd first-gen Celica had a toasted clutch when I bought it though. I couldn't accelerate in 5th gear on the freeway without watching the tach wind up. I miss that car so much.

[Stealth]

you got 10k out of a clutch? on a bike? that's real good life on a clutch.

Wha? Are you serious? I've had several hondas for over 35'000kms (21'000mile) and not had any clutch even comming close to replacement! No stunting mind you.

Are you suggesting that street/track day riding will require a clutch replacement every 10'000miles?

[gixerkiller]

Wha? Are you serious? I've had several hondas for over 35'000kms (21'000mile) and not had any clutch even comming close to replacement! No stunting mind you.

Are you suggesting that street/track day riding will require a clutch replacement every 10'000miles?

mine do......but i think i run them harder than most, sliping the clutch to control speed and such.....

i think it is up to the rider and how the clutch is used

[speedextreme]

O.K. maybe I am weird (shut up Jawhn), but I have 42000 miles on the stock clutch!!!:eek: And I have abused my bike in the right ways. I have done many "drag" style launches, have been to Firebird raceway for Friday night drags at least three times. Numberous track days, Palomar mtn. Plenty of stunts.....wheelies, rollin burnouts, etc... And the wheelies are both clutched and not clutched.

I agree to an extent with Robs suggestion about finding out if your clutch is slipping. But do it differently. If you are going slow, say 30mph. Put it in 5th or 6th. Then while "idling" down the road, SNAP THAT MOTHER WIDE OPEN THROTTLE, as fast as you can. If the RPM's increase and speed doesn't follow, your clutch is slipping. If the RPM's gradually increase as your speed increases, your clutch is still good. That is how I do it in the truck/car too.

One other way you can tell if it is slipping is this. Nose the bike up against a wall (preferably concrete). With the front wheel on the wall, put the bike in second. Slowly ease out the clutch till you feel/hear the friction zone. If the RPM's rise back up, ease out more. Keep doing this. If it kills the motor really soon or brakes the back tire loose and starts a burnout. Your clutch is good. If you are almost all the way out on the lever (no friction zone left), your clutch is GONE.

Anyhow, just my .02.

[66droptop]

I agree to an extent with Robs suggestion about finding out if your clutch is slipping. But do it differently. If you are going slow, say 30mph. Put it in 5th or 6th. Then while "idling" down the road, SNAP THAT MOTHER WIDE OPEN THROTTLE, as fast as you can. If the RPM's increase and speed doesn't follow, your clutch is slipping. If the RPM's gradually increase as your speed increases, your clutch is still good. That is how I do it in the truck/car too.
Acceleration in the tallest gear is usually the easiest way to see if the clutch slips, but with bikes there is zero power down low. A torquier vehicle like a truck, car, or even my Celica, and the top gear test would work. I wasn't sure the bike would make enough power at low rpm to get the clutch to slip.

Power curve like an EKG blip.

[speedextreme]

Just a recap kiddies...... DO NOT ATTEMPT THE HOLDING THE BRAKE METHOD WITH BAD TIRES!!! I tried it just before I swapped the tires on the scooter just to check my clutch, (thought it was slipping). And lets just say that after I realized the front tire was LOCKED UP, and making a 15' or so black mark. I had the front try to tuck on me ;DOH

Let's say that is one way to wake up for a ride to work in the morning. :EG \


Heh heh heh... Laters.

[corndog67]

I tend to ride my bikes like a dirt bike, lots of clutch action, I do wheelies, no burnouts (tires cost too much), and generally ride the crap out of them. My CBR1000F had 58,000 miles on the stock clutch, and that is a heavy bike to wheelie. It did need a clutch when I sold it, though. My 955 Daytona had 60,000 miles on the stock clutch, and those things are torque monsters. It wasn't slipping yet. 1200 Bandit S, 30,000 or so, I think, no problems. Of course, I don't do things like hold on the brakes to see if I can make the clutch slip, or put it against a wall, either. I see no reason for a clutch to go in 10,000 miles. I would consider that a bit wimpy if it died before then.

[Big Kahuna]

55,000 miles on my stock '98 clutch and it was still pulling strong when I changed it out.

[bikerdave]

The only time that I have needed to replace a clutch
was in the bikes that I was drag racing.:CONF
The'78 CB750 I started to race on needed a clutch
just before the end of the season;DOH
The '83 CB1100F had a clutch that was clapping like a crowd:reallyscared
before I had the Barnet plates and competition springs put in.