Clutch issue!!

Hello Gang,
I am after some advice regarding my 2008 RSV.I have an issue with the clutch,when I have been for a ride the clutch lever doesnt seem to release smoothly.It makes it hard to pull away smoothly,it is also quite hard to get into neutral.The bike hasnt been used much recently and had an oil change when I bought it 2 months ago.I go to the TT on Monday so am a bit concerned,any advice would be greatly appreciated.Zed.

Could be the clutch plates sticking together as it hasn't been used in a while. Go for a good blast and accelerate hard up hill.
Also do you know what oil went on? Can makea big difference

I have an 05 rsv r and my clutch is a pain to, it's fine when changing up from 2nd to 3rd, but can be hit and miss if it wants to go from 1st to 2nd first time, and can't get nuetral once i've been in gear, apparently it's a common fault with them, still doesn't make it any less of a pain in the arse. I've been advised to change the jet in mine but your bike being an 08 should have the jet i'm swapping to. Would check that the right clutch fluid was used as i've heard the wrong fluid can make a big differnce with the rsv r as mentioned above and make sure it's been bled properly.

Sniper said:

I have an 05 rsv r and my clutch is a pain to, it's fine when changing up from 2nd to 3rd, but can be hit and miss if it wants to go from 1st to 2nd first time, and can't get nuetral once i've been in gear, apparently it's a common fault with them, still doesn't make it any less of a pain in the arse. I've been advised to change the jet in mine but your bike being an 08 should have the jet i'm swapping to. Would check that the right clutch fluid was used as i've heard the wrong fluid can make a big differnce with the rsv r as mentioned above and make sure it's been bled properly.

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Hi,

I felt compelled to reply. I just completed an oil change on my 07 RSVR, replaced the #60 oil jet with a #40 (correct, it was suppose to have a #40) and bleed the clutch. Huge difference! However, the #40 oil jet had little impact on clutch performance.

Symptoms progressively got worse over a 3 month period (initial clutch performance acceptable and neutral findable):

- clutch engagement immediate when releasing clutch level
- When cold slightly revving the engine in gear with clutch engaged could feel a slight pull
- Natural became more and more difficult to find even when using the “find neutral from 2nd” technique
- Down shifting became a little clunky
- Sitting at a stop light gear shift movement either way between 1st and 2nd difficult/clunky...even felt like I needed excessive toe pressure to shift

Oil Change and replace #60 oil jet with #40 oil jet

- Very little change
- Which i took to mean clutch bleeding badly needed

Bleed clutch
- Huge difference
- Can now find neutral (even though sometime I still need to fiddle around a bit)
- Down shifting very smooth (for an RSV)
- Clutch engagement ¾ from full clutch release
- Clutch lever movement feels 100% better!!!

Observations
- Took a few seconds to re-acclimate to clutch travel
- Had no idea the lack of clutch travel to engagement got so bad
- Test rode a new 1199 and wondered why clutch travel/clutch engagement was so much greater on the 1199 than my RSV….to the point of being distracting
- RSV now has similar clutch travel to 1199………..
- Life is good……….

As mentioned above, bleed clutch. But my first suspicion would be the oil type?
The guy you bought it from would've known he was considering selling it so you can guarantee he's put cheap non spec oil in.