Had myself a 160 mile jaunt today but have suffered an aching left hand from operating the clutch, never had this issue on the CBF but this was the 1st time out on the Fazer, I'm wondering if this could be a newbie error and I'm going through the gears to often hence overdoing it on the clutch or if I could have an issue with the lever being stiff. It does feel harder to pull than the CBF, really annoying as my hand felt as though it was going to drop off and made pulling away a task.

Anyone suffer this issue and what you done to rectify it (please don't say more exercise   )

er... is it a new bike or a few years old? 1000 or 600? as it shouldnt be soo heavy it hurts your hand, perhaps the cable could do with a little lube? just trying to remember if it was a hydrolic break on the cbf? as im sure its cable on the fazer  would look at it if you want but you'd have to bring it to my shoppy

Try rotating the clutch lever up or down a bit... you might just be reaching awkwardly...  

Is it just me that's got a filthy mind - sorry    



I'll get mi coat  

Quoted from DocB Is it just me that's got a filthy mind - sorry     I'll get mi coat

My thoughts exacerly

Was it just ur hand or was it ur whole arm, (Arm pump?)

Quoted from FIZZ3R Anyone suffer this issue and what you done to rectify it (please don't say more exercise   )

With my non filthy mind engaged now....................yes I actually have this problem, and it's usually made worse with longer journeys.....tends to be when I haven't riden for ages.

One thing I had noticed though was when I stopped at traffic lights for instance I used to hold the clutch lever in rather than putting it into neutral and give my hand a rest....... I used to find that this aggravated it even more.

So if you are doing that, try putting into neutral when you stop and rest your hand............other than that - I think it could be stiff because you haven't worked those muscles like that before, or on a regular basis.

Don't know if that helps ??

If cable...
buy one of these from an off road shop to send oil down the inner cable (bit messy at the other end)

Is the lever 'span' adjustable, check other positions if it is

or do as i do.....













































don't use the clutch to change up the gears once moving along nicely  

(just close the throttle slightly as you move the gear lever with your foot)

Quoted from DocB With my non filthy mind engaged now....................yes I actually have this problem, and it's usually made worse with longer journeys.....tends to be when I haven't riden for ages. One thing I had noticed though was when I stopped at traffic lights for instance I used to hold the clutch lever in rather than putting it into neutral and give my hand a rest....... I used to find that this aggravated it even more. So if you are doing that, try putting into neutral when you stop and rest your hand............other than that - I think it could be stiff because you haven't worked those muscles like that before, or on a regular basis. Don't know if that helps ??

I do hold the clutch in whilst at lights etc and at one point I had to basically use my entire hand to operate the clutch as the the pain in my knuckles was so severe, I'll take a look tomorrow at the angle of the lever as I could well be reaching upwards. The cable is well lubbed so I doubt that this is the issue.

As for the exercise then I can live with the pain but should I go blind then I would be screwed.
Trying to type this and explain the issue is a bloody nightmare without making it sound dodgy lol

Cheers for the replies

Fizz,

It could simply be that you are unused to the effort, my hands/arms ached when i first started back riding but it soon passes once you get into the groove.

R.

The Yam is a cable operated clutch, but shouldnt be too heavy. Was the Honda hydraulic? As per previous post, lube the cable. Try WD40 down both ends of the cable and work it in. Remember wD40 will dry out though so some 3 in 1 or engine oil squirted in to the cable once free to keep it moving. The cable may need replacing if its been kinked or frayed inside the housing.
Try selecting neutral at the lights to give your hand a rest.....if neutral is hard to find then your chain may need adjusting?

Good advice on here, get it lubed, rest hand at lights etc but I suspect it just needs adjustment of the lever (span & angle on the bars). I had a Fazer 600 for 5 years and never had a problem on my left hand nor felt the clutch difficult to operate.

The right hand however......a combination of vibes from the handlebars (only on the right strangely) and using a mouse all day at work gave me a bit of a carpel tunnel problem. It was either give up the bike or leave work. I used my left hand at the pc for a bit and the problem went away.

Hopes you get it sorted mate.

Quoted from scotsy If cable... buy one of these from an off road shop to send oil down the inner cable (bit messy at the other end) Is the lever 'span' adjustable, check other positions if it is or do as i do..... don't use the clutch to change up the gears once moving along nicely   (just close the throttle slightly as you move the gear lever with your foot)

thought i might give your technique a try when i came back from power hosing the thick stuff off my bike ian,its a bit strange having been used to pulling the clutch but never the less i thought gear changes were a bit smoother actually,good tip mate

Hi FIZZ3R, yes check the span adjustment and then check the prefered  floor to lever height of the lever, by loosening the mounting clamp on the handlebar, and rotating it up or down on the handlebar. The limiting factor here may also be the reservoir remaining as horizontal as possible. I am sure that having a look at how the clutch and brake levers are set when you are sat stationery on the bike will help you find the right settings. If you have that ickle wheel on the lever mount that adjusts it for big hands/small hands, then have a play with that too( called the span adjuster). On top of all that, and mixed in with riding it more, cos we've all been there with this problem, i am sure the problem will vanish. You will not need to change the bike yet!. You could also check to see if the cable hasn't been re-routed which may cause stiffness too.I cannot think of anything else that may cause stiffness at the moment? Oh yes and also , as already mentioned, you could try lubricating it! Through the week you could squeeze a tennis ball, to strengthen the wrist, or if there isn't one to hand find something else to squeeze!, in a  "Carry on biking" type of theme . Where's sid james?

Sorted?

What did you do fizzer? I have the same bother due to injuries etc but I find the clutch on the new fazer to be stiff. I nearly always clutchless change up the box now. This  saves my mit for down changes. Have also started doing the Hendon shuffle to ease the pain at junctions.
How is everyone finding the clutch on thier new fazers then? Don't tell me it's the lever on the left  

Quoted from hogi Good advice on here, get it lubed, rest hand at lights etc but I suspect it just needs adjustment of the lever (span & angle on the bars). I had a Fazer 600 for 5 years and never had a problem on my left hand nor felt the clutch difficult to operate. The right hand however......a combination of vibes from the handlebars (only on the right strangely) and using a mouse all day at work gave me a bit of a carpel tunnel problem. It was either give up the bike or leave work. I used my left hand at the pc for a bit and the problem went away. Hopes you get it sorted mate.

Hogi you don't know how important this post has been for me. Mouse problems at work? I even went for a bloody scan  

Quoted from hogi The right hand however......a combination of vibes from the handlebars (only on the right strangely) and using a mouse all day at work gave me a bit of a carpel tunnel problem. It was either give up the bike or leave work.

I had carpel tunnel all the time ( not just on the bike ) in my right hand. When I was on the bike........it was HELL  

Went to my GP and got carpel tunnel decompression ( a month of not using my hand, but, it works   )

We're in danger of hi-jacking this thread I guess - FIZZ3R get us on track  - DID U SORT IT?

Its surpising there's not more of this carpel tunnel thing gannin about, it kinda makes sense if your on the bloody computer ALL bloody day then things get stressed. Maybe its just us pen-pushers that get it (although the last time I pushed a pen was yonks ago!)

Ace hope it got sorted, maybe you need a bit of Kevin's 'decompression' treatment. Mine must have been a mild case but my hand was aching all the time. It felt a bit weird using the left hand mouse approach but after a coupla days it was ok.

Kev, so u used your left hand for everything? How did u manage to err.....















































open the beers?

Quoted from hogi Kev, so u used your left hand for everything? How did u manage to err..... open the beers?

The Wife  

yes they come in handy sometimes