After a last minute frantic search for my house keys, I headed up to Moto Rapido in Winchester to have an ongoing problem with my clutch looked at. Before heading up, I was already fully aware that the clutch plates were on their last legs, but the issue that got it booked in was that I was experiencing inconsistency at the lever in terms of pressure and biting points. In an attempt to cure this, I was already down two aftermarket clutch slave cylinders and some hours in the workshop.
With the bike dropped off, I had arranged to use one of their demo fleet to get me to work and I opted for an 821 Monster over the 1200 Multistrada. I'm sure the latter is a great bike, but its not my kind of bike, so the Monster it was. I'd already ridden one a few years back and can remember being frustrated with extremely limited options regarding foot position. Sadly, this was still very much the case. For those with large feet (like UK size 7 and above) there is nowhere you can go due to the pillion footpegs and exhaust hanger impeding your heels, which in turn means, for me at least, that there isn't a great deal of options in terms of how you can sit on the bike.
Its such a shame because the 821 Monster looks brilliant, sounds brilliant and at its heart, has a fantastic engine.
A few hours into my work day, I get a call and it was bad, really bad news. With the exception of the master cylinder and the hose connecting it to the slave, I had to buy an entire new clutch system. Everything.
The report reads 'Found Oberon slave cylinder has been stripped and not assembled correctly. Face with locates pushrod is loose and not sitting in line. Signs that this has made contact with the chain. Clutch push rod bent and anti rotation pin missing, with the incorrect pin used to hold the push rod. Clutch hub badly notched along all surfaces. Barnett clutch basket has badly broken up; steel shims missing from one edge and rattling. Clutch set badly worn, tags excessively worn away. Some sliding plates are dished. Replaced complete clutch assembly.'
The report also makes note of an issue with the plunger in the clutch lever, which can cause the clutch to drag. I'll be digging around in my tool box to see what I can dig up.
I can see that the bent push rod was a cause of my big off in 2012, which then caused the problems with the clutch slaves. The rest sounds like wear and tear, but to get it all in one hit was less than ideal. All in all a very expensive day and my fear is that its still wonky at the back of the engine, which will cause the chain to strike the slave again. Only time will tell.
The team at Rapido were fantastic and the bike does really feel great. It's also notably quieter, which the neighbours should appreciate at the very least.
With the bike dropped off, I had arranged to use one of their demo fleet to get me to work and I opted for an 821 Monster over the 1200 Multistrada. I'm sure the latter is a great bike, but its not my kind of bike, so the Monster it was. I'd already ridden one a few years back and can remember being frustrated with extremely limited options regarding foot position. Sadly, this was still very much the case. For those with large feet (like UK size 7 and above) there is nowhere you can go due to the pillion footpegs and exhaust hanger impeding your heels, which in turn means, for me at least, that there isn't a great deal of options in terms of how you can sit on the bike.
Its such a shame because the 821 Monster looks brilliant, sounds brilliant and at its heart, has a fantastic engine.
A few hours into my work day, I get a call and it was bad, really bad news. With the exception of the master cylinder and the hose connecting it to the slave, I had to buy an entire new clutch system. Everything.
The report reads 'Found Oberon slave cylinder has been stripped and not assembled correctly. Face with locates pushrod is loose and not sitting in line. Signs that this has made contact with the chain. Clutch push rod bent and anti rotation pin missing, with the incorrect pin used to hold the push rod. Clutch hub badly notched along all surfaces. Barnett clutch basket has badly broken up; steel shims missing from one edge and rattling. Clutch set badly worn, tags excessively worn away. Some sliding plates are dished. Replaced complete clutch assembly.'
The report also makes note of an issue with the plunger in the clutch lever, which can cause the clutch to drag. I'll be digging around in my tool box to see what I can dig up.
I can see that the bent push rod was a cause of my big off in 2012, which then caused the problems with the clutch slaves. The rest sounds like wear and tear, but to get it all in one hit was less than ideal. All in all a very expensive day and my fear is that its still wonky at the back of the engine, which will cause the chain to strike the slave again. Only time will tell.
The team at Rapido were fantastic and the bike does really feel great. It's also notably quieter, which the neighbours should appreciate at the very least.
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