17-18 Harley Clutch feel
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,680
Likes: 22,687
From: North Carolina
When I first rode a 2017 yes I noticed the clutch was different then on my previous bikes. Took a little getting used to but really never an issue. Now 26 months and 25k miles later it is the new normal and actually I would not want to change it. Works for me and I really doubt there would ever be a recall.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 779
Likes: 326
From: Simi Valley, CA
The clutch engagement sucks and the lever effort for a hydraulic clutch is stupid based on what is "standard" today. So I bought the AIM clutch slave and put on the softbrake lever to fix what I should not have to fix. But that is the price of admission on these bikes. So either you "get used to it" or "man up" or "get bigger forearms and don't complain" or blah blah blah no matter what excuses you give or shortcomings of the operator it still sucks the way it comes from the factory.
Last edited by JakeC7R; Mar 7, 2020 at 01:14 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
I'm filing a class action lawsuit on HD customers who don't understand they're the ones responsible for adapting to riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Mar 7, 2020 at 06:38 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 902
Likes: 227
From: Mississippi
The OP would be better served to go ahead and get an Aim Liteforce slave cylinder installed. I got mine when the recall came out on my '17 RG and the guys at the shop that put it in had to go ride it because it was so smooth and light, they didn't think it was disengaging.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 101
Likes: 33
From: USA
The item that will fix this is the Damper Spring from a 2020 touring bike. It cost about $12.50 + tax from any dealer. It is a simple R&R procedure for anybody mildly mechanical. It retro fits 2017 & 2018 M8 bikes. When removing the clutch plates in the clutch basket the damper spring is the very last thing to come out. It helps to use a dental pick to remove the clutch plates. It makes a noticeable improvement in the friction zone. It does not look like a convention "spring". It actually looks like a round steel ring but has a convex side to it thus they call it a spring.
Last edited by Long time rider; Mar 9, 2020 at 08:35 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 2,996
From: Charleston, SC
The item that will fix this is the Damper Spring from a 2020 touring bike. It cost about $12.50 + tax from any dealer. It is a simple R&R procedure for anybody mildly mechanical. It retro fits 2017 & 2018 M8 bikes. When removing the clutch plates in the clutch basket the damper spring is the very last thing to come out. It helps to use a dental pick to remove the clutch plates. It makes a noticeable improvement in the friction zone. It does not look like a convention "spring". It actually looks like a round steel ring but has a convex side to it thus they call it a spring.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,826
Likes: 4,388
From: Texas
Aaaand, another very simple thing I learned this weekend: changing the position of the lever to be a little higher gives your fingers more grip and strength to pull and hold the lever. My lever was a little bit lower than the top of the grip. Now the top of the lever is level with the top of the grip and the pull is noticeably less. 2 minutes to do with a T25 wrench.
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Sep 9, 2015 12:56 PM
