Feather Lever
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,077
Likes: 11,100
From: San Diego, CA
I'd also go with the Rekluse clutch option...
This Feather Lever unit is unique and ingenious... but it sure looks to be a complicated answer to the problem. Every fitting/hose connection is a potential leak point..
I DO NOT like that it is attached to the oil pressure system of the engine and gets its "power" from that system... As seen with the early sumping issues with the M8, and the pre-production sumping issue with the Twin Cams (that was fixed prior to production), these Harley V-Twin oiling systems seem to be a have critical balance between pressure and scavenging... I don't want any other burdens on that system, outside the original design parameters...
The Rekluse solution is a win/win... no NEED to even use the clutch, and a better than OEM clutch to boot... The install of a clutch really isn't all that hard.. or time consuming for a pro to accomplish if paying for it to be installed...
Kudos to Feather Lever for a clever, unique invention, but I'd pass....
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,311
From: Virginia
I'd also go with the Rekluse clutch option...
This Feather Lever unit is unique and ingenious... but it sure looks to be a complicated answer to the problem. Every fitting/hose connection is a potential leak point..
I DO NOT like that it is attached to the oil pressure system of the engine and gets its "power" from that system... As seen with the early sumping issues with the M8, and the pre-production sumping issue with the Twin Cams (that was fixed prior to production), these Harley V-Twin oiling systems seem to be a have critical balance between pressure and scavenging... I don't want any other burdens on that system, outside the original design parameters...
The Rekluse solution is a win/win... no NEED to even use the clutch, and a better than OEM clutch to boot... The install of a clutch really isn't all that hard.. or time consuming for a pro to accomplish if paying for it to be installed...
Kudos to Feather Lever for a clever, unique invention, but I'd pass....
This Feather Lever unit is unique and ingenious... but it sure looks to be a complicated answer to the problem. Every fitting/hose connection is a potential leak point..
I DO NOT like that it is attached to the oil pressure system of the engine and gets its "power" from that system... As seen with the early sumping issues with the M8, and the pre-production sumping issue with the Twin Cams (that was fixed prior to production), these Harley V-Twin oiling systems seem to be a have critical balance between pressure and scavenging... I don't want any other burdens on that system, outside the original design parameters...
The Rekluse solution is a win/win... no NEED to even use the clutch, and a better than OEM clutch to boot... The install of a clutch really isn't all that hard.. or time consuming for a pro to accomplish if paying for it to be installed...
Kudos to Feather Lever for a clever, unique invention, but I'd pass....
My concern with the Feather Lever was more if one of the hoses breaks or cracks while you are riding and it pumps all your oil out onto the road and your engine seizes up.
I've changed clutches in a Sportster, it was pretty easy. Haven't tried it on a Big Twin touring bike yet. But my understanding of the Rekluse you are still supposed to pull in the clutch to change gears.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,067
Likes: 1,946
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Originally Posted by VAFish
My concern with the Feather Lever was more if one of the hoses breaks or cracks while you are riding and it pumps all your oil out onto the road and your engine seizes up.
Originally Posted by hattitude
I'd also go with the Rekluse clutch option...
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 54
Likes: 46
From: California
That does nothing to get rid of arthritis. The Feather Lever won't get ride of it either, but it won't make it hurt as much.
I went from a 2006 Sportster to a 2019 Ultra Classic and I can't believe how much harder the clutch is on the Ultra. I used a scale and strap to measure the force on the clutch lever, it's 25 lbs on the Ultra, My daughters 1997 Sportster Was a couple pounds less, but when I pulled the clutch all the way back to the bar, like you would while waiting at a stoplight, it dropped to 15 lbs, the hydraulic clutch remains constant.
Harley did a crap job with their hydraulic clutch. I was at my local dealer a couple weeks ago, they had a Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe that someone had traded in on a Livewire. I sat on it and pulled the clutch lever, it was so easy I thought something was broken. But nope, just a well designed clutch.
I went from a 2006 Sportster to a 2019 Ultra Classic and I can't believe how much harder the clutch is on the Ultra. I used a scale and strap to measure the force on the clutch lever, it's 25 lbs on the Ultra, My daughters 1997 Sportster Was a couple pounds less, but when I pulled the clutch all the way back to the bar, like you would while waiting at a stoplight, it dropped to 15 lbs, the hydraulic clutch remains constant.
Harley did a crap job with their hydraulic clutch. I was at my local dealer a couple weeks ago, they had a Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe that someone had traded in on a Livewire. I sat on it and pulled the clutch lever, it was so easy I thought something was broken. But nope, just a well designed clutch.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 128
Likes: 34
From: Western Oakland County Michigan
Clutch pull.
Huh....the cable operated clutch on my 1979 FLH
is a 2 finger pull all day & night.....😏
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 87
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro, NC
SoftBrake Clutch Lever
I had Ulnar Nerve Surgery this year and the Hyd clutch on my 2014 SGS aggravated it. I bought the Softbrake reduced reach lever and it has been great. Once I received my lever in the mail I had to send them my old one. He modifies them. When I first got my bike I bought a longer better rear brake pedal from them as well. Great stuff and super nice people.
SoftBrake Company
28755 N. Silver Meadows Loop
Athol, ID 83801
(208) 561-5031
SoftBrake Company
28755 N. Silver Meadows Loop
Athol, ID 83801
(208) 561-5031
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 449
From: Michigan
Like a lot of people I hated the clutch pull on my new RGS. I have friends that have the new levers that you can adjust and I didn't care for the look of them, plus they were 240.00. I have a hydraulic clutch on my 07 CVO Springer and it doesn't have the problem this one does, it pulls fine and starts to catch about a 1/2 way off the grip. So I broke down and for 256.00 bought the AIM Gen 2 clutch slave cylinder. Keeps the factory look on the bars and was easy to install. Bonus, I can now pull the clutch lever with 2 fingers and it starts to engage about 1/2 way off the grip instead of at the end like the factory slave cylinder...
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Club Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 468
Likes: 222
From: NorCal
I installed a AIM VPC (variable pressure clutch) and was surprised by how much it reduced the lever pull. I installed it for the increased clutch pressure, but this was not a bad side effect. This was on a 2013 RK with cable clutch, but I would think the same result would be gained on a hydraulic clutch. I have been thinking about installing one in the 2014 Limited (hydraulic) but have not needed it and don't want to spend the money for no real reason.
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