the other day was on a run, and when i went to pull out from a light my clutch did not engage! so i pulled it back in and let it out again and it worked. the lever is real tight, hurts my left hand while riding in the city. seems like it engages almost all the way out. im not mechanically inclined when it comes to clutches and adjustments or lubing but is mine shot or just needing lubing and adjustment? how long does ones clutch last?

 

Sounds like it's time for a lube job for the clutch cable .. Pretty simple job, get a service manual and teach yourself.

 

If your bike is brand new, the clutch will get easier over several oil changes. If your bike has more than 40k miles, it might be time to have the clutches inspected for wear.

 

bike has just over 20k on it.

 

I'm no harley mechanic, but it sounds like the cable is binding somewhere. I'd lube the cable, and check for a sharp enough bend in the cable to where it would bind. Have your cables been re-routed for some kind of modification? If so that's the first place I'd look.
I'd try those two things first, then I, myself, would crack the primary case and see if the basket is moving properly when the clutch cable is pulled.
You might just take the time to find a service tech, not necessarily harley dealer, and have him lube and adjust the clutch, since you say you're not mechanically inclined. It's all in what you're comfortable with.
I watch what the tech does when I take it in, and ask questions and learn what's up. I use a trained tech, but he doesn't work for HD. He works for a local shop and has been very good, and very, very cool about showing me while he works. Just don't expect him to take more than a minute or two to outside of his schedule to talk,though he might. My tech tells me as he goes along, and the last time I replaced my primary chain, anchor plate bolt fell into it and destroyed it, I did it all with just the manual, and a few tips from my non-tech cousing that paid a tech to teach him to do it. Really simple if you have the proper tools! (at least that job was)

 

have an appt. to have it lubed and adjusted.