[Spyder Ag]

I origional posted this to the TX region by mistake, should have been in TechTalk


Howdy SpyderTalk. This is my first post but have been reading for nearly nine months and have enjoyed. Just got the Spyder for my wife yesterday that was ordered in December. She has been very excited since ordering but nothing like having it. She loves it!!! She's had three motorcycles but about 4 years ago had some balancing problems with her Harley Low Rider that made her afraid of riding. She has wanted a trike for the last three years thinking that there wasn't a balance problem. I didn't like some of the comments about stability on a trike so I didn't want her on one until we heard about the Spyder last summer. We did alot of studying and with the help of this site, decided to order. I think BRP has a winner!

Sorry for so much history; now my question to ya'll.

Does anyone know of a way to lessen the tension on the clutch?
My wife has developed some arthritis in her hand over the last couple of years and is having a problem with pulling the clutch in. The tension required is alot less than my Harley but it still pretty firm for her. I saw in the owner manual about the adjustment on the clutch which is neat but it only adjust the throw and not the tension. This helps some. I have heard of a product called "Easy Boy Lite Clutch" that is used on Harley's but I don't know if it will work on Spyders. I know the better answer is ordering one of the SE5 automatics which is a very viable option but someone else will have to tell her to wait 6 more months.

Any help will be greatly appreciated
Thanks

[dltang]

Spyder Ag, on May 13 2008, 09:20 PM, said:

I origional posted this to the TX region by mistake, should have been in TechTalk
Howdy SpyderTalk. This is my first post but have been reading for nearly nine months and have enjoyed. Just got the Spyder for my wife yesterday that was ordered in December. She has been very excited since ordering but nothing like having it. She loves it!!! She's had three motorcycles but about 4 years ago had some balancing problems with her Harley Low Rider that made her afraid of riding. She has wanted a trike for the last three years thinking that there wasn't a balance problem. I didn't like some of the comments about stability on a trike so I didn't want her on one until we heard about the Spyder last summer. We did alot of studying and with the help of this site, decided to order. I think BRP has a winner!

Sorry for so much history; now my question to ya'll.

Does anyone know of a way to lessen the tension on the clutch?
My wife has developed some arthritis in her hand over the last couple of years and is having a problem with pulling the clutch in. The tension required is alot less than my Harley but it still pretty firm for her. I saw in the owner manual about the adjustment on the clutch which is neat but it only adjust the throw and not the tension. This helps some. I have heard of a product called "Easy Boy Lite Clutch" that is used on Harley's but I don't know if it will work on Spyders. I know the better answer is ordering one of the SE5 automatics which is a very viable option but someone else will have to tell her to wait 6 more months.

Any help will be greatly appreciated
Thanks

If you get an answer, I would be very interested as well. I don't have arthritis (yet) but I do a lot of in town driving. My hand gets doggone sore after a while. The tension does seem a bit tight sometimes. I thought it was just because I wasn't used to using a clutch. I had a scooter before this. I will anxiously await an answer. I know someone is talking about some kit to change your clutch to an automatic but I'll bet that is costly and I have added enough mods to my Spyder as it is.
Deb

[Danimal]

The only kit to do something like making the Spyder an 'automatic' is the Pingel Easy-shift.

http://www.pingelonl...fter_spyder.htm

This unit doesn't take the place of the clutch... as you will need it to stop and start... but it does give you push-button shifting (up and down) without using the clutch. You can let off the gas and push the shift button for a tame shift... or keep the gas on and hit it for a speed-shift.

At longer lights I sometimes find myself dropping into neutral, but I don't find this clutch to be that firm.

[Mark S.]

Spyder Ag, on May 13 2008, 08:20 PM, said:

Does anyone know of a way to lessen the tension on the clutch?

If I'm not mistaken, the Sypder already employs a hydraulic clutch. The tension your wife feels is likely simply a "feel" spring installed in the clutch lever/mechanism. Anyone with a shop manual could take a look at the exploded view of the part and determine if I'm right...

If so, you could simply disassemble the part and trim the spring a bit. If not, you might be able to trim the spring down where the cable attaches to the clutch actuation lever on the transmission.

You might also consider purchasing one of those squeezy ball thingys doctors give to their patients as a stress relief aid. It's a small rubber bag filled with a sand-like medium. It's great exercise for the hand.

Then again, a wife with a firm grip may not be to everyone's liking -- especially if she's left-handed...

Regards,

Mark

This post has been edited by Mark S.: 14 May 2008 - 07:32 AM

[evoluzione]

we have been building low effort clutch slave cylinders for ducati's, aprilia's, benelli's & bmw's for years. we designed a low effort clutch slave cylinder (reduces effort about 20%) for the spyder months ago but when we announced it, there was not much interest so it was put on the shelf.

[SpyderByte]

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 11:31 AM, said:

we have been building low effort clutch slave cylinders for ducati's, aprilia's, benelli's & bmw's for years. we designed a low effort clutch slave cylinder (reduces effort about 20%) for the spyder months ago but when we announced it, there was not much interest so it was put on the shelf.

Please consider getting it down off that shelf!!! Add me to the list of interested ryders.

[dltang]

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 11:31 AM, said:

we have been building low effort clutch slave cylinders for ducati's, aprilia's, benelli's & bmw's for years. we designed a low effort clutch slave cylinder (reduces effort about 20%) for the spyder months ago but when we announced it, there was not much interest so it was put on the shelf.

Would it be an expensive or difficult add on?

[Danimal]

Not sure 20% is really going to be enough to make people want to spend the $$$...... if it was closer to 50%... maybe.

I just don't find the clutch very hard to use.....

[evoluzione]

dltang, on May 14 2008, 11:13 AM, said:

Would it be an expensive or difficult add on?

no, the price would be under $130 and is not very difficult to install. you will need to bleed the clutch system after install but we include a bleeder bottle with the kit.

[evoluzione]

Danimal, on May 14 2008, 12:22 PM, said:

Not sure 20% is really going to be enough to make people want to spend the $$$...... if it was closer to 50%... maybe...

keep in mind that as you reduce the effort, the lever travel increases. so with a 50% reduction in effort (which is practical anyway), the clutch lever would need to move an additional 50%.

we've been selling 20% reduction ducati slave cylinders for nine years and most owners feel it is one of the best upgrades that they have made.


here is a picture of the kit:

[Danimal]

Quote

keep in mind that as you reduce the effort, the lever travel increases. so with a 50% reduction in effort (which is practical anyway), the clutch lever would need to move an additional 50%.

Ahhhh.. makes sense when you put it that way. Maybe this would be a good thing then for those having some problems. For $130 or less that isn't too bad.

You might just have a market for this unit with many women and those 'seasoned' individuals that might have some arthritis...... or carpal tunnel like I have... but my problem is more with my right hand going numb.

I would really like to see a system to dampen or at least change handlebar vibrations. I have end weights on.... want to add some gel grips.... and was considering filling the handlebar with some kind of rubber/silicon to help absorb vibrations.

Not that I think it's really bad... but my hands are really sensitive to it..... probably just need to get the surgery done!

[Winnie]

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 10:31 AM, said:

we have been building low effort clutch slave cylinders for ducati's, aprilia's, benelli's & bmw's for years. we designed a low effort clutch slave cylinder (reduces effort about 20%) for the spyder months ago but when we announced it, there was not much interest so it was put on the shelf.

Please add me to the list. 20% sounds about right. That would get it down to about the level of Jim's LT 8-D

So all you have to do is take 'em down and ship 'em, right? 8-D

W

This post has been edited by Winnie: 14 May 2008 - 03:46 PM

[evoluzione]

Winnie, on May 14 2008, 01:45 PM, said:

...So all you have to do is take 'em down and ship 'em, right?

as long as all you want are drawings, yes

if there is enough interest, we will produce the kit.

[Spyder Ag]

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 05:28 PM, said:

as long as all you want are drawings, yes

if there is enough interest, we will produce the kit.

NOT SURE IF 20% WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT IT WOULD BE WORTH A TRY. I WOULD BE INTERESTED.

I CHECKED YOU WEB SITE ON THE DUCATI AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS ITEM IS INSTALLED? IN FACT, I HAVEN'T FOUND THE MOTOR YET; I'M ASSUMING IT'S UNDER ALL THAT PLASTIC SOMEWHERE BUT THE PLASTIC DOES LOOK COOL.
THANKS

[mckenziejon]

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 05:28 PM, said:

as long as all you want are drawings, yes

if there is enough interest, we will produce the kit.

drawings, specs.and instructions will be just fine ken, how much?

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 05:28 PM, said:

as long as all you want are drawings, yes

if there is enough interest, we will produce the kit.

drawings, specs.and instructions will be just fine ken, how much?

[evoluzione]

mckenziejon, on May 14 2008, 07:19 PM, said:

drawings, specs.and instructions will be just fine ken, how much?

there's always one in the crowd

[Danimal]

Motor???

There's a motor under all that plastic???

darn!

[mckenziejon]

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 10:29 PM, said:

there's always one in the crowd

ken, i would be interested. hope you get enough replies.

[VBsypder]

evoluzione, on May 14 2008, 03:33 PM, said:

no, the price would be under $130 and is not very difficult to install. you will need to bleed the clutch system after install but we include a bleeder bottle with the kit.

Haven't taken delivery on our spyder yet, but the only complaint (after she stopped grining) the wife had was the clutch pull. Less then $130, how much less (I hope around $100)? Add me to the list.