17 replies to this topic

[snakeyebri]

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of help. I have got arthritis in my left hand and love my 2003 TDM 900 to much to call an end to my biking days . The clutch on my bike is s not particularly that heavy, but after only 5 miles of riding i can hardly pull my clutch in as the pain in my hand and fingers is too much. I have been looking at the easy pull clutch levers and adjustable clutch levers and would like any one who has fitted either of these to let me know if they work? If so which make and model to go for? Any other mods that would make my clutch lighter to operate would also be helpful.

 

Thank you in advance.

[dapleb]

Hello dare and welcome.

Hope you find a solution to this.

[snakeyebri]

Hi dapleb

 

I hope there are some sore fingered fellow TDMers out there who can sympathize with me and give me some advice as at a young 51 it is was too soon to hang up my biking boots and love my TDM too much to sell it for a rev and go scooter haha.

[dapleb]

I am sure there is some info somewhere as he terrible memory keeps trying to kick in!!

I know there is an organisation that will do boike mods for peeps who are unable to ride boikes in standard format.

[Studley Ramrod]

Hi, have you looked into fitting a hydraulic clutch lever ?  Can't comment on their ease of use but might be worth investigating.  Some Harleys have a foot pedal clutch assist mechanism, dunno if it'd be possible to fit wanna them or summat similar.

[dapleb]

Mentions clutch ear:

https://disabledmotorcycleriders.com

[fixitsan]

You can get these things.... I think they just change the leverage and might need a slightly longer travel

 

https://www.ebay.co....58607774&crdt=0

 

 

 

And these are just the lever only version

https://www.ebay.co....NH0=&rmvSB=true

Edited by fixitsan, 14 April 2018 - 07:57 pm.

[snakeyebri]

Ive looked at the easy fit clutch systems available but not sure if they are suitable for my bike? They all say for trail, motocross etc. Does any one know if these would fit and work on my bike? I have also looked at posts where people have removed a couple of clutch springs or put 6mm washers in the springs to take up some of the spring travel which they say makes the clutch lighter. But again it all seems to be done on small engine trail and motocross bikes.

[dandywarhol]

Ive looked at the easy fit clutch systems available but not sure if they are suitable for my bike? They all say for trail, motocross etc. Does any one know if these would fit and work on my bike? I have also looked at posts where people have removed a couple of clutch springs or put 6mm washers in the springs to take up some of the spring travel which they say makes the clutch lighter. But again it all seems to be done on small engine trail and motocross bikes.

 

Adding washers actually makes it heavier. Have you seen your doc about an anti inflammatory drug like Diclofenac?

[Hombre]

I fitted the mechanical type force reducer to a trials bike years ago and it worked but at the expense of greater lever travel to disengage.  You can probably get to see one if you can get to a trials/motocross shop.  For the price, probably worth a try.

 

I get hand cramps sometimes    and switch to clutchless change-ups.  That saves ~ 50% of the problem.

[Swarf]

If you're on Facebook and a member of the tdm 850 club then here's a chap who did a hydraulic conversion.

https://m.facebook.c...150710753929943

[TKH]

I tried doing one of the hydraulic conversions but found that all it did was reduce the distance needed to pull in the clutch but made it harder. I believe some work differently using larger or duel cylinders but I have no experience of them.

[JBX]

Some MotoGP riders use a thumb-operated rear brake lever.

Maybe this could be adapted as an hydraulic clutch lever, supposing your thumb isn't painful too.

[mh1848]

Kedo do one for XTZ750

 

this is the makers website

 

and if you look at page 11 in the pdf the diy options is available

[Kelpie]

Some of you old timers may remember me suddenly and violently parking my R1 (monumental hiside at 80mphj) on the track in Mondello Park, Ireland, 9 or 10 years ago.  I mangled my left hand quite badly, dislocating all the metacarpals (long hand bonios) at the wrist and shoving them a couple of inches towards my elbow, snapping one in the process.  No, I didn't put my hands out to save myself - anyone who has hisided at speed will know there's no time for that.  The sudden stop meant the bars did all the damage.  After 6 weeks of pins and plaster, I got back on my TDM to discover that if I changed gear without the use of my thumb on the bar at the same time (impossibly painful), the bike usually headed rather quickly towards the nearest ditch.  (I'm a gurl, don't laff.)

 

Not to be discouraged, I quickly mastered clutch-less gear changes (yes, both up and down - not bad for a gurl eh?).  It takes a bit of practice but by choosing your moment, when the engine is not under load (is that the right terminology?), he pops into gear with no effort whatsoever.  Obviously you still need the clutch from a standstill but it really does take the strain off sore hands.  I avoid sitting with the bike in gear although I'm careful not to leave myself in a vulnerable position in stationery traffic for fear of being rear-ended. I still frequently change gear without the clutch and it's done my bike no harm so far although someone's bound to tell me it'll probably wreck the thingamajig in time.   30k miles and the gearbox is still sweet as a nut.

Edited by Kelpie, 20 April 2018 - 03:03 pm.

[Nog]

Just another thought based on Kelpies idea about - you have to enquire to get prices by the looks of it, but this is a clutchless up and downshifter:

https://www.proshift...p_shifter_ii_tm

 

Would only need the clutch for stopping as Keplie says.

 

EDIT - actually forget this, just found the prices online and they are in the thousands 

Edited by Nog, 20 April 2018 - 03:32 pm.

[Studley Ramrod]

I'm only a young timer (cough, cough) but remember the incident, and obligatory photos, well. You really fooked yer mitts up there Kelpie.

[fixitsan]

Loose a couple of springs from the clutch.... or fit lighter springs.... the 900 clutch engages well and is only prone to slip if you're going to use all the torque you can get. ?

 

Easier to do, try rotating the clutch lever on the bars so that it sits at a different angle, just need an 8mm spanner to slacken one bolt, then just align your mirror back to how you like it because the mirror post turns with the clutch lever