Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch

Dave · 11-11-2009, 10:07 PM

Is there really any real advantage of one over the other? I've notice most bike seem to have hydraulic clutches. Personally, I've never felt any difference between the two.

snarleybill08 · 11-11-2009, 10:55 PM

i prefer the hydraulic clutch. there is no cable drag and the lever action is smoother.

socwkbiker · 11-11-2009, 11:39 PM

yeah, what he said

jonsamson · 11-12-2009, 12:05 AM

Ride a Road King, or a Suzuki M109, and you will feel a big difference in how the clutch feels and the weight of pulling that lever. Also there is more maintance, cable stretch, and cable breaking that can leave you stranded. I have never heard of a hydrauic clutch leaving someone stranded you can feel them gradually going out no sudden malfunctions. I have tried both and I much perfer the Kawa set up with a hydraulic set up.

cactusjack · 11-12-2009, 12:40 AM

A hydraulic clutch has no cable to break. A cable clutch won't leak brake fluid.

I prefer hydraulic.

stevenm · 11-15-2009, 07:59 PM

I was surprised to see my buddy's Vulcan 2000 has a cable rather than a hydraulic system. Even my wife's Vulcan 800 and then her 900 had hydraulic.

I like them much better than cable.

Steve

**ringadingh** · 11-15-2009, 08:04 PM

If I had a choice Id prefer a hydraulic clutch over a cable type, but having ridden many of each type It has never been a problem with either one. Once you get used to the feel of the clutch they all seem to be the same to me.

**Jared** · 11-15-2009, 08:33 PM

I've had both. I too prefer hydraulic, but it's not a big deal to me either way.

caper · 11-15-2009, 11:01 PM

I like the cable!! When in slow manouvers its seems eazier to ride ( slip ) the clutch. With the hydraulic the cluch seems to be ingaged or not! But in every other case I like the hydraulic :):) Well there ya go I can't win LOL

nomad561 · 11-16-2009, 06:35 AM

I recently rode a HD Ultra and I noticed a big difference in the amount of force to pull the lever but not much difference in how the clutch engaged/disengaged. I've had several bikes and I prefer the hydraulic over cable.

emu · 11-16-2009, 07:54 AM

I sill have my 1982 KZ 750 LTD Twin ... Not that she gets to do long trips anymore, but when she did I carried a spare cable. No big deal and quick to install if ever needed.

nomadman · 11-16-2009, 05:55 PM

My current bike, a VN2000 Nomad has a cable.

Prefer the hydraulic clutch from my old 1600 Nomad

I can live with it!

Greetz from The Netherlands

Nomadman

AlabamaNomadRider · 11-16-2009, 06:05 PM

I have owned more bikes with the cables than without. Some adjusting required ever so often. The Nomad is my first hydraulic and I much prefer it over the cable.

11-11-2009, 10:07 PM	#1
Dave Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Itchycoo Park Posts: 3,422	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch Is there really any real advantage of one over the other? I've notice most bike seem to have hydraulic clutches. Personally, I've never felt any difference between the two. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-11-2009, 10:55 PM	#2
snarleybill08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 273	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch i prefer the hydraulic clutch. there is no cable drag and the lever action is smoother.
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11-11-2009, 11:39 PM	#3
socwkbiker Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jefferson City, MO Posts: 6,272	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch yeah, what he said __________________ Jeff Platz VBA #0002 VBA VP-Global B.A.C.A. Hoss 2005 "StrongBear" Black/Silver Todd and BD
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11-12-2009, 12:05 AM	#4
jonsamson Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 209	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch Ride a Road King, or a Suzuki M109, and you will feel a big difference in how the clutch feels and the weight of pulling that lever. Also there is more maintance, cable stretch, and cable breaking that can leave you stranded. I have never heard of a hydrauic clutch leaving someone stranded you can feel them gradually going out no sudden malfunctions. I have tried both and I much perfer the Kawa set up with a hydraulic set up.
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11-12-2009, 12:40 AM	#5
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch A hydraulic clutch has no cable to break. A cable clutch won't leak brake fluid. I prefer hydraulic. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-15-2009, 07:59 PM	#6
stevenm Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NE GA Posts: 12	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch I was surprised to see my buddy's Vulcan 2000 has a cable rather than a hydraulic system. Even my wife's Vulcan 800 and then her 900 had hydraulic. I like them much better than cable. Steve
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11-15-2009, 08:04 PM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch If I had a choice Id prefer a hydraulic clutch over a cable type, but having ridden many of each type It has never been a problem with either one. Once you get used to the feel of the clutch they all seem to be the same to me. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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11-15-2009, 08:33 PM	#8
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch I've had both. I too prefer hydraulic, but it's not a big deal to me either way. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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11-15-2009, 11:01 PM	#9
caper Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 1,137	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch I like the cable!! When in slow manouvers its seems eazier to ride ( slip ) the clutch. With the hydraulic the cluch seems to be ingaged or not! But in every other case I like the hydraulic :):) Well there ya go I can't win LOL __________________ Live in the NOW !
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11-16-2009, 06:35 AM	#10
nomad561 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pasco , Wa Posts: 1,445	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch I recently rode a HD Ultra and I noticed a big difference in the amount of force to pull the lever but not much difference in how the clutch engaged/disengaged. I've had several bikes and I prefer the hydraulic over cable.
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11-16-2009, 07:54 AM	#11
emu Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 127	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch I sill have my 1982 KZ 750 LTD Twin ... Not that she gets to do long trips anymore, but when she did I carried a spare cable. No big deal and quick to install if ever needed.
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11-16-2009, 05:55 PM	#12
nomadman Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bergambacht, The Netherlands Posts: 102	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch My current bike, a VN2000 Nomad has a cable. Prefer the hydraulic clutch from my old 1600 Nomad I can live with it! Greetz from The Netherlands Nomadman
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11-16-2009, 06:05 PM	#13
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Cable vs Hydraulic Clutch I have owned more bikes with the cables than without. Some adjusting required ever so often. The Nomad is my first hydraulic and I much prefer it over the cable. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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