Is it me or the clutch?

[deacon]

Or maybe it's just the nature of the beast. I have had my 06 Nomad for
about two months now and have put about 1500 miles on (been rainy). The clutch doesn't seem smooth at all. I am still stalling on take offs and clutching in slow turns is scary. The bike seems to "hic-up" and only starts smoothly if I slip the clutch. I ride two up quite a bit and am afraid I'm going to drop the bike with some one on the back. I read on another thread that some one had a clutch that was slipping and was told it could be the clutch spring, could this be my problem as well?

[jandreu]

Might just be you are not use to a hydralic clutch. Mine is the first hydralic clutch I've had and it took me a while to get use to it, same issue you describe. I found I have to give the bike a little more throttle than I was was accustomed to and these bikes are so lean at idle that they do "hic-up" at low throttle input. Do you have a fuel processor on the bike, if not look into adding one it will help with the throttle responce and the hic-up's.

[deacon]

I hope to get a fuel processor for it before next season. We only have about 2-3 weeks left of the riding season here.

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by deacon

I hope to get a fuel processor for it before next season. We only have about 2-3 weeks left of the riding season here.

More than likely your Nomad is starving for fuel like nearly all do without a fuel processor. When you do add one, you'll have to look at your bike really close to be certain that you are riding the same one. That's a fact.

[ringadingh]

It sounds to me like your not giving it enough gas when taking off.
If you let the bike chug and stall, thats an easy way to end up dropping it.

[deacon]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

It sounds to me like your not giving it enough gas when taking off.
If you let the bike chug and stall, thats an easy way to end up dropping it.

I can do that when the road os straight. Giving it extra throttle when turning makes the turn to fast, I'm not comfortable enough with the clutch to lay her down enough to stay in my own lane.

[dougster]

Part of you hiccup may be driveshaft lash. If you have not ridden a bike with a driveshaft before, in first gear, it can "hiccup" like you are describing, when you let up, even a little, on the throttle. It took some getting used to for me, I know.

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by deacon

I can do that when the road os straight. Giving it extra throttle when turning makes the turn to fast, I'm not comfortable enough with the clutch to lay her down enough to stay in my own lane.

You have to feather the clutch in those applications, and you will learn to be smooth. Hold the clutch lever in a bit and let it slip . It just takes a bit of practice.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

It just takes time to get used to the clutch and the big bike. Might want to get some practice time in solo. How many total miles on the bike?

[deacon]

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

It just takes time to get used to the clutch and the big bike. Might want to get some practice time in solo. How many total miles on the bike?

I've got 30,000 on the bike.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by deacon

I can do that when the road os straight. Giving it extra throttle when turning makes the turn to fast, I'm not comfortable enough with the clutch to lay her down enough to stay in my own lane.

Pardon me for saying this, but it sounds like you are scared of the bike. A couple of suggestions:

1. Watch "Ride Like a Pro IV".
2. Go someplace where you won't likely get hurt and practice the techniques you learned in #1. Someplace like an empty parking lot. It will improve your skill and confidence in handling a large motorcycle, especially at low speeds.

[tonik]

Also check your idle speed. Mine was too low when I got it and it was a nightmare to take off. Soon as I got it within specs it completely changed the way it takes off at slow speeds.

[macmac]

If this is a stock bike have the idel set to 1,100 rpm. Then learn to Feather that clutch. Feathering is holding the clutch part of the way IN and giving that engine some rpms. You are slipping the clutch on purpose then.

If all you have is apx 1,500 personal miles on this bike you are in for a long lesson. It takes many guys 2 years to get real comfortable riding the Nomads. It too me that long too.

A fuel modual is not a light want, it is a need.

You should also be into checking out what was done on the bike, and are are 30,000 over all miles which means if cam chain extenders are not installed now you will want to get some and get them installed.

You will need to know that brake fluids were changed at this point and if they are not, is a must do. The swing arm should have been dropped and serviced at 7,500, 15,000, and each and every 7,500 since.

At 30,000 the fork oil needs to be changed, the head bearings checked and greased minimum.

The only known clutch problems first show up as slipping in 5th gear. You demanding more power and the engine rpm going up but not you and the bike going faster.

That means the start clutch spring is worn out, and you need a new one, which is a new meanie, basicly the stock spring or an after macket Barnett, but with only 1,500 miles of riding I would not reccomend the Barnett Spring for you.