Ok, I bought this wrecked, it is all fixed now.

Here is my problem. The bike leaves a stop fine between 1000 and 2500 rpm or so. If I try to launch it for a burnout or a serious start, I would say from 3000 to 4000 rpm, when I get to the clutch engage point (which is ridiculously too near the end, as most Honda hydro's) the clutch engages so hard it lurches and wants to launch the front.

I can not slip it for a decent launch. Clutch fluid has been changed (new dot4), I bled it, that is not the problem. I also am running Hondaline oil, I don't know what the previous owner ran but he was a bit of an Idiot so he might have run some crap through it. Bike has 20,000 miles on it.

My next step was a new clutch and springs. I'm just not sure that will do it, It has never slipped, and I have had a couple bikes eat clutches and groove baskets but none felt like this.

Before flaming me for abusing my bikes and their clutches, I'm referring to dirt bikes I've raced and Honda 900s that I beat on track days.

Thanks to all in advance,
Prowlerr

 

The 'Hawk is just that way. It'll groan loudly and grab if you try to launch too hard. The bike has enough torque to do a quick street start and pin it and the front wheel should hover a few inches above the ground. That's the best acceleration method I've found.

 

Thanks Hawkrider, for your posts in both of my questions.

I had heard that these bikes launch hard from a salesman at the local dealer. I just know him well and he is an idiot, so I discounted his opinion till I heard it here.

Has anyone tried different spring tensions? or maybe spacers in the clutch slave to move the engagement more to the middle? I don't think tha spacers would have much effect on slip but it could move the engagement in to the bar closer.

I wasn't concerned with the clutch in any of the other gears until I was thinking of the long decreasing radius corner I usually take going from 4th to 3rd and slipping the clutch in on my 900rr. Now I am a little worried about pounding that road on this bike.

Thanks Again all,
Prowlerr

 

I've never heard of anyone having a problem underway, only launching. Motorcycle.com discussed this when the bike was first introduced during dragstrip testing (they ran 10.83/127 by the way, nice...). You should still be able to look it up-it's a comparo with the TL1000S. I've had it happen a couple times-really annoying if you're not ready for it, which usually you're not. It catches/grabs really hard, releases, grabs, releases... I do believe some others on here have changed clutches/springs and said they no longer had a problem but I can't confirm this. It usually happens if you rev it up pretty good and let out the clutch from a stop...