Hydraulic clutch vs non hydraulic clutch

[No Worries]

I have both and slightly prefer the hydraulic. By the way, the fluid in my clutch gets dirty way sooner than the brake fluid. But it's a no-brainer to change and bleed.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by No Worries

I have both and slightly prefer the hydraulic. By the way, the fluid in my clutch gets dirty way sooner than the brake fluid. But it's a no-brainer to change and bleed.

I mentioned heat because it's what causes brake fluid to lose effectiveness, right? I wonder why yours gets so dirty, so quick? I think that I changed clutch fluid once and that probably wasn't necessary...

[Homeslice]

Had a hydraulic on an Aprilia, and it was smooth as silk......no rough spots like some cable clutches have. But it leaked down near the slave cylinder, so it needed bleeding every 2 weeks That wasn't very difficult, though......I would just do the lazy-man bleed......Hold the lever in, put a rag over the bleeder, and give it a real quick open-close with a wrench.

[Rangerscott]

I've had both. More time on the hydra. Hand felling, the hydra is like having power brakes, and the cable is like not having power brakes.

They're the same. Some are smooth, some are clunky, some depends on the adjustment, etc etc.

[tached1000rr]

I have a bike with each and I prefer the cable

[racedoll]

I never had a hydraulic clutch so I can't really say what my preference would be. I suppose I would like the feel of the cable but

Erik - "hydraulic clutches suck"

[Apoc]

Its a hard choice. I like cable, especially on dirtbikes. But i've had sportbikes with hydraulic clutches and they performed flawlessly. Cable may feel better, but hydraulic is pretty nice too.

[No Worries]

Originally Posted by TIGGER

I mentioned heat because it's what causes brake fluid to lose effectiveness, right? I wonder why yours gets so dirty, so quick? I think that I changed clutch fluid once and that probably wasn't necessary...

Doing mostly street riding, I must use my clutch lever 50 times to 1 use of the brake lever. All that movement probably lets in more dirt and moisture than the brake line. And with the little window in the reservoir, I change it when I can actually see color.

On my Suzuki, when I changed to braided brake lines, I changed to DOT 5 silicone fluid. That was in 1982. The best thing about it is it doesn't absorb water. Regular brake fluid does absorb water. The water in brake fluid is what boils and degrades brake performance. When the fluid becomes dirty or cloudy, it's probably absorbed water and it's time to change it.

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Adeptus_Minor

Having had both, I'm fine with either.
Also, I'm with Trip. I'm not dicking with the fluid when it comes time to change it out on the 1125.

If you are comfortable bleeding brakes you can just as easily bleed the clutch. Done it many times on my futura, only PITA on that bike is accessing the slave cylinder. I think its out in the open on the 1125, I will check tomorrow when I go home.

Tom

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by No Worries

I have both and slightly prefer the hydraulic. By the way, the fluid in my clutch gets dirty way sooner than the brake fluid. But it's a no-brainer to change and bleed.

Just make sure the seals arent breaking down, had that problem on the futura and had to bleed it out every 2 weeks till I replaced the slave cylinder and havent had a problem since.

Tom