Ah crap - Clutch / Vibration Problem?

I wish the morons at my Kawa dealer would hurry up and get my workshop manual in....

When I was riding home yesterday, I could hear a faint "vibration" sound coming from the front end. I thought it was the keys vibrating on the ignition area, but I held the keys still and could still hear the sound.

I pulled up at a red light and couldn't shift down to first or neutral. I was still in 3rd gear and had to pull over to the side. I still couldn't change down so I switched off the engine. I adusted the clutch handle with the knurled knob at the top of the cable and it made it so I could change down ok. I took off again and a few minutes later, needed to change down and found it hard again.

It sounds to me like a clutch adjustment problem, but why would it come on all of a sudden like that? I've never had a problem with it before and it only happened after I heard the vibration sound.

Any help would be great, including clutch adjustment tips. It looks pretty straight forward (similar to my old gpz) but would rather hear from someone who has done it.

Even better would be hearing a reason for the vibration sound!



Bend the rules & Rule the bends...

Problem fixed (well half fixed)!

The clutch cable had broken through except for one strand and the whole cable had stretched a good 5mm I suppose, which was enough to stop it engaging properly, even at full adjustment.

Lucky I decided to pull the cable out just to be sure (could have been nasty if it had let go while riding)

I still get the "key" vibration though......



Bend the rules & Rule the bends...