In my previous post, I mentioned about getting the Yamaha Bolt XVS950 Actuator, and it arrived. The MT-03, R25 will also fit for the Tracer, and they are the longest Actuator so far.
Yamaha XVS950 5S7-16340-00 Clutch Actuator
But before assembly, here are some physical fundamental on leveraging – Longer distance = lesser force, vice versa.
This mod is a preference mod and if you are after the lightest pull, the tallest order to least as follows:
1) Do the XSR900 clutch assembly swap, Yamaha claims this reduce 20% clutch effort
2) Actuator Swap, pros & cons depends on your needs and requirements
3) Clutch Assembly Swap – to compliment 2)
Do understand that having a lighter pull through means of changing the actuator leverage ratio. what it means is that it requires you to pull a longer distance over the original assembly. Setting the Tracer’s actuator as baseline, any longer actuator fitted will result in a longer pull distance to disengage the clutch plates. There is no best length to please all.
Here are the Center to Center measurements:
Tracer 40mm
Bolt +5mm or +12.5%
MT-03 +10mm or +25%
Bolt vs Tracer
Stock when fully engaged
I shifted a notch off to reduce the R1 Cable slack
After watching Two Wheel Obsession’s FJR1300 clutch upgrade, it come across to me that the Tracer deserve the upgrade too, to spare my ginger fingers heh.
What are the benefits of Yamaha’s Assist & Slipper Clutch introduced in 2012?
Watch:
and
and oh! I will check if the Versys Clutch can run the quick clutch tension adjuster and what it takes..
So, here are your spot the difference between XSR 900 vs Tracer’s Clutch parts
Tracer’s ClutchXSR 900’s Clutch
This is definitely going to work if you study the assembly in detail and order the respective parts as according to the part numbers difference (less first 3 digit as it represents the model).
It will come after my plates are giving way. Meanwhile I will work on the clutch arm & Versys clutch assembly swap.
Here are the “spot the difference” as far as I know:
JDM/Asia & EU are by large very similar and shares the same part numbers while USA/CA uses another set of part numbers
USA uses amber indicators while JDM & Europe uses Clear indicator case
JDM/EU not have front reflectors and uses amber tail reflectors while USA has rectangular amber reflectors on the fork and red tail
Only JDM models have helmet hangers come equipped, but do not have clutch case savers
USA/ JDM models have a “detune” ECU producing 109 horsepower, 69.8 lb.-ft. @ 7080 rpm|59.3 lb.-ft. @ 8330 rpm torque, limited top speed at 112 mph or 180km/h, and EU has no restrictions producing 115 horsepower, 87.5 Nm (8.9 kg-m) @ 8,500 rpm torque
Because of the ECU power difference, some claims that was the reason JDM/USA are allowed to have hard saddlebags while the EU Tracers are stuck with floppy bags
In South East Asia, Singapore uses the EU model, Malaysia uses the JDM’s, and Thailand are running USA versions (though it is not listed on their site)
The Tracer have a heavy clutch pull for my preference, since I am coming up from a smaller bike. It also do not allow Rider to adjust the clutch lever reach and commonly causing the Rider to compromise between a hard tension clutch pull or slack feel.
The Tracer’s OEM clutch cable is know to snap easily, to remedy this, a Yamaha R1 clutch cable had been swapped on this Tracer. The R1 clutch cable however is longer the Tracer’s and is slightly causing some slack on the hanger and assembly if you tune it to specification.
R1 vs Tracer clutch cable
Another view
R1 clutch cable part number
R1 cable without the route guide as on Tracer’s
Note the mounting due to the excessive length
About two threads left in order to keep the free play within specification
So here are the 3 challenges I will aim to solve:
Heavy Clutch Pull
Excessive Clutch Slack
Clutch Reach
I came across in FZ-09.org, where the clutch arm was cut and welded 8mm longer than stock. I chanced upon Yamaha XSV950 Bolt’s clutch arm to be 5mm longer and had placed an order for it. This will effectively lighten the clutch pull and takes away some cable slack off the clutch tension.
As for the clutch reach, I could not find a good and affordable lever that matches the stock lever’s feel. The Chinese CNC levers simply ruin the actuation and are clunky to grab. Others I compared seems thick to feel comfortable. The best/most promising levers for feel and adjustable reach so far seems to from Renthal’s Intellilever LV-507 @ $144.95, but they are out of stock
Renthal Intellilever
I wanted to cannibalise my KLE500’s clutch lever assembly over, since I am certain they can run Yamaha cable as I am using an R6’s clutch cable now, but the issue is the mirror mount position is off. After a few searches and comparison from different motorcycle and ATV makers, I narrowed down to Triumph’s and Kawasaki’s clutch assembly which offers adjustable reach.
The clutch assembly should be as close to the Tracer’s current assembly in the mirror position mount and clutch switch, as I do wish to use back the Tracer knuckle guards. The Triumph’s uses a circular clutch switch though the lever itself resembles a mirror image of the Tracer’s brake lever whereas the Versys’s are an updated version of the KLE500 with a beefed up lever.
Kawasaki’s older gen clutch assembly
Yamaha’s typical clutch assembly
Triumph’s
After weighing the pros and cons, I went with the Versys and lucky to ordered a near new assembly from eBay.
Yamaha Tracer 900 MT09 FJ09 Build n Ride 