I've got a little over 9500 mi on my Challenger now. I came from a hydrolic clutch from my VTX so things seemed very different to me at first. I love the way the clutch operates now. I agree, the friction zone is a little smaller than what I was used to but I have no problems operating in it now with some practice. My shifts are all smooth and easy.

 

Exactly what TechRider said.
This is common & has been kicked around a lot in this forum & in FB groups. As the clutch breaks in the cable will TIGHTEN…. So gotta keep the freeplay adjusted just right! My Goldilocks freeplay is 1.5-2.0mm.

 

My clutch acts and feels the same as "peterb154 describes. Unique to this model. Takes a few rides to get use to it but after 13K I don't even think about it any more. All is good.

 

My good friend bought a Challenger early last year and I did some upgrades so put on quite a few miles. At first I was dead set to buy one but the more I rode it in different situations I changed my mind. One of the things that would have to change is the clutch/lever/cable/friction zone setup. Compared to Chieftain/Springfield the friction zone is so narrow it's very difficult to feather, OEM recommended free play puts it at the very end of the lever. I wear a medium glove so that only compounds things.

One of my bikes is a Ducati with hyd clutch and small friction zone which seems big compared to the Challenger. At least the Duc has adjustable levers so I can control where the friction zone is. I like the friction zone to start a bit off the bars and last for awhile, Challenger is right at the end and more like an on/off switch. On his we adjusted free play to have more slack at the lever than recommended but then one has to worry about the stamped cable retainer on the clutch housing detaching from the cable end if the cable stretches. I think Indian could do much better with this design, if they do and fix a couple other things I'd own one in a heartbeat. An adjustable lever may help some but redesigning the actuator and cable attachment on the bottom of the case is what needs to happen. Take a look at it, the whole setup down there with the two lock nut cable adjuster and stamped sheet metal cable retainer with no positive retention is a horrible design.

 

From my experience- all bikes have different friction zones. This is true for side by side identical Challengers. It’s just a matter of getting acclimated to your particular clutch/lever.

The first thing I noticed about this bike is that the very slight friction zone, coupled with the touchiness of the electronic throttle, made it very tricky to make real tight slow speed maneuvers. It took quite a bit of practice for me to make full lock slow speed (2-3 mph) turns. And even now I have to feather the throttle while doing so.

Regarding the ‘click’ sometimes felt in the actual clutch lever; I too have noticed this. It’s disconcerting not knowing what this is. I’d describe it as a tactile and audible snap. But it’s intermittent at best. I don’t know what’s up with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I've got 13,500 on my 2020 Chally DH - what you describe is "normal" for these bikes.

 

Thanks for all the input folks. The small engagement point isn't a show stopper for me, more of an annoyance.. I've ridden all manner of bikes and I agree with BIGMAC - that the small friction zone and electronic throttle, (especially mixed with a surging idle) makes the slow speed handling less than perfect.

It seems to me that extending the fulcrum point on the clutch actuator on the engine (or event at the bar) would do the trick - such that 30-50% of the clutch lever's travel can be used for the engagement point. Like most other motorcycles.

 

It seems to me that extending the fulcrum point on the clutch actuator on the engine (or event at the bar) would do the trick - such that 30-50% of the clutch lever's travel can be used for the engagement point. Like most other motorcycles.

Exactly what needs to happen. I'm not sure why they went away from the chieftain design which could be improved, Barnett has a kit. I believe that the 2021 chieftains/Springfield's are using something similar to the Challenger now, maybe someone can confirm. If so its a penny saving measure at the expense of drivability. If you have one bike, you quickly get used to it, if you own several the Challenger friction zone is so small it's hard to adjust to.

 

Oh yea, one more thing about the clutch, I couldn't help but wonder if Tyler O'Hara's bad start at Road Atlanta was related to the small Engagement Zone of the clutch. Especially considering that he had just gotten off another bike with a considerably larger clutch EZ.

 

Probably not, the problem with the baggers is the line between doing a wheelie and not getting a good launch, there is too much torque to weight ratio. Basically he added too much power and the wheel started to come up, so he let off nut too much and then got on it too much again.

 

I used PSR levers on an HD with a hydraulic clutch. They worked great.

LEVERS FOR INDIAN - V-TWINS (psr-usa.com)

Phil

 

I’ll be picking up my new Challenger Friday but my wife already has one. The biggest negative about the bike is the clutch. Starting out in first I tend to have the throttle over reving before the clutch engages. Makes me look like a newbie and I’m sure I’ll manage it. So if I get used to that I guess I’ll start stalling out on my Roadmaster and Triumphs. It seems an unnecessary thing to get used to. Why design a clutch so different from all the other bikes the company makes?

Were Victories like this? The bike is very likely a Victory idea reimagined in the Indian lineup.

 

Not at all. My Vic xc with a non hydraulic clutch had a nice easier to work with clutch engagement. I to had to over rev the throttle when taking off initially on my challenger. I now have 1700 miles and can take off normally like i did on the Vic. It just takes some acclimating.

 

Shortly after getting my Challenger I increased the clutch play little by little until I reached 1/4" play I know that sounds like a lot but it has moved the friction point closer to the handlebar and also insures a complete clutch engagement. I have 18k miles and no problem.

 

With that much free play, keep an eye on the cable attachment point at the clutch housing. There is no positive retention there so if too much free play the cable could come unhooked from the stamped metal connection between the clutch shaft and cable.

 

I loosened mine up to the maximum free play spec and it’s a lot better.

 

Hey all,
I have a new 2020 Challenger Limited. I haven't seen anyone talking about the clutch yet, so I thought I'd open this thread.

The clutch engagement range seems very short to me. Am I the only one? From fully disengaged to fully engaged it's probably less than 1/2" of lever travel. I've adjusted the lever and have the suggested 1-2mm of free play. It's not the end of the world, but makes perfectly smooth clutch modulation at slow speeds a little harder than with other bikes I ride.

Also, I have noticed that occasionally while upshifting into 2nd or 3rd, as the clutch is pulled in, I sometimes feel a click in the lever as I click the shifter up into the next gear. I think this is more likely to happen when the bike isn't fully warmed up. I haven't been able to pin down when or why this happens yet, but is also unusual compared to other bikes. Has anyone else felt this?

Cheers

I just picked up a 2021 Challenger three weeks ago an have the same exact observations as you outlined. I feel the clicking in the clutch lever between gears as well as the clutch lever travel. Non issues for me, all is well with the bike but notice the same ….. take care

 

My wife's 2020 Chieftain has a much broader friction zone.

 

I did look up to verify that they made the change to the Challenger style clutch actuator on the 2021 116 motors. The actuator is now on on the bottom of the clutch housing instead of on the rear of 2020 and prior. I'm going to guess that the new 116's have the same narrow friction zone. It would be interesting to know why they made this change.
#4 on Diagram below.

Old 2020 and prior #3 thru #10

 

I'm riding a 2021 Roadmaster Dark Horse this year and I couldn't agree more on what has been said. The friction zone is very narrow on this bike as compared to my 17 Chieftain Limited. I really miss that clutch feel. I have also had the pulse or clicking when pulling the clutch lever to shift. Not all times but occasionally. I don't consider this new style clutch an improvement from previous years. That's my experience.

 

It looks like the redesign is to lower cost over the previous one.Another example of bottom line controlling engineering.

 

After thinking about it more it's possible they had many complaints with the old setup because of mis-adjusted clutches, clutch slip, false n and trouble finding neutral due to clutch drag. They may have chosen to make the friction zone very narrow to eliminate some of those complaints. It does bother me enough that I won't buy a new bike with this design without a fix.

 

i Have noticed the clicking with my clutch as well but not all the time, I also know when my bike is cold the clutch is a little grabby till warmed up. Also FYI I USED AMSOIL for my first service and then had my second service done by the dealer using factory oil and this is one time where I prefer the factory lubricants. My bike shifts and engages better with factory oil.

 

I'm installing a new clutch Thursday. Soaking the friction discs now. I get slippage in 6th gear when I open throttle up. Dealer said nothing they could do about it as oil looked clean and didn't smell like burnt clutch. Not yet 2000 miles on bike but I'm not waiting. Bought the Barnett extra plate set and their clutch cable. I'm hoping for the best.

 

I'm installing a new clutch Thursday. Soaking the friction discs now. I get slippage in 6th gear when I open throttle up. Dealer said nothing they could do about it as oil looked clean and didn't smell like burnt clutch. Not yet 2000 miles on bike but I'm not waiting. Bought the Barnett extra plate set and their clutch cable. I'm hoping for the best.

I assume you checked the cable adjustment free-play at the clutch lever first. 1mm could mean the difference between slip and no slip on these machines especially when new and things wear in. Both of my 2020 Indians were not adjusted properly from new...common problem. Unfortunately I don't think the new clutch plates will solve the narrow friction band on the challenger and 2021 116's bikes, it appears that's all in the new actuator arm design. It's a completely welded assembly vs an arm on a knurled shaft so no real aftermarket fix possible.

If everyone provides Indian/polaris with some feedback on this maybe they will make a design change. I've sent a nice message to customer support.

 

The friction zone on the Indians isn't really that bad. Ride some metric cruisers especially the Yamaha ones, that's when you see no friction zone. But I can see if someone has small hands that it could be difficult.

 

Hey all,
I have a new 2020 Challenger Limited. I haven't seen anyone talking about the clutch yet, so I thought I'd open this thread.

The clutch engagement range seems very short to me. Am I the only one? From fully disengaged to fully engaged it's probably less than 1/2" of lever travel. I've adjusted the lever and have the suggested 1-2mm of free play. It's not the end of the world, but makes perfectly smooth clutch modulation at slow speeds a little harder than with other bikes I ride.

Also, I have noticed that occasionally while upshifting into 2nd or 3rd, as the clutch is pulled in, I sometimes feel a click in the lever as I click the shifter up into the next gear. I think this is more likely to happen when the bike isn't fully warmed up. I haven't been able to pin down when or why this happens yet, but is also unusual compared to other bikes. Has anyone else felt this?

Cheers

I rode one over the weekend and made the same observation. I mentioned it to one of the factory reps and he said that the bike was in sport mode. Try changing the riding mode to standard or touring. That may help.

 

Well that proves how much some of these factory reps know or understand. The modes do not have any bearing on the clutch operation or feel. Modes only effect the throttle response or perceived throttle response and I'm not sure if they even do anything at all with fuel, timing or anything else. The clutch has a small friction zone because of the design of the clutch input shaft. The very short arc and "mickey mouse" attachment means very small friction zone. If you only own and ride a challenger you'll get used to it like it's not a problem. If you own older Indians (2020 and older) or other bikes it will make you go "there is something wrong with that clutch"! It's enough of a problem for me coming from 2 Indians with wide friction zone clutches, I won't buy a newer one with that clutch setup.

 

Here's a couple of solutions for the clutch feel on the Challenger. I have a 2020 Challenger with almost 10,000 miles on it, and had the same issues that many are describing here. Here's how I improved mine.

First, the stock clutch didn't engage on my bike until the clutch lever was almost completely forward in its travel. This made it difficult to smoothly engage the clutch while taking off. I removed the stock clutch lever, and replaced it with an adjustable lever. This brought the point of engagement of the clutch closer to the handlebars, and made clutch engagement more predictable.

Second, the clutch would be a little grabby when it was cold. What I did to end this sticky situation, was to disengage the clutch by holding the lever back while warming the engine, so the oil could circulate between the pressure plate and the discs. This seems to work well. No more sticky clutch when the engine is first warmed up.

With these adjustments, I am able to smoothly move through the friction zone during slow speed maneuvering much easier.

 

Where did you buy your adjustable clutch? Would you be able to post a link?

 

You adjust the length of the cable. There is not need to replace the lever.

 

Adjustable levers would be a much better option but does not really help feel going between older and newer Indians. You can maybe add a millimeter or two of slack from the recommended spec before you are in dangerous territory... your clutch cable disengaging from the little stamped connection at the bottom of the housing. Watch this closely if using this method.

 

I bought PSR adjustable levers from day one after buying my challenger. I bought them because I wanted black levers but the adjustment in the made it that much better. These are the levers I bought

Anthem adjustable levers for Indian motorcycles - LEVERS FOR INDIAN - V-TWINS

Adjustable Levers for V-Twins.<br> Easy adjust lever to bar reach for individual riders.<br> Machined from high quality aluminum.<br> Available in Black, and Chrome.<br> Sold in pairs & individually.<br> PATENT PENDING DESIGN<br><br> May help reduc

psr-usa.com

 

Thanks for the link. I was already thinking of getting the levers powder coated. This seems like a better more versatile option.