It seems that Polaris went all out to make the Chief cutting edge modern in most respects, so why did they go with a clutch cable rather than a hydraulic type? The bars would look better with a matching fluid cylinder on each side....and yes, my clutch cable snapped at the lever at 2800 miles, and if I had been without warranted coverage, would gave cost $160 for the new cable not counting installation, which on this bike, is substantial.
Why a cable actuated clutch and not hydraulic?
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J Backlund
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Personally I like the k.i.s.s.
Princable
Keep it simple stupid
But it could just be me
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Sounds good in principal, but....the bike is technically quite sophisticated, throttle-by-wire, keyless fob ingnition, etc. etc. It's a little too late to call the bike 'simple', though it superficially gives that impression.That 'simple' ship has sailed, so why hold back on the clutch actuation method. My Chief Classic has archaic tubed tires, but that was done purely for appearances at the expense of the modern reliability of tubless tires and cast wheels. The cabled clutch must be for economy of manufacture, but almost nothing else on the bike is that way, it is, after all, a 'premium brand' machine, and priced accordingly.
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It's not common at all, and it would probably be far more useful to carry spare inner tubes than a cable.
My cable problem at 2800 miles was a fluke, and not typical.
In my experience, both the hydraulic and cable clutch systems are very reliable, my original question wasn't based on a reliability concern, but why Polaris chose one over the other, the cable system being decidedly 'low-tech' when a more complicated way was available. Polaris seems to pride themselves on going the more complicated route with many things on this bike, so why stop with a cable?
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Maybe they just haven't figured out how to make a good hydraulic clutch system yet (though just about everyone else has by this time). That may be more of a condemnation of Victory than of that type of system overall.
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Not Condemning Victory .. Look at the Recalls HD had when switched to Hydraulic Clutches other than CVO Models .. I have well over 400,000 miles on Cable Clutches, Only remembering breaking 2 tops .. My Victory has 66,000 miles totally no problems with Cable or Clutch either one .. My 09 Ultra had 70,000 Miles Original Clutch Cable one of the few things that didn't go wrong Cable or Clutch .. At least with a Cable can adjust and Monitor the Free Play keep it right and lubed shouldn't have any problems for 100,000 Miles ..
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True, there's a hands-on maintenance element to having a clutch cable that can keep them going for a long time and many miles. Hydraulic systems are probably a little more idiot-proof if owner maintenance is minimum, or none at all. Before the cable prematurely snapped on my almost new Chief, I don't think I've had one break since the late 1970's.
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I'm no Motorcycle Mechanic although done my share of wrenching to upkeep .. Clutch Adjustment to me is part of simple maintenance, and very simple to do .. I realize some want the bike to take care of itself .. Changing Oil is not a Service .. Are Adjustments to be made and Inspections to be checked if plan on doing things yourself..
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At least a few of you rember doing a walk around the bike checking the chain look at the sprockets checking the free play on the breaks and clutch looking at the oil leaves doing weekly value adjustments ect that's what keep you alive or at least not stranded
Now guy ride and no nothing or very little other than this is the brake and this is the throttle
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Hydraulic clutches are better...period. The automatically adjust through the wear cycle. Polaris doesn't use them because of cost................
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Fact. Look at the systems and how they work. Their operation for effort can be manipulated by the size of their operator and slave cylinders. A cable system is ancient technology. A other vehicles use hydraulics for clutches and brakes.........
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Never Owned a Motorcycle with a Hydraulic Clutch and really don't feel it's a must have at my age .. Replaced Cables on Most every make though although in almost 50 years of riding had a cable break on me once .. Simple maintenance and a cable will last 50,000 Miles and is very easy to replace on most Bikes anyway .. But if feel the need for a Hydraulic by all means go for it ..
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So you have documentation that show Polaris won't use it because costs too much?
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The Victory Vision has always had a Hydraulic Clutch .. Maybe they had to add it to get people buy that strange looking thing ..
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Does anyone have documentation that proves otherwise? Heh Heh............
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