Hi all. This topic occasionally gets mentioned - but there does not seem to be a definitive thread about it - so I thought I would create one. Hope this is OK - Feel free to move or even delete if it is already covered elsewhere.
For some background - I'm on my 3rd K...a lovely low mileage 2015 K1300S Motorsport edition. (I previously had a 2005 K12S, then a 2009 K13S)
I bought the bike in December, had it delivered by van due to the poor weather, then Covid came along and severely impacted all our riding plans
Anyway it is only recently that I been able to use the bike much....and found myself getting increasingly frustrated at the clutch bite point being at the very very end of the lever travel...i.e. the lever is very far away from the handlebar, almost at its rest point, before the clutch bites and moves the bike forward. This is probably (just) bearable if the bike is being used on normal open roads...but when in town or exploring wee nooks and crannies where there is a lot of slow speed manoeuvring it seriously impacts the ability to control the bike properly. Both my K12 and previous K13S did not suffer from this and the clutch bite point was exactly where it should have been
There are various threads mentioning this topic on various sites with answers ranging from a straightforward "There is No Adjustment Possible at all" through to changing the entire master cylinder and / or lever / pivot mechanism to get a better bite action using aftermarket parts. The disappointing common theme in all replies is that when Motorrad dealerships have been consulted - they seem completely unwilling to help - and just fob off customers saying there is no adjustment and nothing we can do. This was certainly my experience at my local dealership..they are normally quite friendly and helpful, but just dismissed me as if I was stupid, even though I had gone to the trouble of removing the lever to show them that there was a threaded rod inside.
Anyway I am delighted to say that The Threaded Rod is the answer to adjusting the clutch lever bite point. Basically all you have to do is completely remove the clutch lever (8mm nut and pivot bolt). You will then see a threaded road at the end of the lever which at one end has a roundish bullet shaped point and at the other there is a 2.5mm Allen key socket. To move this rod in or out you must firstly slacken the small retaining bolt. This is positioned at 90 degrees and also has a 2.5mm Allen socket. This small bolt clearly had red Loctite on it so I used a heat gun to gently soften the Loctite before unscrewing the bolt. Once the small retaining bolt is removed the threaded rod can be turned using a 2.5mm Allen key. On my bike the rod was screwed 95% of the way in (i.e. there was almost no thread showing at the Allen key end). I experimented with moving it half way by turning it anti clockwise...then using more anti clockwise turns, moving it almost fully out (i.e. maximum thread showing at the Allen key end). This is my preferred setting so have reassembled, using Loctite on both the threaded rod, and the small retaining bolt to prevent them from moving. Everything works perfectly and it has totally transformed my enjoyment of riding the bike again. I am very glad that I decided to persevere despite BMW Motorrad telling me not to.
The only final comment I would make is to be wary if (for whatever reason) you wanted to push the clutch bite point out...i.e. by turning the threaded bolt in a clockwise direction from its original position to lengthen it. I guess there is a potential danger that this could result in the clutch not being fully disengaged which could lead to slip and premature wear...but I don't see how this could be possible by doing what I did and shortening the rod.
Would love to know why BMW Motorrad wont discuss this adjustment. Are there any friendly BMW techs on here that might have a view?
Anyway hope this post may help someone else to transform their riding experience from a pain to a pleasure
Ride safe everyone
Pete
(PS I do have pictures...but cant see any way to post them)
