R1100R Clutch lever - Any other options

[gsmetal]

My wife has a 2000 R1100R and the clutch lever is WAY out there for her little hand to reach. Are there any after market levers out there that will have a better angle for her?

[eshen8]

Please let me know if you find anything at all. My R850R has the same parts as yours and I need a smaller option as well. thanks, Lynn.

[jcridge]

Gentlemen,

Today is you're lucky day, I had a K75 with a bent front brake lever from falling over in the garage. Put a block of wood close to the pivot and used a jack handle to bend the lever back to its original position. Wrapped the lever with 3 layers of electrical tape prior to bending and took my time bending. No heat...

My wife also has her own R1100R with the same clutch lever complaint, guess what I did?

You will need to slide the rubber grip out an inch or so to put a block of wood in between the lever and bar, but it works well. Take your time, bend just a little at a time. You can even bend the lever differently as you get closer to the end so it fits her hand perfectly.

You may elect to remove the lever completely and put it in a vise, but it works well on the bike so it would be up to you. Her pivot bold was sloppy as well, so we replaced it and all is as it should have been.

How many mechanics use jack handles for pry bars? If they made solid jack handles no one would buy the jack... also there isn't a disclaimer on the side that says I can't......:whistle

Enjoy, John

[gsmetal]

So let me see if I understand you.

You put a block of 2x4 close to the pivot point with the lever on 1 side and the handlebar on the other.

Then you inserted a long pipe into one end of the clutch lever (for leverage) and just started to slowly bend the lever?

You mentioned wrapping electrical tape around the lever...what does that do?

If you had any photos on this is done I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

[jcridge]

For the R1100R I did the following,

wrapped the lever and grip with 3 layers of electrical tape to prevent scratches from the pipe and gouging from the wood.
If your grip is not glued on then I would slide it down at least 1 inch.

Inserted a 1x1x at least 12 inches long ( a hammer handle will work) between the lever and grip at the inner most spot.

Slide the hollow jack handle over the lever till the end is hitting the wood.

Then slowly bend the lever towards the grip, checking it many times till you get the right amount of bend. You can bend it in multiple spots if you need to, but we just bent it from the inner most point.

Depending on the amount of bending required, you may have to buff the lever to remove the crazing.

John

She is very happy with the results...

[ALIENHITCHHIKER]

I've straightened bent clutch levers after tip-overs and bent straight clutch levers (to decrease the reach).

I do it a bit differently though. With the lever off the bike I warm it up with a heat gun and then persuade it into the shape I want with a mallet, using a block of wood as an anvil.

Whatever technique you decide on, John's advice to go slow may be the most important part. Those cast aluminum parts are malleable to a point, but as most of us have discovered at one time or another, it doesn't take much to fracture them. In fact, when you are done with your work you'd be smart to inspect it closely for any signs of an incomplete break.

I would only do this to a brake lever if it was an emergency, on the road repair, and would then plan to replace it at the first opportunity.

I'll ride without a clutch cable if need be, but not without brakes.

[ROBFRITZ]

Wunderlich has a product called Variolever. Try WunderlichAmerica.com Good luck.