Gsxr600 clutch issue on race start

Started racing a gsxr600 at the end of last season after 8 seasons on a SV. Issue I'm having is launching the thing. With the SV I will rev the motor and let the clutch out until I feel it just pulling the bike. Lights go out and I move it that mm further out and off I go. With the gsxr I rev it and slowly let the clutch out to find that sweet spot. I have tried it many times and I get the same result. I feel nothing at all and then all of a sudden the bike jerks forward violently. I pull the clutch back in and try again slowly to find that spot. It just seems to be an on/off switch. I have done the clutch adjustment on basket side and everything seems good. Could it be an adjustment on the sprocket side pivot arm? Any insight would be awesome. Thanks again everyone

 

You probably have worn plates or a grooved basket. There's probably a million answers for this but I LOVE OEM Suzuki plates Street/Race/Moto. Replace with fresh stack, check basket for notches or wear, and then have the peace of mind.

 

This

Warped or burnt steels will do it but if it's been a race bike for a while that basket is probably hammered.

Also keep in mind you will have to be higher in the revs vs the SV

 

So how do you like the 600 besides the clutch.

 

Agreed with what was said above. The only time I can recall behavior like that is when the plates were worn and on the way out. And yes, stick with OEM plates. When Suzuki started selling full OEM clutch pack kits I was a very happy camper

 

Crazy enough I installed a brand new OEM clutch kit (as pictured above lol) before I started riding it. I rev it to 9 grand maybe 10 on the launch but with how it jerks forward I am nervous about more revs just because how hard it jerks forward i feel like it could easily end up with the most embarrassing cartwheel move haha

 

I don't recall the 600 and 750 having a jerky clutch issue. I remember when I first got my K5 1000 that the jerky clutch was a known issue and there were a bunch of things recommended to do to it to help with the problem. The main one was to install the wave washer from the 750 clutch to help with the problem.

 

Your clutch basket is probabably grooved then.

 

And as for how I like the 600..... I love it. Chassis is so much better then the sv. I ride the SV constantly ringing it's neck. I feel like I'm always forcing it to do the things I want just because it's really not made for it lol I always described it as riding a wet noodle, having it making all weird shapes and just hanging off it and letting it move and flex, where the 600 feels more like the two of us are working together and it's less "crazy" feeling if you follow. I actually feel less fear on the 600 then the sv haha. Though one down side is with the v-twin having that torque makes it easier out of the corners where I am learning how to keep this thing reved up which I am not use to. I still have a steep learning curve but so far I'm finding it to be alot of fun. Still have the SV too because I'll die with...... Or maybe on it one day hahaha

 

Forgive my ignorance but why would a groved basket cause this jerking? I would think if it was groved wouldn't it slip more? Again just asking because I don't know

 

It's more notches than grooves. The plates get hung up in the notches and can't move freely then they jump out, hence the sudden engagement.

 

If you think about it, you want the clutch plates to be sliding smoothly across these contact surfaces, this is what would allow for consistent engagement/disengagement. If they're notched like this, then the plates will stick in these grooves and not until enough spring tension has built up to knock them back out of the groove will they continue to move again, hence to jerky motion rather than a smooth one.

If it's not too bad you could just take a file to them and knock down the high spots. If really chewed you might want to replace the basket.

 

really if you don't want a grenade... a stock cast basket isn't going to hold from 10,000+ RPM launches. If you are not launching at or above that RPM well that's part of the problem.
I learned recently that Rekluse sells a pretty nice replacement clutch for most bikes. https://www.rekluse.com/product/man...clutch-pack/torqdrive-clutch-suz-gsxr600-750/
It appears this kit comes with the necessary basket sleeves to fix your problem.

I would look into running a billet clutch basket... they don't groove like the photos in post 12 and they are much better balanced than a cast hub so the engine will spin up quicker.
Only downside is they need to be riveted to the backing plate. http://gsxrzone.com/clutches.html

 

Check that the clutch push rod is not corroded or has grooves worn in it. It’ll hang up, causing that exact problem

 

Is your judder spring and base washer installed correctly?

 

have you ever adjusted your clutch and springs in the access hole?

 

All the above, including 10+k launches. I have a vague memory of drilling out extra oil holes in my 08 basket.

 

Ok I understand now and ya it makes a lot of sense. I have done all the adjustment including on the clutch side. I'll take another look at the basket and I bet your right. This thing is a 08 and it's been a race bike it's whole life so that thing is toast. I guess as a last question is what are all the gsxr 600 guys launching at RPM wise? Again coming from an SV I am use to launching at like 5-6 grand so the inline is a whole new world

 

Oh also I'm running a yoyo slipper so no jigger springs anymore

 

13k. you dont want it to go under 10k on your launch.