Quality replacement clutch for '79 gs1000

[garyS-NJ]

My clutch has always grabbed far out and after doing the flying banana basket spring shim mod, I had trouble getting neutral at a stop. I threaded in the adjusters and moved the actuator arm one spline but had to actuate it a little to connect the cable. This spells thin clutch plates and I want to order a new clutch rather than dick around with springs.. Yes, I guess it could be grooves in the basket hanging the plates, but again grabbing far out and not releasing sounds like thin plates.. I want to order the clutch before taking it apart because I always want at least 2 fun bikes on the road..
I found eBay has a Barney Kevlar clutch plates and ebc makes oem and kevlar race set (which comes with hd springs), and vesrah makes friction plates. Whats recommended for a durable street clutch which will take some abuse. I dont need gorilla strength springs for tire smoking power.. I'm old.

 

[salty_monk]

I've used what Z1 Enterprises has to offer with no issues....

 

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks, I spoke to someone at Z1 a year or so ago about a clutch and is swear he said they had the Barnett kevlar and their own clutch that was more able to handle strip as well as street. I didnt question bc i didnt know but i do know they are not maming their own clutches so whoever makes them most likely markets under their own name. I prefer name brand stuff so I figured Barnett, atlas, or oem size (if avail), or whoever is the current go to clutch company..
Just rechecked Z1 and they only list their clutch for my gs1000 so I must have been asking for another bike.

Who else is the big clutch name for old jap bikes??

 

[storm 64]

I used OEM clutch components for my 1000e. Fiber, Steel plates and springs. That with a new clutch cable, and the clutch works smooth as butter. I replaced the chain, sprockets and rubber wheel dampers all at the same time. The motorcycle rode and shifted like new.

 

[Nessism]

OEM including new steel plates and springs are the best available.

 

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks!! That's 2, maybe 3 votes for a cork clutch over the kevlar sold by Barnett and EBC (ebc has a street/strip kevlar clutch and I think an oem style cork). Quite coincidentally, this evening I got to meet a couple old school jap muscle bike riders and they also warned against the kevlar clutch suggesting oem..

Vesrah has a cork clutch and may well have the clutch in their fibrous paper material which they say is for new sport bikes.

I haven't checked the atlas website but with all this said I still have to ask why oem? Years back I replaced my stroker Harley dry clutch with a Barnett wet clutch (kevlar) and while it was a little touchy (on or off) and loud, that sucker hooked up and was bulletproof.

Can any of you folks comment with you experience running a kevlar clutch or the vesrah cork or vesrah fiber, or ebc street clutch (I assume cork), or anything else? I haven't checked partzilla for a stock clutch yet but i wpuld imagine there should be lots of folks trying different clutches. I hate to rest on oem because folks just like to run their vintage bikes stock. I'll use whatever works and like new technology.
Thanks again..
Oh and these old school riders tonight were drooling over my bike which was kinda cool. They all run stacks and open headers so we're quite interested when I told them I put stacks inside my pods .

 

[bwringer]

OEM including new steel plates and springs are the best available.

Agreed. OEM fibers, steels, springs, cables, gaskets, and levers are the best by far, even for engines making more power than stock.

I've installed EBC a few times when OEM was not available or backordered, and they look a little sloppy but they seem to work fine.

Have not had good experiences with Barnett -- I've had to remove Barnett clutches and replace with OEM or EBC a few times to get bikes to work right.

 

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks again! Dont want to be an askhole and will steer off the kevlar. I'm guessing the kevlar is really just strip.

But oddly enough, Z1 told me the Barnett kevlar was more around town than their own clutch which would work around town yet hold up to strip. Anyone know what material the Z1 clutch is? Lastly, seems some companies have cork like oem but there are also paper fiber (vesrah or ebc has both, was late last night I was looking). Any experience with a paper fiber clutch?

 

[Fjbj40]

Problem with the aftermarket fibres are the backing material. Factory is aluminum, aftermarket is often steel. Your clutch basket is aluminum so if you think the grooves are bad from the factory fibres wait till you install the metal aftermarket ones