695 time for new clutch plates?

[Two dogs]

My wife's 695 ( 21,000 Ks ) clutch friction zone is only small and at the end of the throw.
It is hard to judge as my bike is a dry clutch and feels so different .
I took it for a ride just then and it is quite hard pulling away at the lights on a hill and especially doing a U turn  as
the friction zone is so short and sudden  .No wonder she is having trouble .
No creeping or slipping though.

Time for a new stack ?

If so should I go OEM or aftermarket pro/con

I plan on doing installing myself .
Thanks in advance 

[mmakay]

That's "normal" behavior for the wet clutch used in 695's.  Mine is just like you describe and has been since day one.

[Dirty Duc]

APTC is the devil!  You can source any of the non-aptc wet clutches, then sell your snazzy "slipper" for about the same money.  The lever pull is a little stiffer, but the friction zone is no longer a moving lightswitch that you can't feel.

As a bonus it makes replacement clutch packs way cheaper.  Assuming my ebay seller was honest about the miles on it, I now have the same miles on the regular style as the APTC.  Slow speed stuff is way easier.

The only caveat is it may take a while for the oils to thoroughly soak the plates depending on whatever the one you get is used to.

Lots of people swear by the APTC, but I find no difference at the rear wheel with my hard downshifting, lots-o-engine-braking riding style

[Dirty Duc]

You need the whole deal.  The baskets, hubs, and plates are different.

I'm not seeing any on fleabay at the moment that I am sure will work.  I do see one for an 848... but I don't know the specs on the gear off the top of my head.

Edit:

Although I now see you are across the world from me...

This is an APTC


this is approximately what normal looks like


The attaching bits are different for the little bikes, but I can't find a good pic.  The biggest difference is the strange thing on the left underneath the plate stack.

[BK_856er]

The APTC friction zone is definitely narrow and abrupt and out there, but I never found it totally sucky.  I wonder if you might have some air in the line and a good bleed might help a bit?  Very early on I upgraded to adjustable CRG levers (and properly set the plunger free play) so I could alter the takeup point - I remember really liking the change.  Good bit cheaper than new plates or a different type clutch.

BK

[Dirty Duc]

The APTC friction zone is definitely narrow and abrupt and out there, but I never found it totally sucky.  I wonder if you might have some air in the line and a good bleed might help a bit?  Very early on I upgraded to adjustable CRG levers (and properly set the plunger free play) so I could alter the takeup point - I remember really liking the change.  Good bit cheaper than new plates or a different type clutch.

BK

Adjustable levers might have helped me, but it could also be that I suck at clutch modulation.  I've daily driven an RX-7 with an aluminum flywheel and a 6-puck sprung hub clutch.  It had about as much low speed (sub 20 mph) driveability as the duc with the APTC.

[d3vi@nt]

That's "normal" behavior for the wet clutch used in 695's.  Mine is just like you describe and has been since day one.

Ditto.

[seevtsaab]

... I upgraded to adjustable CRG levers .....

BK

Same here, except the CRG part.