Suzuki Motorcycle Clutch Problem Q&A

Is it time to replace the clutch on a Suzuki motorcycle? If you put the bike in gear and the clutch races but there’s no movement, the clutch might be done for.

Our resident Suzuki motorcycle expert John Talley goes live on our YouTube channel every Friday at 3pm Eastern, and in this session, John was asked what could be done about a Suzuki Boulevard C50 that engages the clutch but doesn’t move. 

Suzuki Boulevard C50 Clutch Problem

I’ve got a 2005 Suzuki Boulevard C50, but when I put it in gear, it doesn’t move. The clutch just raises, but no movement. Could you please help me with that problem?

John Talley: Alright, when you say “raises” I assume you mean the engine just races. So it sounds like your clutch is kaput. And I would not recommend running it anymore, as all those fiber discs have broken down and now they’re circulating on the oil, which then circulates through the entire engine. That’s not a good thing. So, the only other long shot could be that your clutch was just improperly adjusted. I mean, is there any play on it before it comes to full stop? Highly unlikely, but hey, trace down the simple things first. But even if it is just way out if adjustment, it’s probably damaged at this point, because when you pull it just a little bit in and it’s still making contacts, building up a lot of heat and breaking down those aforementioned fiber discs. So more than likely you’re going to need to do a clutch on this one. Not that tough to do. I don’t think we have a video doing a C50, but we have several clutch videos that can walk you through the process of the steps required to replace the clutch, even though it’s not going to be unit-specific to what you have. But if that still makes you a little bit nervous, just do like I do before I start every single project and get a service manual. We do sell those online, and just follow along, because honestly that’s what I do …

Watch the video below to see how to replace the clutch on a motorcycle.

Watch the video below to see how to bleed the hydraulic clutch on a Suzuki motorcycle.

Watch the video below to see how to change the oil in a Suzuki Boulevard C50.

Want to see more live repair questions answered? See more motorcycle and ATV repair questions answered here.