1200 Sport clutch shudder

[DH8a]

Hello all.
I've had a bit of a search for similar issues in others' posts but can't find a similar one.....
I live up in the tropics and noticed that each time we had had a large amount of rain and/or high humidity, the next time I went out on the bike I noticed that initially the clutch would shudder (ie: enough to shake the fairing) when slipping the clutch at near idle. No groaning noise (apart from rattling of various bike bits). It previously appeared to go away after operating the clutch several times and that was that. I put this down to surface rust on maybe the flywheel or pressure plate (or both).
More recently I've noticed that this shuddering is not going away after operating the bike extensively and now appears to happen consistently.
The clutch feels fine when slipped with a few more revs (ie: +2000), but that shouldn't be necessary with this engine.
Any ideas, oh wise ones?
Thanks,
Justin

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Maybe if you didn't scare it, it wouldn't shudder.

[pete roper]

Impossible to tell if there’s a problem without going in for a looksee.

Generally the clutches of the 8V’s are fairly robust. There have been, to the best of my knowledge, three iterations of the clutch which hasnt changed in general design from the first of the 8V’s to the current Californias. What has changed is the action and moment of the spring with later clutches getting much lighter in feel at the handlebar.

What has happened to a few 2012 models, to the best of my knowledge only Stelvios, is their friction plate centres have broken allowing the escape of the cush plate springs which usually results in a catastrophic failure that inflicts damage on both the crankcase and front gearbox/bell housing casting. This seems to be related to a short run of friction plates but beyond that I can say nothing, sorry.

What year is your sport?

Pete

[twowings]

Is the bike stored outdoors? If so, perhaps a bike cover? Just a shot in the dark...

[DH8a]

Hi Pete. It is a 2013 build.

[pete roper]

Well, sorry, it’s not. It may be plated as a 2013 but they stopped building 1200 Sports in, at the very latest, early 2012. That’s why there are no roller 1200-8V’s ex factory.

Look, I’d love to be able to give you some sort of miraculous insight but in all honesty, as I said, if it’s a clutch problem the only way to know for sure is dive in and take it apart.

Pete