If you follow your clutch cable from the perch to the arm, you will notice that it snakes it's way around both radiators, and through the frame. All this creates addition friction, which results in additional pull harshness. To reroute the cable, here are the steps:
1. Remove the clutch cable from the bike, and leave the front number plate off for now.
2. place the metal clad lower section of the cable into a large vice, and SLOWLY close the jaws. The intent here is to gently straighten the curve so the clutch cable can be routed directly in front of the shifter side radiator. Check several times to make sure you do not straighten the metal tube too much, as it is tough to go the other direction. The key here is to install the cable on the clutch arm at the transmission, and have the cable go just to the inside of the front of the radiator with about 1/2 inch clearance.
3. Once the metal tube is modified properly, run the cable in front of the frame downtube, behind the number plate and to the perch. As a note, your handlebar bend, and model year will change the cable routing from one side of the steering head to the other. For instance, on my 2002, I have really tall bars, and my towers were custom made to give me an extra 1 inch rise. As a result, my clutch cable never changes sides of the frame. However, on my 1999, the cable was a little longer, so I ran the cable on the front brake side of the frame before it turned to go to the clutch perch. The required routing as you go behind the number plate will be obvious.
4. Using good cable ties, hook the cable to the bottom radiator mount loosely
, and to the downtube about 1/2 way up, again loosely. Check the clearance to the exhaust pipe, as well as the bottom of the front fender as you turn the bars. The cable should not touch either the pipe or the fender.
There you have it. After completion, you can see why the new routing method is sooooooo much better than the original routing.
Hope my explanation is easy to follow, but if not, just ask a few questions, and we'll get you there.
Rick