ok so now I've got 31,000 miles on my '01 f4i and the clutch is getting kinda soft. Can anyone recommend a good clutch to go with?
I'd like something better than stock but i'm not sure which one to go with

 

what was wrong with the stock clutch again?

because honestly Honda makes a pretty good god damn clutch...

 

What do you mean by "getting kinda soft"? I've never seen a clutch get "soft" before.

I've only ever seen two problems with clutches:
1. Engagement problems; Typically caused by incorrect clutch cable adjustment, worn out clutch cable or incorrect clutch plate assembly / installation. This is a problem were the clutch won't fully engage, giving the feeling that it's slipping ALL the time or won't fully disengage making it hard to shift and cause the bike to creep even when the clutch lever is puller fully in.

2. Clutch Slip; Caused by worn out friction plates or "burned" up metal plates. Easy to tell as the clutch will start slipping at higher RPM's (8,000 +) in the lower gears (most evident in first - third).

I've tried a lot of different clutch plates over the years in a lot of different bikes. On my 600RR race bike I run OEM Honda plates because they are the best, longest lasting I've found, and i put them through a ton of abuse.

 

Like you said, you put 31 000 miles on your stock plates, so what's wrong with going with the same OEM ones?

 

By soft i mean its not engaging as hard as i think it should....or slipping a little when i shift hard.
I personally didn't put 31k on the bike i bought it with 28k on it and was told clutch has never been replaced.
I've rode a few friends bikes with a lot less miles and they seem to have a firmer shift that i like.
But like u said if they lasted 31k then y not go with honda.

 

Make sure you have free play in the clutch lever...it shouldn't be stiff. Should have about 1/4" of play from when it's all the way out to when you pull it and get resistance of disengaging the clutch.
Also, ride it down the road at like 20-30 mph in 6th gear. Peg the throttle wide open. If the rpm's shoot up fast, then it's slipping. If not, don't even worry about it.
If you're power shifting, then yes, it will slip a little. All that spinning force of the motor is being slowed down to match wheel speed in whatever gear in like a nano second.

 

I also think there's nothing wrong with OEM but Barnett makes a good clutch

 

You might also be getting a glazing on your steel plates. You can take your clutch pack out and use a scotch brite pad to scuff up the steel plates and then reinstall the whole thing. It will make a huge difference.