| Hi Frank,
As the saying goes, I'm no expert, but I have tinkered with my clutch extensively, with good results.
The biting nearer the grip -
First place to look would be to bleed your clutch - bleed very thoroughly using the bleed nipple on the slave cylinder (in front of the drive sprocket), followed by the bleed nipple on the handlebar master cylinder (if fitted). Also, try tying the lever in to the handle bar overnight, this may allow trapped air bubbles to escape.
Dust on foot-peg etc -
Do you by any chance have an open clutch cover? If the clutch is dragging due to being in need of a bleed, it may be producing excess dust and depositing it in that area if you stop at traffic lights etc with the bike in gear and the clutch disengaged.
Otherwise its termites.
Best of luck sorting it.
Spinoli | 
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