Clutch issues may be related to engine oil. Download a manual from the forum, and perform the 3,000 Mile service. This will also attend to the poor front brake issue (or at least reveal the cause of the problem).
If you are at all unfamiliar with a vintage bike, you can not "judge" the performance based upon your familiarity with a modern bike. The brakes especially, will be VERY different. These are single piston units, and the fluid (current) may be in dire need of service.
Also, remember to lubricate/grease the swing arm. This is a very important piece of maintenance to insure decades of worry-free service!