Question: Slipper clutches

[Harryskinters]

Advice please anyone? :confused:

I test rode a S2R a couple of months ago and was amazed at how smooth the ride was around corners and roundabouts especially in low gears. None of the jerkiness and on/off power feeling that I've always associated with big twins. :rolleyes:

I put this down to the slipper clutch cutting in and out and so really want one now for my S4R. Not worried about the clutch lever effort as I don't find the clutch particularly heavy anyway (after Buells and old Triumphs). I'm more interested in the better cornering ride it gives. Unless I've got it all wrong - I'm not the smoothest of riders, nor do I have particularly good technique me thinks :burnout: :o

There seem to be a lot of different makes on the market with huge variation in prices. (Ya gets what ya pays for I guess). Would love to hear from anyone who has fitted one especially to a S4R. And any comments about which one is best for what would be gratefully received.

Thanks. :burnout:

[Zimbo]

Give Alan Shirley a call

http://www.ajracing.info/

He's a Ducati race specialist, builds the Ducati BSB engines, very helpful guy who won't try rip you off. He's an agent for STM, probably your best bet, good quality kit. I think their least expensive slipper clutch is about £665, I doubt you'll find a reasonable quality one cheaper than that.

[Scotty]

thers proberly a few threads about this sort of thing on the dsc site if you can fathom out the search thingy

[Gilps]

I've got an S2r and I'm not sure that it's the slipper clutch giving that smooth feeling. I was also surpised by the engine. You are dead right in as much as it does not feel like other v-twins. I found the Buell to be very on or off - and highly entertaining. It gave the biggest grin factor of any bike I've ridden. I had a Honda Shadow too. That was a typical v-twin. I find the S2r engine to be more buzzy and less vibey. It almost feels too smooth to be a twin - more like a Triumph triple. I think that's just the way the engine is.

I stand to be corrected but I don't think that the slipper clutch slips in and out. It should just come into effect on harsh downshifts. Then that should be it. Finito. No more slipper until the next downshift. I ride quite hard and brake and downshift late. Just for fun I have tried to provoke the slipper clutch into action and you really have to be going some for it to really take effect. I'm not convinced that you need a slippper clutch to get that smooth S2r feeling.

[xjrjohn]

Advice please anyone? :confused:

I test rode a S2R a couple of months ago and was amazed at how smooth the ride was around corners and roundabouts especially in low gears. None of the jerkiness and on/off power feeling that I've always associated with big twins. :rolleyes:

I put this down to the slipper clutch cutting in and out and so really want one now for my S4R. Not worried about the clutch lever effort as I don't find the clutch particularly heavy anyway (after Buells and old Triumphs). I'm more interested in the better cornering ride it gives. Unless I've got it all wrong - I'm not the smoothest of riders, nor do I have particularly good technique me thinks :burnout: :o

There seem to be a lot of different makes on the market with huge variation in prices. (Ya gets what ya pays for I guess). Would love to hear from anyone who has fitted one especially to a S4R. And any comments about which one is best for what would be gratefully received.

Thanks. :burnout:
Correct me if im wrong but doesnt the s4r already have a slipper clutch?
John

[claicerrig]

If you want to know the diffrence between having a slipper clutch and not ask Fatbloke for the comparison :D just going into the hairpin at the bottom of the melbourne loop

His monnie 1000 without :eek: my monnie s4 with :D

I would now rather ride with the slipper clutch than be without .And after chatting to scottie i think he feels the same

http://www.ducatistore.co.uk/acatalog/Ducati_Monster_Performance_Parts.html

Cut and paste that link they are quoting £450 plus VAT for the DP slipper as is fitted to the Monster Challange bikes .Mine has done 9000 miles now 2 sets of plates and 1 new spider spring.

I think Scottie would confirm this

Clai

[Scotty]

errm yup

ace for the race track but a bit nasty pulling away in town etc

[Harryskinters]

Thanks everyone for the advice. :)

People are telling me that the ball bearing type (like STM) is better for a road bike than the ramp type, as the latter need to be regularly taken apart and re-greased or cease to work properly. :eek:

Is there any truth in this? :confused:

The DP slipper at £450 plus VAT looks like good value :rolleyes:

[Scotty]

humm no idea seems kinda odd that progress has dropped the ballbearing arangment

maybe before you shell out big money you should perhaps look at your rideing style
try running a lower gear with higher engine reves round corners for greater smoothness , you may have been doing this on the 800 with-out even realising (needing more reves on the 800 for the same power?)

[Rockhopper]

The S4R doesnt have a slipper as standard. Its only the newer bikes like the S2R and some of the cooking versions of the 748 that have them as standard.

I would say that unless you are a very very fast road rider then a slipper is a waste of money for road only use.

[Rockhopper]

Oh and if you use the slipper a lot you'll go through clutch plates more quickly as well.

[singletrack]

The S4R doesnt have a slipper as standard. Its only the newer bikes like the S2R and some of the cooking versions of the 748 that have them as standard.

I would say that unless you are a very very fast road rider then a slipper is a waste of money for road only use.

The NEw S2r1000 doesn't have a slipper clutch - I saw one yesterday in Moto Rapido (Lovely bike, but no good for my small hands! :mad: )

[Mr C]

I had a Slipper clutch on my old 996, Still managed to have it skitting around now and again, Thought id miss it when i got the S4 but i just blip the throttle whilst going down the box and have only had a few lock up/ Skitty moments. For road use you dont really need a slipper.

[marchesini]

There seem to be a lot of different makes on the market with huge variation in prices. (Ya gets what ya pays for I guess). Would love to hear from anyone who has fitted one especially to a S4R. And any comments about which one is best for what would be gratefully received.

Thanks. :burnout:

Ah slippers, go well with a pipe I've heard. (Boom, boom)

Anyway, I have two slipper clutches after having the rear lock up more than a few times on my trackday downshifts. My 996 has a Sigma Performance which has never locked up the rear since I've had it but has become a right pig when pulling away from traffic lights. More than one person has ridden my bike and said "what is up with your clutch, that's not right!!" I have had the plates and basket changed and it still is not nice to use in town. If I let the clutch out too quickly, it will stall so you have to be really gentle with it - I have got used to it's 'nature' but still hate it at traffic lights. Having said that, it's been like this for over 2 years and never done anything about it - I guess it's my built in immobiliser. Other people really rate the Sigma items though.

I have also just bought a used Bucci (John Hacket jobbie) for my track bike but haven't ridden that yet so can't comment. Got that for less than half the £850 it should have been but am hoping it's better than the Sigma.

The 'cheaper' versions I have heard mixed reports about. Chris (from the site) has one and has had 'issues' with it - not really sure exactly what but from what I can gather, it still locks up on downshifts which obviously it shouldn't. The standard issue Ducati versions (as fitted on the 749R) are known as a bit pony and not rated at all by the boys over on the DSC site.

One last avenue to try is good old ebay. I spoke to a guy who was selling the good DP items for £350 and the race versions for a little bit more than that. He is not listing them now but here is a link to the thread on the DSC site. I still may be tempted by one of these to go on my S4R but it's not a priority at the moment.

http://www.ducatisportingclub.com/xmb/viewthread.php?tid=23430#pid223721

So, not really much help other than you don't really need one for the road but if you are thinking of doing any trackdays, pretty recommended. If you are in London, you are perfectly welcome to try out my slippers just so long as you don't touch my smoking jacket.

BR simon

[Fosse Foxfight]

Nah it werent the slipper clutch that made the S2R feel smoother and less snatchy round slow bends and roundabouts, just a friendlier power delivery and probaly different sprockets to the S4R