Pros and cons of the slipper clutch?

[slofox]

Serious question from me for a change...
Was reading a review of the latest Fireblade in the local rag last night and noted comments about the slipper clutch.
I have not ridden a bike with a slipper clutch so have no first hand experience of such. (I know all about slippING clutches though from the bad old days of Velocette ownership...)
My first reaction would be that I would rather have a standard clutch since I rely quite heavily on engine braking when I ride. I feel I would hate to be reliant on brakes alone - I like the control that engine braking provides. It feels to me that I gain another, maybe, 20% over using brakes alone...
But then, I have not ridden a large displacement IL4 so have no real idea of the amount of back torque such an engine would provide nor how much of it the slipper clutch removes. The SVS does have quite serious engine braking capabilities which I use to the full, although ya do have to watch for rear wheel lockup...
So, those of you who know what they are talking about, what is the real deal on the Slipper Clutch? How serious is the back torque from engines on bikes they are fitted to? How much engine braking does it remove? How different is the experience with and without a slipper clutch? Etc Etc Etc.
All answers read with interest....

[breakaway]

Slipper clutches are adjustable, and are adjusted to stop rear locking, but still allow a good deal of engine braking I believe.

[Big Dave]

Ridden several bikes with them now.
More pertinent to track enthusiasts than road riders.

Haven't had one engage in normal street or sports riding. You probably shouldn't be charging hard enough on the road to need it anyway.

Track and hoofing it down it's one less thing to worry about.

[eelracing]

Mate,unless your a trackday junkie or a racer you don't really need em on the road.

[98tls]

TL has an early version of sorts which they called a back torque limiter,works to a point though its still possible to lock up at times,clever bastards like TLDV8 have fitted late model gixxer slipper clutches to theres which i will be doing,totally disagree with who posted "waste of time " on a road bike as it can be bloody annoying on a big V-twin,though i will add sliding into left hand corners can be fun if your in the mood.

[AlBundy]

Slippers generally perform two functions...

Prevent rear wheel lock up under excessive braking/slamming down the gears/dropping the clutch and in so doing, prevent the ability to over-rev the engine when changing down.

For MOST street riders, it'll hardly ever be used but they are handy at a track.

That said, the KTM has one and I've found it to be extremely handy when trying to back the bike in, lol... It sets the bike off in a gentle wee slide which allows me to keep control, as opposed to a locked-up rear wheel...

[imdying]

I feel I would hate to be reliant on brakes alone

Never ride a two stroke race rep then

[FROSTY:Me]

Its the old story --theres nothing a slipper clutch does that bloody good clutch control shouldn't be able to achieve.
But SHOULD as opposed to DOES are two different things.
When riding with a bit of er hurry on Ive experienced a bit of the ol compression lock up.
Racing my ZXR400 against Kawa Kid on his Honda 400 I noticed he was able to go screaming up to a corner and just bang down the gears from top to second and trust the slipper to deal with matters--whils he's focussed on braking.

[FROSTY:Me]

The SVS does have quite serious engine braking capabilities which I use to the full, although ya do have to watch for rear wheel lockup...

You answer ya own question there dude. The slipper reduces back wheel lockup.

[kiwifruit]

the engine is for going, not braking

[slofox]

Its the old story --theres nothing a slipper clutch does that bloody good clutch control shouldn't be able to achieve.

You answer ya own question there dude. The slipper reduces back wheel lockup.

As you say, it is easy enough to lock the back wheel but I have only ever done it when I have seriously overcooked the entry to a corner and have had to throw out the picks...I haven't done it under emergency braking for a hazard like a loony cager...yet anyway...

[pritch]

I haven't got one but I'd like one. The only "disadvantage" I ever heard of related to someone who had got used to a slipper clutch then riding another bike that didn't have one...

[slopster]

Best thing since sliced bread. You still need to rev the bike between gears when you're hard on the front brake and downshifting but when you fuck up your downshift the slipper clutch saves you skittering off sideways into the corner. Also makes no difference at all to engine braking or cruisy riding - it takes a serious amount of back torque make it slip.

[R6_kid:Me]

Helps n00bs ride overpowered bikes on the road. Also good for races as it allows them to downshift quicker without the hassles of feathering the clutch to stop the rear tyre skipping.

[The Stranger:Me]

though i will add sliding into left hand corners can be fun if your in the mood.

How dare you!
That is a mortal sin - you will rot in hell for saying such a thing.
That will get a noob killed saying something like that.

I shall report this post immediately.