Pros and cons of the slipper clutch?

**fatzx10r** · 14th February 2009, 13:45

Originally Posted by glice

What happens if or when a slipper clutch fails? Can it?

$$$$$$$$$$

**glice** · 14th February 2009, 14:39

Originally Posted by fatzx10r

$$$$$$$$$$

yea, I was thinking money and pain.

**glice** · 14th February 2009, 14:40

Originally Posted by slofox

Isn't a "slipper clutch" when you grab your slipper to stop the cat pissing in it...?

Na, thats a slipper save, or swipe

**slofox** · 14th February 2009, 15:03

Originally Posted by glice

Na, thats a slipper save, or swipe

Ahhh 0- thanks...

**scracha** · 15th February 2009, 15:09

Originally Posted by fatzx10r

$$$$$$$$$$

About 2 grand

**GaZBur** · 15th February 2009, 15:31

I am asuming that many motard riders use a slipper clutch to back in. I find that if you brake into a corner and change down to a gear too low for your speed, letting the clutch out quick but smooth the back will step out easily by itself. I imagine a slipper clutch would allow you to just kick it down. I find it difficult to handle front and rear brakes as well as smooth clutch downchanging simultaneously while contending with other riders around at the same time. One less thing to contend with when you are in a hectic situation. I doubt that I am quick enough to see much difference though it must make a difference to the top guys not having one.
Correct me if I am wrong - never ridden a bike with one.

**scracha** · 16th February 2009, 16:13

Originally Posted by slofox

Isn't a "slipper clutch" when you grab your slipper to stop the cat pissing in it...?

Sortof. They're popular with older bikers. Not just because they can afford them, but they go hand in hand with the aftermarket exhausts. That way old bikers can have pipes and slippers

I'll get my coat

**slofox** · 16th February 2009, 16:30

Originally Posted by scracha

Sortof. They're popular with older bikers. Not just because they can afford them, but they go hand in hand with the aftermarket exhausts. That way old bikers can have pipes and slippers

I'll get my coat

Sharp bro, sharp. Don't go pattin' yourself on the head - you'll cut ya hand off....

**limbimtimwim** · 16th February 2009, 16:34

Originally Posted by slofox

As I said earlier, I rely on engine braking quite heavily when I have to throw out the picks in a hurry.....

The reduction in engine braking isn't much.

All it does is keep the engine braking less than the amount of required to lock up the rear tyre.. So all it is doing is a good job of letting out the clutch lever as you shift down.

Going crazy shifting down on my old gsxr750k6 you could get a bit of a wiggle on, but it was always gentle. Apparently this clutch is adjustable in 3 steps and comes out of the factory in the middle setting. EDIT: So I suppose if you adjusted it one way you could have less engine braking. But it came out of the factory at a nice a mid point.

On my 749S (No slipper clutch) I can stomp on the gear lever and it nearly locks up and wiggles, but I think Ducati kind of countered it by building a bike with (What feels like anyway) a long wheelbase.

**Sully60** · 16th February 2009, 17:32

Originally Posted by limbimtimwim

On my 749S (No slipper clutch) I can stomp on the gear lever and it nearly locks up and wiggles, but I think Ducati kind of countered it by building a bike with (What feels like anyway) a long wheelbase.

I'm not aware of what's going on with the Duc but there are many other ways of limiting back torque. 4-stroke Motogp technology has a lot to do here. When the class went all diesel on it back in the day the 2-stroke guys struggled.
Watch on bike footage from the two smokers they just slam down three grears, let the engine over rev and just go for it, try that on an M1 or RC211V of the time and they would've ended up on there ear, and then get their heads smashed in by the mechanics.
I've read some of Yamaha's literature around the development of the MotoGP bikes and the telemetry they'd gathered highlighted the fact the the bikes where spending between 60-80% (depending on the track) of the total lap time on the brakes and so put a lot of there development into this area.

Along with slipper clutches there were fuelling and ignition options available to make the 2-stroke guys feel a bit more at home. The 07? CBR600RR employs fuelling tricks to limit back torque, keeping the engine running just enough above tickover but not so fast it felt like it runs on into the corners.
I wouldn't put it past Ducati to have something similar going on.

**limbimtimwim** · 16th February 2009, 17:57

I don't think Ducati are doing anything tricky. Just the bike is long, heavy and feels like it has a larger rearward weight bias than say my 400.... Which funnily enough has a slipper clutch. So not much hopping around at the back, just slow worm like weaves.

Aprilia do so some shit on the RSV that slips the clutch a little when intake vacuum is very high. Or something.

**Ocean1** · 16th February 2009, 19:01

Originally Posted by limbimtimwim

Aprilia do so some shit on the RSV that slips the clutch a little when intake vacuum is very high. Or something.

Buell's new offerings are vacuum actuated, or partially so. Why wouldn't they add a pair of transducers, you'd have engine-brake ABS...

**scracha** · 16th February 2009, 21:18

Originally Posted by limbimtimwim

than say my 400.... Which funnily enough has a slipper clutch.

A slipper clutch on your 400...you ham fisted buftie.

**discotex** · 16th February 2009, 21:58

Originally Posted by Sully60

Along with slipper clutches there were fuelling and ignition options available to make the 2-stroke guys feel a bit more at home. The 07? CBR600RR employs fuelling tricks to limit back torque, keeping the engine running just enough above tickover but not so fast it felt like it runs on into the corners.
I wouldn't put it past Ducati to have something similar going on.

The 600rr system is valve based rather than fuel. I believe it opens a valve when you close the throttle so the engine can spin more freely.

It's very good on the road but it's no substitute for a proper slipper. Not having it stock does save a lot of weight though and you can always add one if you plan to race your bike.

If I don't blip under hard braking on the track the rear still locks up but given so many people never take their bikes to the track it's a fair compromise. I'd much prefer to be able to bang down the gears like the on-board laps on the GP bikes. 6-5-4-3-2-1-clutchout in as long as it take to read.

I've seen rumors the '10 update model will add a slipper before the total redesign in '11.