Slipper Clutch

Any of the folks on here had any personal experience of riding a bike with a slipper clutch? Other than the advantages of avoiding rear wheel lock ups and able to enter bends more rapidly and controlled, are there any major down sides as a trade off?
I would greatly appreciate your input as I am seriously considering one. I have today touched base with a guy that has a contact in the factory that make the Ducati slipper and he can supply them at a fraction of the Ducati price.

Beware of slippers that "slipped off the back of a truck" Peter. :P

BTW - are you sure that this has nothing to do with one of your recent experiences when you assured us that you nailed your down change into the corner and you had a brown trouser experience.

Hi Shooter...I was only thinking of you yesterday when reading a road test on the S4R!
I dont think the two issues are related, the brown trouser incident was a definite slide of the rear wheel and not a locking up of same. I have though in hindsight ben noticing dredful ation for a couple of weeks when trying to find neutral.

I think that 100% I am going to go for a vented clutch cover and being completely cheesey will get a front sprocket cover to match!

Due to the torque of our motors Shooter, I am considering the slipper more as a "belt and braces" exercise in case of any rough down changes when getting along a little, this is though not something I am normally guilty of as I am very sympathetic to clutch/gearbox treatment.

I do not know for sure but the guy I spoke to actually has the parts stamped with his own logo rather than the Ducati one and is in the process of setting up a company for him to trade parts. I dont think he would be doing that if they were disspearing out of the back door! The saving on the slipper with him is about 200 sterling! Which basically pays for the covers I am thinking of!
It would be nice to watch a nice red slipper spinning when viewed via a vented cover don't you think?

BTW....See the Lions sorted Wellington yesterday mate!

[Balky001]

I was speaking with a guy on a GSXR1000K5 at my last trackday - he said he liked the slipper bt you get reduced engine braking as he was going from 6th to 2nd and there was hardly any drag - so he was more reliant on front brakes which obviously has an affect on the way the bike slowed, more ass up, and turn in. But IK'm sure you'd get used to it after a few rides

Balky...Thanks for the feed back. If your Gixxer man is simply slamming the box down through so many gears then,it is obvious that he is asking for the slipper to do a whole lot of work for him and yes there would be a greater need for front brake use.

My intended use is one change at a time but can allow myself not to be as gentle with letting the clutch out as the slipper will kick in if engine / road speed are mismatched badly. Once I get used to it I could of course try snicking through maybe 2 gears at a time but that would be the maximum I would consider I think.

Then again your Gixxer man has accepted the trade off in that he is going to go through a lot more brake pads but at the benefit of not locking the back end up.Also his braking can now be left a whole lot later.
Have a little look at what the Moto GP boys do as they all have a slipper clutch fitted.They dont bother with blipping,just snick it down through the box to where they want to be and brake.

When I finally get my Termi zorsts fitted I think the run over sound without blipping will be rather nice too!

[Balky001]

to be fair, it'll sound nice with the termi's on whatever you are doing with the throttle ( as long as it overrides the knitting needle piston sound )

Balky...Dont think you would be hearing too much piston noise when I slap a vented clutch cover on it! The uninitiated always look alarmed on hearing it as they expect the thing to fall apart! (Dry clutch ysee)

I am not sure about vented covers although they do look cool with the stuff spinning around. What happpens in the wet and the dust ? Yeah I know it doesn't rain in Spain but even washing the bike must push a bit of water in to the clutch area.

Not sure if its enough reason for me to get a slipper clutch.. maybe I 'll have to fall off first because of the engine braking.

Easiest and cheapest slipper clutch is your left hand.

Ever opened up the clutch cover Peter - take care, its assymetrical and the bolts are different lengths and do different stuff. (note where you take each from and they all do not have to come out)

Peter : Yep the Lions bet Wellington. Very uninspiring game in fact and the Lions should have done much better against what was a B string Wellington ( without their 5 All Blacks)

Shooter,

I take on board all of your comments. I did not know that about the bolts!
In defence I never wash the bike and go out on it immediately,(usually done the night before a ride) I am also not one of these that throws buckets of water at the bike when washing it. I am far more carefull with my waxed up sponge!

I have no intention of completely ditching what I consider to be correct usage of the clutch simply because a slipper is fitted. I am too mechanically sympatheitc for that.

It can though remove the odd occasion where the motor is actually being driven by the back wheel and as a little bonus makes things a tadge easier on the rear tyre.

The Lions I think know there is something a litle bit more challenging waiting for them when they meet the All Blacks!