Clutch Question

TierHawg

New Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
315
Location
Elk, CA
Look elsewhere, and didn't find the answer.

Wet clutch or dry clutch for the Super Tenere?
 

Buckeye56

New Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Messages
733
Location
Gahanna, OH USA
Wet clutch. Don't know of any modern dry clutch bikes form Japan.
 

TierHawg

New Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
315
Location
Elk, CA
Thanks, I didn't know that. I heard the BMW 1200 GS/A had dry clutches, and was wondering if the ST had the same.

Buckeye56 said:
Wet clutch. Don't know of any modern dry clutch bikes form Japan.
 

HoebSTer

New Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Messages
2,883
Location
ISSAQUAH, WA USA
TierHawg said:
.... Thanks, I didn't know that. I heard the BMW 1200 GS/A had dry clutches, and was wondering if the ST had the same ....
Then it would be a BMW, and we don't want to be like any BMW now do we ? ??? ??
 

markjenn

Active Member
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
2,427
Location
Bellingham, WA
TierHawg said:
I heard the BMW 1200 GS/A had dry clutches, and was wondering if the ST had the same.
The BMW R-bikes have typically had the dry clutches. (Some Ducatis too, although with them I think it is more of a character thing.) It's sorta "baked in" to the overall BMW design - the crank runs longitudinally (front to back) rather than transversely (side to side) and it would be very difficult to put a wet clutch on the rear of the motor between engine and transmission. The BMW architecture is more "car like" so it tends to have systems more like cars (which also usually have dry clutches). I liken it to shaft vs. chain - each design has its plusses and minuses.

Dry clutch advantages:
+ Doesn't contaminate the engine oil with clutch debris
+ Potentially longer life if not abused
+ Potentially lighter/smoother clutch pull
+ Less clutch drag so typically no big CLUNK the first time you engage a gear and break clutch plates free

Wet clutch advantages
+ Much easier/cheaper to repair
+ Much more tolerant of abuse
+ No seals to leak and contaminate clutch

- Mark
 

supert

New Member
Founding Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
27
Location
Dayton, OH
I usually find that if I hold the clutch in for the first 20 or 30 seconds after start up that I don't get the big clunk going into first gear with a wet clutch. Oil contamination is the biggest problem IMO.
 

Venture

Administrator
Staff member
Founder
Joined
Feb 26, 2010
Messages
2,121
superT said:
I usually find that if I hold the clutch in for the first 20 or 30 seconds after start up that I don't get the big clunk going into first gear with a wet clutch. Oil contamination is the biggest problem IMO.
I'm going to have to try that. My Tiger has a terrible N-1 clunk after initial startup.
 

markjenn

Active Member
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2010
Messages
2,427
Location
Bellingham, WA
Venture said:
superT said:
I usually find that if I hold the clutch in for the first 20 or 30 seconds after start up that I don't get the big clunk going into first gear with a wet clutch. Oil contamination is the biggest problem IMO.
I'm going to have to try that. My Tiger has a terrible N-1 clunk after initial startup.
Another technique to reduce the crunch: start the bike in gear with the clutch pulled. This uses the starter motor to unstick the clutch plates.

- Mark
 

RomKnight

New Member
Founding Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2010
Messages
91
Location
Portugal
Or give it a little slack to the gearbox by push/pull the bike by hand before engage the 1st gear
 
Top