Ducs and clutch covers

[Ogg]

Okay, I don't get it. Why the popularity of clutch covers with holes on Ducatis? The 2 ounces of weight it saves cuz you're so blinding fast you need every little bit, air cooling cuz that's more important with the dry setup than getting road dirt in it? Or is it kinda like the Harleys and chrome?

Not hatin' on the Duc drivers -- recently picked up an M1100 and want to know if this is rational or bling.

 

[whatever whatev]

Three possibilities:

It's rare-ish to have a dry clutch so people like to show that difference.
It also makes a unique sound, which is more prominent when you're not covering it up.
It also looks interesting/cool.

Bonus possibility:

You can have that extra taco because of the weight savings on your clutch cover.

 

[Lovedoc]

I think heat

 

[ASADO]

Personal preference, you do or you dont. Your moto, do what you like/want who cares what others think?

 

[07chuck]

4. They really like tambourines.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Open clutch covers are there primarily for looks and in some cases for the sound. I doubt that there is any weight savings in most cases, and you usually lose protection if the bike is dropped on the right side.

For maximum effect, remove the belt covers along with the clutch cover so that you have a bunch of stuff spinning around to draw attention to the bike.

It's done for basically the same reason that people put undertail kits on Supersports, except that a good open clutch looks a bit classier.

(For the record, I've always kept a stock clutch cover on all of the Ducatis that I've owned.)

 

[kneepuck]

while a lot of people get it for "bling" factor and to amplify the sound of the dry clutch, it also does serve a purpose of venting all the dust out of the cover instead of it building up on the inside.

don't have a ducati? no problem. put a sack of nickels in your pocket and rattle them around at the stoplight.

 

[V4]

I never saw those covers as "bling" ....

I just see it as adding character and it stands out from the crowd of Japanese clone bikes....

ducati and bmw R's stand out on their own.....

 

[Desmodromic]

Personal preference, you do or you dont. Your moto, do what you like/want who cares what others think?

+1 but really it's all win if you read the post above... it looks nice, sounds good, and serves a purpose. "Sounds" good to me (haha, I made a funny).


Both my Ducati's have closed (my track bike has Cf no seal covers, so the clutch is pretty audible) clutch covers though.

 

[DucatiHoney]

Open clutch covers are there primarily for looks and in some cases for the sound. I doubt that there is any weight savings in most cases, and you usually lose protection if the bike is dropped on the right side.

For maximum effect, remove the belt covers along with the clutch cover so that you have a bunch of stuff spinning around to draw attention to the bike.

I've got to agree with this. Really no reason to do it unless you feel the need to piss off the neighbors a little more. There's no reason to have a dry clutch actually, so the fact that they're on street bikes is sort of a look-at-me thing to start with. Might as well have a little fun with it.

 

[Kornholio]

I've got to agree with this. Really no reason to do it unless you feel the need to piss off the neighbors a little more. There's no reason to have a dry clutch actually, so the fact that they're on street bikes is sort of a look-at-me thing to start with. Might as well have a little fun with it.

As I stated in the other Ducati thread...it's purely for aesthetic purposes. People want that sound with their Ducati's and Ducati knows this. That's probably the only reason they still have them on streetbikes. As Heather stated, they're not needed on the street.

 

[monstermonster]

"ooooooooohhhh look, it spins."

"ooooooohhhhh look, it's shiny in there"

"oooohhhh, listen, it clacks"

It's just a way of showing off a signature Ducati feature. Personally, I wouldn't own a dry clutch duc w/o an open cover.

There are rational reasons for a open clutch cover on the race track, but not really on the street. The only one I can think of is that the stock cover is often replaced with an open billet one. The billet ones are stronger and hold up better in a crash. Kinda like putting aftermarket engine covers on a bike. But that's not really why people do it.

If you're just interested in the dry clutch sound, you can leave the stock cover on and take out the rubber gasket between the cover and hte engine case and replace it with some washers to space the cover off hte cases. You won't see the clutch spinning, but you'll hear it more.

 

[Kornholio]

If you're just interested in the dry clutch sound, you can leave the stock cover on and take out the rubber gasket between the cover and hte engine case and replace it with some washers to space the cover off hte cases. You won't see the clutch spinning, but you'll hear it more.

Exactly what was done on my 900.

 

[moto-rama]

Okay, I don't get it.

I thought it was about cooling, or at least that would be the obvious reason.

 

[pahhhoul]

I purchased and installed an open clutch cover for my Duc for pure bling and to have that distinct Ducati dry clutch sound.

 

[Hawaiirider]

My guess - Dust. Open covers let the clutch-plate dust out. Wet-clutches carry the stuff away to be flitered out in the oil filter. My ST4 has a gasketed, solid cover and the dry clutch and I remove the clutch over every 2 K or so and clean out a bunch of the stuff. I think the ST4 has the closed cover to meet the newer Euro noise regs, but you can still hear the distinctive clatter - love folks looking over at you like the motor is about to frag.

 

[ASADO]

+1 but really it's all win if you read the post above... it looks nice, sounds good, and serves a purpose. "Sounds" good to me (haha, I made a funny).


Both my Ducati's have closed (my track bike has Cf no seal covers, so the clutch is pretty audible) clutch covers though.

I did it for the bling factor, gotta show off the Surflex slipper ya know

FYI: The Surflex slipper clutch is fairly quiet compared to the stock.

 

[DESMOnic]

I get laid more when my clutch is open.

 

[Motorcycle RN]

BECAUSE LOUD CLUTCHES SAVE LIVES!!!

 

[ryder]

I did it for the bling factor, gotta show off the Surflex slipper ya know

FYI: The Surflex slipper clutch is fairly quiet compared to the stock.

that is an awesome looking clutch

the dry clutch with the open cover gives the Ducatis soul.