newbie question regarding a clutch on a ss800 - Ducati.ms

decesaro · Aug 21st, 2006, 1:59 pm

Hi all I just had a question on the wet clutch of my 06 ss800 , Is it common for these clutches to shift hard into gears ? Or is it just my driving habits ? When I shift into 2nd and back down into first it sounds almost like a bought a harley

but the rest of them arnt all that bad . I use to ride a 94 suzuki rf 600 and it to had a hard shift into 2nd and back down but I just thought it was cause of age and wear .When I was test riding it I didnt really notice it but than again I really wasnt paying to much attention cause of it beening new .
Thanks for all the help in advance

twpd · Aug 22nd, 2006, 6:32 am

Mine's beautiful. no probs at all - smooth fluid shift. Check your chain tension to see if it's ok. My 800ss has a superb action and gearbox. I can't fault it.

mals900ss · Aug 22nd, 2006, 8:24 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by decesaro

Hi all I just had a question on the wet clutch of my 06 ss800 , Is it common for these clutches to shift hard into gears ? Or is it just my driving habits ? When I shift into 2nd and back down into first it sounds almost like a bought a harley

but the rest of them arnt all that bad . I use to ride a 94 suzuki rf 600 and it to had a hard shift into 2nd and back down but I just thought it was cause of age and wear .When I was test riding it I didnt really notice it but than again I really wasnt paying to much attention cause of it beening new .
Thanks for all the help in advance

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm having trouble understanding what you are trying to say.

You can't pussy these bikes, you NEED to be agressive. Why are you shifting back into first at speed? If it sounds like a harley to you perhaps you need to invest in some ear plugs.?. Sorry I just don't follow what you are doing.

Mal

decesaro · Aug 22nd, 2006, 10:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mals900ss

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm having trouble understanding what you are trying to say.

You can't pussy these bikes, you NEED to be agressive. Why are you shifting back into first at speed? If it sounds like a harley to you perhaps you need to invest in some ear plugs.?. Sorry I just don't follow what you are doing.

Mal

I had a feeling I wasnt explaining it right , I will have to agree with you about the pussy thing cause it is new and I havent wanted to give it hell just yet . I guess Im just not use to the way the wops bikes need to be riding . Oh and no Im not shifting back into first from speed ,Im shifting back into first at stops and when I do it makes a loud thunk when I do , Im assuming this is normal but just wanted to make sure . I know Im comparing apples to oranges but when I had rode the 955i it was like silk . Im not saying I have a problem with the way it shifts I just wanted to confirm that this was normal for these bikes .

twpd · Aug 22nd, 2006, 11:44 am

1st should only ever be used for pulling away in or very low speed riding. You should never really be going down the box into 1st at any other time - getting the box to mesh/synchronise properly from 2nd to 1st on anything isn't easy.

YellowDuck · Aug 22nd, 2006, 11:51 am

I am going to mildly disagree with that, unless by "low speed riding" you are including tight corners, turns at intersections and such. I shift down into first a lot while moving, and with standard final drive gearing first gear on an SS is pretty tall and actually more useful than on most bikes. It works for my riding style anyway (lots of engine braking and keeping the revs over 5000).

I don't find the 2-1 downshift overly clunky on my SS while moving, however, N-1 always makes a good solid thunk at a standstill. That is normal and nothing to worry about. It is a characteristic of the bike.

twpd · Aug 22nd, 2006, 11:58 am

If you need to go down to first then adjust the final drive ratio. I don't use 1st even for hairpins when racing as it's asking for trouble. I'd rather get the final ratio right so I can pull through in 2nd. As you say - the SS is highly geared - overgeared in fact in my opinion. It gives more relaxed cruising at high-speeds but, ruins the drive and response lower down in the 3-6krpm range imo.

jbarnsey · Aug 22nd, 2006, 12:52 pm

Riding in cities, towns etc, in and out of stop start traffic iam always using first and second gears. If i didnt use first it would stall !!.
I think the track is the only place where 1st is generally not required.
Mine normally clunks between 1st and 2nd too, but there is nothing wrong with the gearbox it is just a timing issue when you are changing gears sometimes you will get it right sometimes you wont...

Jbarnsey

critterdoc · Aug 24th, 2006, 7:56 am

I don't use 1st gear for engine breaking either, but only because I worry about going through neutral to get there. With the high gearing on Ducatis though, I see no reason why you shouldn't.

I always get a solid thunk when I put my 800ss in 1st from neutral. From reading road tests, I think this is normal for all the ss models.

decesaro · Aug 24th, 2006, 4:24 pm

Thanks for all the replys guys ,Yellowduck,barnsey I have to agree with you on using first in the city , I tend to use it alot more with this bike than I did with my rf600rr . I noticed if I keep it in second sometimes around corners it likes to chug alot . Well thats great to here theres no problem thanks again for the replys.

Now I have to get it in for service for the leaking head bolts and left side exaust port (dam gaskets) and the best part is the dealership is 75 miles from home looks like Im going on a nice little road trip this week