696 clutch issue.....
 

Got the monster out today, started instantly, more than can be said for the tricolore!, but the clutch is playing up :-(

It started slipping then wouldn't engage at all, unless I let it out in a big hurry, tricky when pulling away or in traffic.

Feels like something is sticking, perhaps the slave or maybe the master cylinder pushrod ????

Will give it to shells to fix under warranty but wondered if anyone else had the problem ?

Clutch issues
 

Hi,

I've just moved upto 696 from a 749 Mono:)

The only thing I've noticed that the clutch bite seems to be at the very end of the levers travel - ie almost right out - which initially took a bit of getting used to. I've queried this however on the Ducatisti site and it appears to be the norm and is not adjustable - apart from fitting different levers.

Bikes done 200 miles now and the box is crisp and a joy to use. Gears just 'snick' in nicely - somebody might mention this to the journalist who did a test on a 696 for MCN and complained of a clunky gear change !

Lazy journalists have got a bunch of wordprocessor macros that were programmed by the very first MCN journo to test a Ducati back in the late 80's.

They are:

Ctrl E: "Of course you have to reckon on replacing all of the apalling Italian electrics in case the bike doesn't start or, worse, they go up in smoke"

Ctrl C: "You'll need to get a gym subscription and man up before you'll be able to deal with the appallingly heavy clutch"

Ctrl G: "A hefty boot is required to clunk through the notchy gearbox"

Ctrl H: "The handling is planted once the bike is on it's side but it'll need a big shove to get it to turn in"

Ctrl L: "The lock is non-existant"

Ther are many more, but the upshot is that all journo has to do is hit a bunch of macros to write the road test....you din't think they actually rode the bike do you :rolleyes: