Slipper Clutches and deep pockets
 

Howdy Folks

The other week, I was very surprised to learn that slipper clutches are 'technically' allowed in DD and that most of the top 5 were running with them.

I thought that part of the ethos of DD, is that it is supposed to be a cheap series. A slipper clutch costs about half the price of your average bike (yes... complete with cool 3-spoke chopper wheels...). Is it a cheap series... or becoming like most other race classes: the one with the deepest pockest has the best chance of winning.

Your feelings?

Yep, Class A does allow such devilish devices. Class B does not, however and this is the class in which newbies usually run.
You make a good point, however, and I know the Race Committee spend time and energy trying to achieve the balance between technology and cost.
It is still the case that the rider makes far more difference than the bike, though, in my opinion.

Oh, and if you haven't found it yet you can read the 2009 rules here

[quote=speedtherapy]Howdy Folks

The other week, I was very surprised to learn that slipper clutches are 'technically' allowed in DD and that most of the top 5 were running with them.



Neither Ian Cobby nor Mike Dawson ran slipper clutches in their Class A bikes last year, and they didn't do too shabbily!

[quote=speedtherapy]Howdy Folks

The other week, I was very surprised to learn that slipper clutches are 'technically' allowed in DD and that most of the top 5 were running with them.



And like the master himself told me, we all have a slipper clutch, it's called your left hand! :)

[quote=Miss Riot]
I'm right handed but at 99 I may change:D:

RTFM?? :lol:

2005 on Monster 620s came fitted with the wet slipper clutch as standard - some people would rather buy a newer, low mileage bike to race than an older one which needs work.

The Ducati APTC clutch was available for around £300 from dealers which is a shed load cheaper than even my current project....

I was top 5 and didn't run a slipper. As Paul has said Ducati put APTC 'semi-slipper' clutches in the later monsters. A couple of riders over the years have felt that these weren't progressive enough in their release so have tried fitting 'proper' slippers. I don't know anyone that has managed to get one working well and consistently, but I know a few who have removed them entirely and gone back to std.

As for the money, if it costs you £3.5k for a bike and £4k for a season what's another £450 on a slipper? Personally I'd spend the money on suspension or getting a good nights kip at a b&b.

No B&B comes close to the snugness of Trevor the Transit, with the smell of petrol, bikes and oil and the lush combination of thick soft mattress and fluffy pillows. Bliss! Can't wait for the racing season so I can sleep in my van again. In fact if it wasn't so cold I'd go sleep in there now, but my neighbours would think I'm even more mad...

Your speed is obviously directly proportional to your barking madness..... :p

I love kipping in the paddock, and if I had my way every paddock would have a small, sound-insulated boutique hotel with king-size beds, goose-down pillows, egyptian cotton sheets and softly-glowing plasma screens above every bed with 'Faster' on 24hr loop. :lol:

alternatively, if you're dinky like me, then a Citroen Dispatch is the cosiest van going.

with 2 sleeping bags just for me, 2 (yes 2!!) rollmats also just for me, my cosiest pyjamas and a couple of glasses of wine to knock me out for the night, well frankly a better night's sleep is hard to find without company :D and in my experience boys are very smelly on race weekends :eek: so that's not good.

And so we've managed to turn this thread from slipper clutch use, to which van is cosiest to sleep in and how smelly are boys during race weekends, lol! How did that happen?!

slipper clutches?? pah! i reckon i can change down thru the monster box, blipping my way through, just as quick as someone with a slipper clutch.

..cast your mind back to Cadwell 2007, 2nd Saturday race, lap 2, bottom of the mountain.....:ninja:

I fitted one that I got work perfect! :)

Save your £'s and spend it on tracktime, that's what will make you faster in DD. Its the Indian, not the arrow. :rolleyes:

Try going back two or three gears at the same time and then letting the clutch lever out and see what happens :D

Its what a slipper allows you to do which means you have far more time to thinking about braking, they really are great things to have.

i seem to recall you nearly ran into the back of me and crashed...

a bit like 2008 at the hairpin, where you ran into the back of me and i crashed...


;)

wossit gotta do with slippa clutches though?

Slippers make one faster into slow corners? :D

as long as i get a pipe to go along with my slippers i'll be just fine :D

Hi Folks

Thanks for the posts.
The APTC clutches are not proper slipper clutches. They're a bit like the standard 'slipper' clutch fitted to Aprilia Milles. Try this with the APTC 'slipper' clutch:
End of Revett Straight (Snetterton), clutch in, down 3 gears, clutch out... :eek:

This is the real price of a slipper clutch:
http://www.sigmaperformance.com/slipperclutchrange.html
£630

My point is this: Desmo Due is supposed to be a cheap(ish) race series. I think that by allowing expensive, non-standard parts it gives folks who can spend more money on the bike an advantage. I'm just using teh slipper clutches as an example, there are probably a host of other ££ mods that I don't know about.

A number of years ago, BemSee ran (and could still be running) a MZ race series. Little 2 stroke MZs phutt-phutting around race circuits. It was fun and cheap. Within a few seasons it all got out of hand and the 'cheap' little MZs were costing some competitors many 1000s. Of course... the ones who could afford better equipment had an advantage - very frustrating for those who couldn't afford the bits.

Yeah, yeah... rider ability and all, but it gets pretty frustrating and disheartening when someone on an 'equal' bike pulls a 25 yard gap on you down every straight. :(

Yes, there are some more tightly controlled equal machine race series (single make series like the old R6 cup) - but these tend to be fairly serious... and certainly not cheap.

I don't believe allowing expensive non-standard parts are within the ethos of a 'cheap', fun race series.

Laters

Ciao!

That's just racing, there's no way to change it once the series is up and running. We discussed options a couple of months back for maintaining a level playing-field (look back through the DD threads) but the best suggestions need implementing before you issue a rule book.

You're right, it is galling when you're beaten by a machine that you know is quicker with a rider you know is slower, but you have to reflect on why you're racing - it's fine to walk away with the knowledge you're quicker. The only problem is when you're battling for the No1 spot (or a podium), then it can really get you down, but I was beaten into 4th twice this year (my second 4th at Assen......ARSE!) and both times I was beaten by better rider skills regardless of the bikes they were riding. Racing, like life, isn't perfect.... but it's better to be out playing than in watching. :D

can't see as class A can be any more exspensive than it was when people were gearing up for the 2005 season.
Those buying a 620 at the end of 04 or begining of 05 were buying bikes that were 2 years old or less, some even buying new.

I'm sure I could now go and buy a 620 plus a slipper clutch for less than most paid for their 620s back then.

On the other hand Class B was introduced in 2006 as a cheaper alternative to attract newwbies to racing

LOL if you entered class A and wanted a full spec bike built for you it would cost around £10k, you can buy one tho for £5k-£6k and maybe cheaper. Per round that makes it an expensive series, however running costs are low and tyre bills are peanuts which is where the big saving is.

reality is if you want to run at the front you have to have a top spec bike, top spec doesn't mean slipper clutch tho as the 2008 winning bike and 2005 winning bikes didn't have them but feel free to use not having one as an excuse :)

And there my friend may be your problem, why are you pulling the clutch in?:lol:

On a DD bike you don't need to, not even at the end of the Revett straight :devil:
If I'd had a slipper clutch on my 675 in 2005 I wouldn't be sharing the Snet lap record with Ali ;)

If I'd had one on my 675 in 2005 you'd still be digging yourself out of the kitty-litter at Quarry! :lol:

And we'd be at different tracks - there's no Quarry at Snet, and the Quarry at Castle Combe has no gravel, only grass - I know, I've had a lie down there :D

You both have!

:lol: :lol:

I like to think that between us we've crashed everywhere worth crashing! :lol:

ps: Did I crash last year?? Did I f***! :D

I've calmed down a bit in my old age, haven't crashed since the first race of the year in Mallory! Check me out! ;) :D

Crash? What is this thing you speak of? lol

ok, back down on planet earth, I havent fallen since october 2007 but thats more down to a stupid amount of luck than judgement!