Please explain a dry vs. wet motorcycle clutch.

[Steve Carlton]

You can expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 60,000 miles out of your clutch, perhaps many more if you're on the freeway a lot. Strictly speaking, it's safer to have the transmission in 1st geart and the clutch in at stops in case you need to move quickly. Supposedly this won't cause premature failure of the throwout bearing on the BMW.

Are you going to take the MSF class? HIGHLY recommend it, and later on the advanced class.

[greglepore]

Some Duc guys I know have "Loud clutches save lives" t-shirts.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
Joe, is 12k miles high for this clutch? Owner has been meticulous with all maint. too.

Rick,

Like others have mentioned, 12k is barely broken in for a BMW bike. I have about 200,000 miles on BMW bikes and they are designed to last forever, especially if taken care of.

If you do a fair amount of highway riding (40-50%) then yours should last over 50k minimum.

Biggest thing for me is to get the service records and make sure that its been taken care of properly. You know that there is a BMW bike forum here at Pelican? I would frequent it and the only dealer in your area is Bob's BMW just outside of DC. Well known and a dealer for years.

Joe

[tswaney]

The Yamaha XS750SF triple that I used to own was a wet clutch. If I remember correctly, some of the newer motor oils were not recommended due to some of the additives allowing slippage.

[Rick Lee]

[i]
Are you going to take the MSF class? HIGHLY recommend it, and later on the advanced class. [/B]

Yes, I did it last weekend and found it almost frighteningly too easy.

Joe, I went to Bob's on Monday. I can see myself spending a lot of time and money there eventually. Now I'm busy assembling the proper gear for my cold ride home from NJ this weekend.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Joeaksa

Biggest thing for me is to get the service records and make sure that its been taken care of properly. You know that there is a BMW bike forum here at Pelican? I would frequent it and the only dealer in your area is Bob's BMW just outside of DC. Well known and a dealer for years.

Joe

There's actually 2 others. Battley's is a multi-line dealer in Gaithersburg(?) Morton's is in Fredricksburg, a little closer to Rick.

[Rick Lee]

Went to BAttley's and it was lame.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
Went to BAttley's and it was lame.

Yeah, that's what I have heard. Last time I was at Morton's it was Octoberfest so it was a zoo. I'm looking forward to my trip tommorow.

[island_dude]

I haven't been to Morton's, but I have heard really great things. I don't like the set up at Battley's, but he is a good guy. The BMW salesman there, Paul is great. 75+ and gets in more miles that most. Bob's is where I spend most of my money. The staff is good and Bob is a great guy. I have had mixed luck in the service department. They have always made good, but there have been a few problems.

[VaSteve]

When I went to Bob's for my test drive, the salesman hyped up the service department. He told me that there was a film made about it by BMW themselves.

[RickM]

Here's a decent explanation from Wikipedia:

"A 'wet clutch' is immersed in a cooling lubricating fluid, which also keeps the surfaces clean and gives smoother performance and longer life. A 'dry clutch', as the name implies, is not bathed in fluid that robs it of some energy. Since the surfaces of a wet clutch can be slippery (as with a motorcycle clutch bathed in engine oil), stacking multiple clutch disks can compensate for slippage. Most Moto Guzzi and BMW motorcycles use a triple plate clutch like a car."

I recall two friends who went to a bike rally where the outside temps were very high. They came back and told me they were disaapointed that both their Bourgette "Low Blow" 6 speed boxs with dry clutchs slipped to the point of total failure. After cooling off for a while they were able to ride again but there was damage to the system. Both are avid riders with one owning an auto repair business.

I guess all systems are not created equal especially when it comes to proper ventilation.

[MMARSH]

I have 71K on my work bike. (R1150RTP) Waiting for the new 1200's now. I had the clutch done right around 67K. Considering how I ride this bike,I was pretty impressed with how long it lasted. On more then one occasion I've gotten to enjoy that awful aroma of burnt cluch. You can't slip it like we used to the old Kawis.


My Duc also has a dry clutch and vented cover. The clutch is almost as loud as the uncorked Termis.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Coming up on 50,000 miles on my Kat - original clutch and no slippage or issues that I can tell. I've checked and I'm reasonably sure this is a wet clutch system.

[Joeaksa]

Rick,

If you are going to ride in winter, get Gore-Tex or the like. Keeps you warm and dry in the worst weather.

Also BMW has a factory heated vest that plugs into the acc. plug on the bike and will keep you toasty. I have one and love it.

Joe

[Rick Lee]

I am picking up a stellar Olympia Moto jacket today. I saw some heated chaps at the local shop and was wonderingif all modern street bikes have universal plugs for them.

[VaSteve]

Rick, if you're still around to read this, you better bundle up! My new gloves were hella nice on the way back. I hate the cold. I really hate the cold on a bike at 60mph. It's gonna suck sitting in the paddock tommorow. Have a great ride and stay safe!!

[911boost]

I know the acc pug cam standard on my GS, but we had to install one on my friend R1150R, so I would be surpirsed if his bike has one.

[Rick Lee]

Just picked up the bike and rode it about 115 miles to my folks beach house. My hands were a little cold, but that was it. I kept it under 80, but it was pretty windy out even at rest. BSiple, I installed those mirrors in the seller's garage and they were great. Thanks again! I'm kinda beat from this short ride and tomorrow's is twice as far. Thank God for heated grips.

[911boost]

No problem at all man. Ride carefully tomorrow.

Bill